The winning smile
Brave little Ella captures all our hearts at the brilliant Pride of Britain Awards
THE big names of TV, music, film, sport and politics are all used to living in the spotlight.
But the hundreds of stars who turned out last night for our Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB, were delighted to help us shine it elsewhere for one very special evening.
The ceremony in Central London celebrated its 20th year of honouring the ordinary men, women and children up and down the UK who show selflessness and courage as they help others.
And as they were given their richly deserved turn in the limelight, pop veteran Sir Cliff Richard best summed up the feeling.
The 78-year-old said: “I love Pride of Britain, long may it reign! Tonight is a revelation of everyday and unsung heroes.
“There’s so much bad news around at the moment but this is all good news – the very best news.
“It is a reminder of how lucky we are, something I never forget.”
HUMBLING
Taking a night off from her packing as she prepares to fly down under to co-host I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Holly Willoughby said the Awards made her feel “proud to be British”.
The This Morning presenter, 37, said: “This is a very special night for me. We hear a lot of things about the terrible side of human nature. There’s a lot of doom and gloom.
“But this is about ordinary people with extraordinary acts of selflessness.
“It’s very humbling.
You sit here and listen to these stories, these moments where a lot of people just go and make extraordinary decisions, and you hope that in the situation that you’d do the same thing.
“It makes you feel proud to be British.
“We read an awful lot in the news about how we’re all a bit selfish or live in a bubble, and actually there are heroes walking amongst us each and every day, so it’s a very special day.
“Sometimes we just focus on the bad things and listening to the stories of bravery and incredible humanity out there is so uplifting. It’s like a recharge, you come here and you recharge on life.” TV presenter Myleene Klass, 40, echoed her sentiments. She said: “We hear the word hero all the time and this is the night when they genuinely are. So to say thank you to them is amazing.”
X Factor judge Robbie Williams, 44, said he and wife Ayda Field, 39, were looking forward to “a night of courage and heroism”, adding: “It’s what we as Britons do best – we fight, dig in, persevere!”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, 69, knows what we need to rebuild Britain and he could see plenty of it last night, saying: “Pride of Britain brings out the best of people.”
Olympic rowing champion James Cracknell stressed that those we honoured were true heroes.
Deeply moved by the ceremony, the 46-year-old said: “This night is a great reminder of the resilience of people. The inner strength is astounding. That’s why this event has so much loyalty – we all want to come every year.”
Our winners are people who have often suffered heartaching loss or terrible pain, yet persevered when others would have quit. They range from kids dedicating themselves to fundraising or campaigning to men and women who have risked their lives to save others.
And in a year of uncertainty, our Pride of Britain Awards are a comforting reminder that one thing will never change – there are people
here who can always be depended upon to act for the greater good. Even Strictly’s Mr Nasty, Craig Revel Horwood, 53, ditched the scowl and said: “I am looking forward to tonight because I get to meet the people who really keep the country going.” Fellow judge Shirley Ballas, 58, added: “I hope anyone who is sitting at home and thinks that they may have something to give back to their communities will be inspired by what they see.”
And freshly axed contestant Seann Walsh, 32 – who arrived with his smooch-shame pro partner Katya Jones, 29, and her hubby Neil, 35 – said: “It’s a special event and it’s an honour to be invited.”
So many stars told of how humbled they felt to be there – explaining that is why they return every year. Corrie actress Kym Marsh, 42, a long-term supporter and judge, said: “It’s fantastic, so humbling.”
And ex-Girls Aloud singer Nicola Roberts, 33, attending for her 16th year, said: “I want to keep coming, it’s a great reminder to be selfless.” In contrast, I’m A Celebrity star Stanley Johnson, 78, was enjoying his first ceremony at Grosvenor House. He said: “Everyone’s going to be so uplifted, I watch it every year but this is the first time I’ve been.”
Former Labour MP Ed Balls, 51, who was there with MP wife Yvette Cooper, 49, said: “This night is really important and shows examples of such huge dignity and courage. It’s so important we honour them.”
And Pride of Britain stalwart Helen Worth was expecting plenty of tears.
The Corrie star, 67, said: “I don’t bring tissues, I bring a hankie. It’s so emotional you just can’t help crying!”
THERE’S a feeling shared across the country that we are living in the most uncertain of times.
From the precarious path of Brexit to pavements scarred with rough sleepers, people are asking themselves who we are and where we’re going.
But there is always one certainty that we can rely on.
One that has been with us for almost 20 years… that the Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB, will lift our souls and renew our faith in the ordinary people who live among us.
After two decades you might think we would have run out of heroes, and of superlatives.
But last night we heard new tales of selflessness and courage, love and dedication, which reminded us of the power of the human spirit and made us realise this extraordinary awards show is in a class of its own.
Once again, during the pre-ceremony dinner at Grosvenor House in London all eyes were on the famous faces such as Simon Cowell and his partner Lauren Silverman, Louis Tomlinson, Jeremy Corbyn, Ellie Goulding and Sir Cliff Richard.
AWESTRUCK
But as host Carol Vorderman got the show started, regaling the 1,000plus audience with tales of selflessness and heroism, the only people who had the room awe-struck were those picking up awards.
And there was much to be awestruck about.
We saw a youngster who helped create a law which will save countless lives. Young and old fundraisers who brought in staggering amounts for cancer research.
And rescuers who made global headlines aiding a young football team escape certain death.
Last summer the world gasped in amazement and sighed with relief when a British Cave Rescue Council team managed to extricate 12 boy footballers and their coach from flooded caves in Thailand. When expert cave divers John Volanthen, Jason Mallinson, Rick Stanton, Chris Jewell, Josh Bratchley and Connor Roe flew to Thailand to join the search effort many feared the boys from the Wild Boars team must be dead.
But, through their expertise and courage, two members of that team made an astonishing discovery: they found the football team, on a ledge beneath millions of tons of rock.
Over the next three days, the divers ferried medical supplies, fresh water and food and blankets to the boys as they tried to devise a way to get them safely out of the treacherous tunnel. Their modesty shone throughout as they denied before the world’s media they were heroes.
As John Volanthen, said: “No, we were just using a very unique skill set, which we normally use for our own interests, and sometimes we are able to use that and give something back to the community.”
Last night, as they accepted the Outstanding Bravery award from physicist Brian Cox and astronaut Tim Peake, they were left in no doubt that they were heroes.
Brian spoke for the room and the nation when he said: “We think what you did out there, putting your life on the line, was exceptionally brave.” Tim added: “We’re incredibly proud that a group of genuine British heroes played such a huge part in the rescue.”
Those words moved the divers but nowhere near as much as when Carol Vorderman told them the football team had flown in especially to thank them for saving their lives, and hand over the remaining four Outstanding Bravery awards.
On came the Wild Boars to a rousing reception, as individual team members described, through a translator, the agony of being stuck in that watery dungeon for 17 days. And their relief and gratitude when the British divers turned up.
They weren’t the only amazing young headline-makers to take to the stage last night.
We had Child of Courage winner Max Johnson, the heart transplant patient who was instrumental in changing organ donation rules which will save up to 700 lives every year.
Max was eight when he was diagnosed with a crippling disease which affects the heart muscle and ensures death without a transplant.
While on the transplant list Max shared his story and backed calls for an opt-out donor system.
Thousands signed a petition backing the change, and MPs passed a private members’ bill in February.
In August, a year after Max received a heart from deceased nine-year-old Keira Ball, Theresa May declared
that Max’s Law will be on the statute books by 2020. She told him: “When I read your inspirational story, I knew I had to act to change the organ donation rules.
“While it will have to have a bit of a boring title when it goes through Parliament, I and my government will call it Max’s Law.”
His father Paul spoke for everyone at the Mirror who have been part of this campaign when he said “I am unbelievably proud of him.”
But courage and dedication know no age barrier.
Take Lifetime Achievement recipient Eddie O’Gorman, 83, who founded Children With Cancer UK along with his late wife Marion.
They raised an astonishing £230million in memory of their two children Paul, who died of leukaemia, and Jean of breast cancer. Despite their grief, the couple were determined to fulfil 14-year-old Paul’s final wishes to establish a Leukaemia Research Fund.
Within nine months, they had organised a charity remembrance ball.
The health of Jean, 29, was deteriorating rapidly, but she was determined to be there. Sadly, she died two days later.
Since then, Eddie has devoted his life to fighting childhood cancer and his charity has funded more than 200 research projects, helping to hugely improve survival rates.
That couple’s story, like every other one that held this audience captive last night, is truly humbling.
But then, since 1999 this uplifting recognition of the compassion and courage latent in our communities, has never been anything less.