Pride of Britain launches with huge nationwide hunt for amazing unsung heroes
Pride of Britain is back and it's bigger than ever as it launches this year's nationwide search aboard P&O Cruises flagship Britannia. If you know someone who is the Pride of Britain, you can nominate them here…
Pride of Britain is setting sail to look for 'Heroes ahoy!' in its biggest ever search for extraordinary people around the British Isles.
The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards with P&O Cruises have been celebrating unsung heroes young and old for 26 years.
And today (Friday) co-hosts Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo will be welcoming some of 2024's winners aboard P&OC's flagship Britannia to launch the hunt for Pride of Britain's class of 2025.
Carol, who has hosted every Pride of Britain since it began in 1999, is eager to see recent winners again. She says: 'When someone wins a Pride of Britain Award, they become part of the family, and I can't wait to catch up with some of our fabulous winners from last year.'
Like the irrepressible bundle of fun Florrie Bark, who won a Child of Courage award for helping so many others while undergoing gruelling treatment for a rare form of leukaemia and waiting for a lung transplant.
The eight-year-old TikTok sensation from Corby, Northants, had the nation smiling through their tears as she accepted her much-deserved Pride of Britain trophy in front of a host of famous faces at London's Grosvenor House last October, saying: 'This is for all the children with cancer who couldn't be here tonight.'
And Jacob 'The Pilot' Newson, who lost his mum to breast cancer aged just seven, and was awarded Young Fundraiser of the Year, after the intrepid youngster trekked over mountains to raise hundreds of thousands for charity.
The little boy, who loves planes and flying, captured the hearts of everyone as he told how he wanted to thank local hospice workers in Leeds who had cared for his late mum, saying: 'I just want to make Mummy happy in heaven.'
They are just two of 2024's inspirational winners, who have gone above and beyond with their bravery and compassion for others – but we know there are many more amazing people out there.
Now the Awards is launching its biggest ever search for the nation's unsung heroes – reaching every corner of the country, and covering every inch of the British coastline.
Florrie and Jacob are part of a group of 2024 winners handing over the baton - in the form of an iconic Pride of Britain trophy, which they are delivering to Britannia today, as it embarks on a circumnavigation of Britain.
Launching the history-making voyage, the 2024 winners will be catching up with Carol and Ashley before waving Britannia off to lead the search over land and sea around the British Isles.
'It's not just about finding out what they've been up to though,' adds Carol. 'They have the very important job of passing on the baton, and helping to launch our search for Pride of Britain's class of 2025.'
Ashley hailed the fact anyone can nominate a hero for a Pride of Britain Award.
'One of the things that makes Pride of Britain so special, is that everyone gets the chance to tell us who they think should win – it's the ultimate people power,' says co-host Ashley.
'That's why we're making such a big noise about launching nominations. We want people in every corner of the country to tell us about the amazing unsung heroes in their communities.'
It was nominations for outstanding members of the public that made sure last year's community hero winner Agnes Nisbett was recognised for her deeply personal work.
Having experienced the trauma of stillbirth herself in 1973, when her tiny son was wrapped up and taken away from her, the now-retired midwife devoted her life to other grieving parents by founding the Born Whilst Sleeping programme at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, to give them time with their stillborn babies.
'I didn't want to let other women go through what I have,' said the pioneering nurse. Tearful actress Kym Marsh, who experienced a stillbirth herself, presented the trophy and thanked Agnes for, 'Turning her pain into her purpose".
The selfless work of the Award winners can touch many people's lives, but sometimes an astonishing act of bravery will make the difference between life or death.
Recognised for Outstanding Bravery last year, Emily Greenwood risked her own life to swim into icy winter seas in Cornwall to save a 10-year-old boy and a man ripped away by strong currents.
At the Awards, Emily modestly said:'I just thought that I needed to help. I think most people would in that situation. We were all lucky. It could have ended very differently.'
Guests and crew on the ship will be invited to nominate heroes, like Emily, onboard before the Britannia sets off around the coast, stopping off at key ports. A special nomination booth will also let the public nominate in cities across the country.
The Pride of Britain team – along with some famous faces – will also scour the country in search of heroes, using every mode of transport, from bikes and trains to scooters and skateboards, to make sure no stone is left unturned.
Other 2024 winners taking part today include Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, who with her best friend's mum Diana Parkes, set up a charity to support children impacted by domestic abuse.
After Diana's daughter Joanna was killed by her husband Robert Brown in a horrifying attack within earshot of her young children, not only did she provide a home for her grandchildren, but together with Hetti, from Swindon, they set up the Joanna Simpson Foundation.
Queen Camilla credited Diana's story as her inspiration for raising awareness about domestic violence, and Hetti warned: 'So often people don't know domestic abuse is happening to those they love.'
The public's nominations really count and makes all the tireless campaigning work done by people like Michelle Tolley worth it. Michelle, from Norfolk, along with Jason Evans and Andy Evans, won a Special Recognition award for helping victims and relatives of the HIV and Hepatitis C blood scandal.
'The award feels like we've been heard by the people, and that's amazing,' said Michelle, who was infected with Hepatitis C, after receiving two transfusions following the birth of her children.
Co-host Ashley says: 'Teaming up with some of last year's fabulous winners will also be a brilliant reminder of the courage, kindness, strength and empathy it takes to be a Pride of Britain winner.
"I'm really looking forward to seeing them again, and kicking off the search for our 2025 winners.'
The stars of the show are always the winners, but famous friends of the Awards will be getting involved too, sharing their own nominations and encouraging everyone else to do the same.
'We all feel a huge responsibility to make sure we do everything in our power to find the most extraordinary, inspirational winners, and this year will be our biggest search ever,' says Carol.
She adds: 'The launch aboard Britannia is going to be a really exciting day, but it's just the start – watch this space.'
Prepare to come aboard, people of Britain, because this time the Pride of Britain Awards will be arriving into the heart of your communities and welcoming nominations first hand.
Our new look
Pride of Britain has been bringing people together for 26 years. Over that time, core values of Bravery, Kindness, Love, Inspiration, Strength, Community and Empathy have become firmly established as the Awards DNA.
Now, a stunning new visualisation of the Pride of Britain brand, which is set to be rolled out alongside a refreshed and reimagined logo, brings those values vividly to life.
The new brand identity, developed with top creative agency BBD Perfect Storm, is being revealed alongside the official launch of nominations for the 2025 Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards with P&O Cruises.
Each strand represents a core Pride Of Britain value that brings people together for these extraordinary awards, celebrating the very best in people and what they selflessly do for others.
Pride Of Britain is the highest-rated Awards of its kind on British television, bringing some of the world 's most famous faces together to celebrate truly extraordinary achievements of people of all ages, from children of courage to lifesaving emergency workers, inspirational fundraisers and people who make the world a better place, in local communities and on a national or even global scale.
Jason Foo, CEO at BBD Perfect Storm, said: 'It's been an honour to reimagine the visual identity of such an iconic and beloved event. The Pride of Britain Awards are rooted in values that speak to the very best of humanity – bravery, kindness, strength and community."
The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards with P&O Cruises, hosted by Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo will be screened in primetime on ITV1 in the Autumn.
Award categories
Do you know a remarkable person who makes the world a better place?
It only takes a minute to nominate them for a Pride of Britain Award at prideofbritain.com.
Don't worry if you're not sure which category to choose – our team reads every nomination and will make sure all nominees are considered for the most appropriate award.
P&O CRUISES INSPIRATION WARD
Celebrating a remarkable individual or group who inspire everyone around them, or the wider world, with their positive spirit and awe-inspiring journey to achieve, or overcome adversity. They may deserve recognition for an extraordinary reaction to a defining or pivotal moment, or perhaps their actions have had an extraordinary impact.
ITV FUNDRAISER OF THE YEAR
For tireless and inspirational charity fundraising, aged 18 and over.
To reward a young person aged 17 and under for inspirational charity work.
THIS MORNING LOCAL HERO
For an individual or group that goes to remarkable lengths to help people around them in their local area
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
To recognise far-reaching achievement, possibly on a national or international scale.
For police, fire, ambulance, paramedics or air, sea or mountain rescue who have gone beyond the call of duty.
OUTSTANDING BRAVERY
For adults who risk their own safety to help others in danger.
CHILD/TEENAGER OF COURAGE
For battling against the odds to help others, or a courageous act to save someone in danger.
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