For 25 years, Pride of Britain has served up magic moments from emotional reunions to jaw-dropping surprises – and tonight’s anniversary awards did not disappoint.
From the heroic eight-year-old with leukaemia whose spirit persuaded celebrities to donate thousands to her charity to the beaming five-year-old coming face-to-face with her movie idol Paddington, this year’s gala was as moving as ever.
As always, it has been a night about ordinary people doing extraordinary things – often battling the odds to save people’s lives and make the world a better place.
And as ever, the famous faces faded into the background as the real heroes took centre stage. For the 25th anniversary guests were asked to wear silver, and the tear-jerking moments came thick and fast from the start.
The night began with a special tribute to former Mirror editor Peter Willis, who we lost in 2021 aged 54. He embodied everything the awards he founded stands for.
Simon Cowell gave a personal tribute to Peter, in which he described how his legacy lives on.
It set the scene for a night that celebrated the best of us – including a special fundraiser for Florrie Bark, which saw guests and Mirror readers dig deep to raise thousands,
Eight-year-old Florrie enchanted the audience with her infectious laugh and zest for life, despite battling acute myeloid leukaemia waiting for a lung transplant.
She giggled and chatted, as Masked Singer host Joel Dommett and Strictly’s Obi Mabuse, who presented her Child of Courage award, told her: “You are one of the most inspirational people I’ve ever met. You light up every room.”
When Strictly’s Pete Wicks and Towie star Sam Thompson went around the audience to get celebrities to donate to her new charity, MeMoreFab, Florrie had everyone in hysterics as she shouted: “Get all of them! Round them up! Get Duncan Ballantyne! Before he hides.”
And her gusto paid off – as the Dragon donated £30,000 to her charity, with more than £100,00 raised overall.
It will offer online and in-person education, and activities like music therapy, for children with cancer, to ensure they don’t miss out while receiving vital treatment.
Celebs reached for the tissues straight away as the first award went to five-year-old Aiyla Mota, who didn’t let losing her limbs to sepsis take away her zest for life.
She ran on stage in a ballerina outfit, as the audience heard how she throws herself into everything from school work to gymnastics, horse riding and ice-skating.
Mum Eulanda said: “It’s her who keeps me together. People ask me, ‘How do you cope’, how can I not? She’s smiling that’s all that matters.”
She was joined on stage by Cowell and Paralympic gold medallist Hannah Cockroft, but was most excited when Paddington Bear appeared to give her a Child of Courage award.
Who could not be inspired by stories like that of 10-year-old Jacob Newson, who lost his mum Andrea when he was seven, and went on to raise over £150,000 for the hospice that cared for her, along with other charities?
Presented his Good Morning Britain Fundraiser of the Year award by footballer Jill Scott and adventurer Steve Backshall, Jacob said: “I always think that every step is a step closer to my mum. I don’t even know how I’ve got here today. I think she just would be extraordinarily proud of me.”
Then came the adults, like Emily Greenwood, who didn’t think twice when she saw a boy and his dad being dragged out to sea on a rip tide as she was walking along Holywell Bay in Cornwall in January 2023.
The mum-of-three, 51, stripped to her underwear, jumped into the freezing water and swam 200m to rescue them, dragging them safely to shore just as 10-year-old James’ father went into hypothermic collapse. Emily was in tears when she was reunited with James.
Presenting her Outstanding Bravery award, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. “You saw the danger and just walked towards it.”
Molly Leonard, 26, from South Wales was overjoyed to receive The King’s Trust Young Achiever award from James Corden.
She has lived with anorexia since she was 15 and decided to use mindful crafting to help others suffering with their mental health by running sessions in schools, youth services and her community.
She said: “I didn’t see a future for myself, so being here, just living is a dream.”
In a night dominated by inspiring girls and women, Diana Parkes and Hetti Barkworth-Nanton were honoured for turning a tragedy into purpose, giving hope to many other women victims of domestic abuse.
After Joanna Simpson, Diana’s daughter and Hetti’s best friend was beaten to death by her estranged husband in 2010, as their two young children cowered in a playroom, the two women decided they would let her brutal death be in vain.
They set up the Joanna Simpson Foundation, which has protected and supported thousands of children affected by domestic abuse.
Each year, the awards leave Carol Vorderman – host since the very first ceremony and now joined by Ashley Banjo – moved to tears.
Other heroes included former lifeboat coxswain Hewitt Clark, 79, who served with the RNLI for 35 years and helped to save 319 and won the This Morning Emergency Services award.
The courage and strength of our armed services were also on show in the form of former Gurkha Hari Budha Magar, who lost both legs to an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan in 2010.
He has inspired many with his determination not to let his injuries hold him back and to prove that “anything is possible.”
The 45-year-old, who received a Special Recognition award, became the first double above-the-knee amputee to climb Everest in May 2023.
Hari burst into tears as he was reunited with five old Gurkha comrades who rescued him, hugging each other tightly.
He told them: “Thank you for giving me a second chance to relive my life again.”
Just as indefatigable is Manny Singh Kang, who has raised over £260,000 for Dementia UK since 2018 and won the ITV Fundraiser of the Year award.
Getting his award from Oscar-winning actor Jim Broadbent, Manny explained: “ Sometimes we have a thought that we can’t do something. But it’s just a thought. Throw that in the bin.”
