The Daily Mirror's Pride of Britain Awards is airing this evening on ITV1, as the country comes together to honour some of Britain's most incredible people.
The children of courage and incredible stories of bravery in adversity moved celebrities, actors and sport stars to tears as the most amazing human beings were honoured at the 26th Daily Mirror Pride of Britain awards, with P&O Cruises.
Hosted by Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo, the two-hour prime-time special features Hollywood icons, rock and pop royalty, sporting legends and TV favourites from Britain and beyond in an inspirational celebration of the best of British.
The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who was in attendance with his wife Victoria, paid tribute to the incredible unsung heroes who were honoured at the glittering ceremony held at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.
The PM said: "I find each of them inspiring and humbling in equal measures, and I think that telling their stories is so important. They will reach the country through the programme, and through what the Mirror is doing, and I think that’s fantastic.
"There will be millions of people - and this is what I’ve said to pretty well all of them - who will now hear about that and be inspired by it. These are millions of [people] that they’ll never meet, but whose lives will be changed by hearing the brilliant things that they’ve done. I find it literally humbling."
Singers, actors, sports stars and the cast of Strictly Come Dancing were on hand to gve out the special awards to much-deserving winners, who included Georgie Hyslop, 15, Good Morning Britain's Fundraiser of the Year and PCs Yasmin Whitfield, Cameron King and Inspector Moloy Campbell, who were recognised for their extraordinary valour in the face of extreme danger.
Watch Pride of Britain, Thursday 23rd October, 8pm on ITV.
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Thank you for sticking with us and we shared all the wonderful stories from the Pride of Britain Awards!
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An incredible night!
What a night celebrating the best of Britain - the unsung heroes.
Here's the winners in full and their incredible achievements!
Westlife perform!
Closing the show is the incredible Westlife, as the winners return to the stage to celebrate with the band.
The group sing World Of Our Own alongside some of the winners, who are thrilled to be honoured at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards.
Sally is reunited with Maja!
In a heartbreaking and emotional moment, Maja sent a video message from Florida.
But there was one more surprise for Sally, as Maja stepped onto stage to celeb rate Sally's win.
Maja Kazazic was just 16 years old when Sally arrived at the makeshift hospital in Mostar, Bosnia, to find her clinging onto life. Her injuries from a rocket-propelled grenade which killed her group of friends were so devastating that she had to have one leg amputated. Since that fateful day, she has endured more than 100 operations.
Sally speaks out
Sally said: "It was an amazing night for all the winners and for me, it was just magical. I’ll never forget my first mission, seeing all those children and driving through and what they were going through.
"It gives me so much motivation to keep going and saving them. Knowing I can do that means everything. I am so proud to have won a Pride of Britain for it."
Lifetime Achievement winner Sally Becker
Horrified by images of suffering, in 1993 Sally Becker, an artist, went to war torn Bosnia to help. Tasked with taking aid to a hospital, she found herself evacuating sick and injured children in an old Bedford van.
She’s now devoted more than three decades to helping thousands of children in besieged areas, including Kosovo, Northern Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Gaza. She was shot by masked gunmen in Northern Albania and survived an attack by ISIS militants in Mosul.
Marcus' Movers gets big donation
Sam and Pete kicked things off with a £5,000 donation on stage, and then Pub Landlord Al Murray took to the floor to persuade some other famous faces to chip in too.
Dragons Den tycoon Duncan Bannatyne donated £20,000, bringing the total raised on the night to £50,000, enough to fund 20 potentially lifesaving Marcus's Movers groups. A stunned Marcus told Ashley Banjo: "From the bottom of my heart, that means the absolute world. I'm lost for words."
Leanne Pero MBE wins Special Recognition
Leanne Pero MBE, 30, won another recognition award for The Movement Factory community dance company which she founded when she was just 15.
Londoner Leanne, who survived a breast cancer diagnosis exactly nine years ago, also started Black Women Rising, a cancer support group that has raised more than £1m to fund support and advice.
King’s Trust Young Achiever - Harry Byrne
His mother’s sudden death on Christmas Day saw Harry, then 11, spiral into truancy, mental health problems, addiction and homelessness.
At his lowest, Harry, 24, from Coventry, was helped by local homelessness charity St Basil’s and discovered The King’s Trust Get Started in Outdoor Leadership programme, delivered in partnership with Coventry Outdoors Education and Adventure Service.
He said: “I didn’t have many role models or access to the support I needed when I was younger. I’m passionate about getting up every morning and providing just that for the next generation.”
Outstanding Bravery award
PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield, PC Cameron King and Inspector Moloy Campbell overcame sword wielding attacker Marcus Arduini Monzo, who had already murdered Daniel Anjorin, 14, on April 20, 2024, in Hainault, east London.
Drug-fuelled Monzo crashed a van into a house, hitting a pedestrian, before going on the rampage with a samurai-style sword.
PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield and PC Cameron King were the first police officers to confront Monzo, but he nearly severed PC Mechem-Whitfield’s hand.
Cornered on a driveway by other officers, with pepper spray proving ineffective, Inspector Moloy Campbell - who had rushed to the scene from his station's morning briefing and did not have his TASER - used his baton. But Monzo sliced through his body camera and his hand, almost severing his thumb.
Other officers subdued Monzo - who was later jailed for 40 years - with multiple TASER charges. Insp Campbell said: “When I challenged Mr Monzo, I knew it may be the last decision I would ever make.”
Joanne Harris surprised by Gavin & Stacey stars
Joanne Harris was handed the ITV Fundraiser award for her mission to provide knitted breast prosthetics for women who have had mastectomies due to breast cancer.
Inspired by her own friend’s struggle with the disease, which made her aware of the uncomfortable silicon prosthetics provided by the NHS, Joanne set up Knitted Knockers Northern Ireland which now provides 5,000 soft, breathable knitted breast prosthetics to cancer patients free of charge every year.
Special Recognition winner Asha Ali Rage
Football coach Asha, 46, a mum-of-three, took a coaching course at Aston Villa wanting to use the sport to protect youngsters from gangs and give them opportunities.
And in 2016 she founded Dream Chasers FC in Small Heath, Birmingham, an area with one of the highest rates of knife crime in the country. Now Dream Chasers is also a community hub, giving young people a safe space and opportunities and offering services like English lessons for migrant parents.
She said: "Seeing the young people thrive is where I get my motivation from. I wanted to create that safe space for them and get them on the right path. I wanted to give them the opportunities I never had and it means so much to me to be able to create that.
"Everybody is welcome, they have friends, they have that safe space and it means so much to me. Safeguarding is my priority and im so glad I can provide that to get children on the right route."
This Morning Local Heroes are Ups & Downs
Created by three music teachers at an additional needs school in 1995, the Ups & Downs theatre group based in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, is for young people with Down syndrome and their families.
Now led by Lorna Leggatt, whose son Ellis, 26, has been a member since he was five, Ups & Downs offers inclusive activities including music, dance and drama to around 70 members - who have Down’s syndrome or a sibling with the condition.
Lorna says of their annual week of sell-out concerts showcasing their talent: “The audience come thinking that they are just supporting a local charity but leave completely amazed and moved.”
Zach Eagling wins Teenager of Courage Award
Inspirational schoolboy Zach Eagling, 13, whose successful campaign changed the law to protect people with epilepsy saw him win the Teenager of Courage Award.
He said: "I am so proud, I don't know how I've managed it but I have. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this."
Strictly judge Shirley Ballas added: "On behalf of everyone in Strictly, for you to be able to change a law that makes you rather extraordinary gentleman and we are extremely proud of you."
Fans were in tears watching Zach share his story. Read more about that here.
Georgie Hyslop wins GMB Fundraiser of the Year
Georgie Hyslop, 15, the Good Morning Britain Fundraiser of the year, was 'thrilled' to receive her trophy from the actress Margot Robbie.
She also attended a movie premiere with the star, who told her: "I have heard of all the work you have done. You are hugely inspiring to me. I am here to give you the Pride of Britain award."
Georgie was stunned at meeting the star and attending the premiere, saying: “It is a dream come true.”
Al Murray interrupts proceedings
Al Murray was on hand to raise money for Marcus' Movers. After handing Marcus his trophy, pop star Anne-Marie, and podcast duo Pete Wicks and Sam Thompson revealed Pride of Britain had launched a special GoFundMe for mental health charity Mind in Marcus's honour.
Money raised will pay for special mental health walking and running groups all over the country called Marcus's Movers. The groups, which include mental health practitioners, cost £2,500 to set up.
Hull Boy Marcus Skeet honoured
Marcus - known as Hull Boy - started running after his father was diagnosed with dementia and his own mental health declined.
"With people my age, it's so difficult because I feel like there isn't as much of a stigma around mental health. There's a lot of people who do open up but I feel like sometimes people feel like when they open up they're not heard and it can be quite difficult for people because there's a lot of people out there who are suffering," he told us.
"It's a horrible, horrible thing but to the people and the kids that are struggling, it's so important to know that it does get better and it sounds so cliche but it might take years and I'm alright with saying that. I always like to say every tunnel, no matter the shape or size or how many bumps are in the road, you do get to the end. And that's the same with mental health. No matter who you are, how long it takes, it does get better."
Javeno McLean wins Inspiration Award
Personal trainer Javeno McLean, 40, who was surprised by TV presenter Paddy McGuinness with his trophy, said: "I never take money from a disabled or disadvantaged person. I help people because it is the right thing to do."
A moving video showed him receive the plaudits of his dad Clyde and his children Mason and Lea. Yet Javeno insisted his approach was to simply treat all his gym customers 'the same'.
Luke 'honoured' to meet The Rock
Luke met his idol Dwanye The Rock Johnson, who posed as a waiter at the hotel they had been staying at.
The film star and wrestler said: “Good to meet you, I heard a lot about you, I heard that you climb mountains, so there is no challenge too big for you...
"Luke, I am not here just to deliver your room service, I am here to deliver some very, very, very exciting news. I have the honour of saying you have won a Pride of Britain Award. Congratulations.”
Luke Mortimer is our first winner
Luke, who battled meningitis at the age of six and had to have all his limbs amputated, was named Child of Courage at the the 2025 Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards.
After six months in hospital and 23 operations, he eventually went home - but his life had changed forever.
He recalled: “When I came home, everything was physically hard, but there is also the emotional aspect of it. I was scared of what people would think of me, I was worried if my life would be the same. It was very tough at that time."
Red carpet recap
The stars were out in full force to honour our incredible winners!
Carol and Ashley are here to introduce us to our winners - and the celebrities and sports stars that will be celebrating their successes.
Red carpet awaits!
The show always kicks off with some great red carpet footage - and this year is to be no different.
We chatted to Celebrity Big Brother star and Chesney Hawkes about what the award means to him. "Do you know what, I go to a lot of these. There is a lot of award ceremonies throughout the year, which is amazing, that we all get to go to and celebrate some of the stuff we do in the business and get to wear flashy velvet jackets and things like that. But this is just something very different, isn't it?" he said.
"What I love about this is that it's the unsung heroes up and down the country that have just done something beautiful, you know, and that kind of beautiful human spirit. I've been to quite a few of these, and I would not miss it for the world if I could help it. I'm always so so happy to be here to support."
Britain's not broken!
The Prime Minister declared “Britain’s not broken” as he welcomed the winners of this year’s Pride of Britain Awards to Downing Street.
Keir Starmer praised “the very best of our country” as he told our worthy winners that their incredible courage, bravery and community action will inspire millions.
He said: "People say, ‘oh Britain’s broken, people don’t care about each other’. But it’s the complete opposite: if given the chance, almost everybody will try to do something for somebody else. Just look around you."
How to watch
The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, with P&O Cruises, celebrate the nation's unsung heroes, young and old. Winners include fundraisers, campaigners, children who have overcome incredible odds and heroes who have risked their lives to save others.
On Monday, The Mirror's social channels featured the biggest red carpet live stream in the awards' history, with social sensations Pete Wicks and Sam Thompson, GK Barry and Mark and Roxanne Hoyle - better known as Ladbaby - all roving the carpet.
The awards can be watched on ITV1 from 8pm.
Behind the scenes secrets
Carol Vorderman has been letting slip some behind-the-scenes secrets from the event.
Discussing her and fellow host Ashley Banjo's informal ‘Winners’ Dinner', she said: "We started doing this a few years ago, getting all the winners and their families round the table and we go through the running order.
"We briefly tell each person’s story and the reason they’ve won their award, and then everyone cheers. Then, every time, they go, ‘oh, isn’t so-and-so amazing, I completely understand why they’ve won an award, but I don’t understand why I have.’ Every year they do this!"
Prime Minister Keir Starmer reacts
The Prime Minister was in the audience at the Daily Mirror ’s Pride of Britain Awards, with P&O Cruises, on Monday night, along with his wife Victoria.
He also invited the winners and their families to 10 Downing Street, where he celebrated their achievements and they got a chance to show off their shiny new trophies.
"I always arrive thinking of this problem, that problem, like the world is on my shoulders. But the moment I hear the first story, I think, ‘give your head a wobble’. You’re doing amazing things here," the Prime Minister said, "Loads of people sitting in their living rooms may well say, 'if they can do that, maybe I can do that.'"
Pride of Britain winners
An incredible set of unsung heroes were honoured at Monday's glittering ceremony, including
Nominated by the public, the recipients are ordinary people of all ages and backgrounds whose actions are deemed extraordinary and inspiring. The awards celebrate achievements like overcoming adversity, performing extraordinary acts of kindness, and displaying immense courage.
Check out the full list of winners here and their incredible stories.