We speak to presenter Jeff Brazier about what makes the Pride of Britain Awards resonate with the public so much, and what we should expect from this year’s show.
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00:00I think it's by watching the Pride of Britain that we connect with what's great about our communities and about some people in society that, you know, they're not really looking for acknowledgement or recognition, but they deserve it.
00:13And when they do get it, you know, I think it's something that we all celebrate. We're all pleased for these people.
00:17So and as well, there's part of us that actually sort of, you know, enjoys a good cry and there's always some real, really tear jerking stories.
00:25So there's lots of reasons why we love the Pride of Britain Awards and that they're in their 26th year.
00:31This year, especially, there's a real push to engage the public through sort of different initiatives like the P&O Cruises Inspiration Award.
00:39What I'm doing with P&O Cruises is we have a nomination booth that we're going to take around the UK.
00:47So we're going to start in Edinburgh. We're going to go to Birmingham, Belfast, Liverpool, Cardiff, Southampton.
00:52So we're giving people the opportunity in passing, in the street and you can't miss us.
00:57It's a big booth to walk in and just be like, oh, yeah, do you know what?
01:01This person really inspires me or this person did something that ultimately my life wouldn't be the same unless it was for them.
01:08Are there any moments or stories that have stood out for you in the past or maybe coming up this year that sort of really, really caught your eye and really, really caught you emotionally?
01:17So there's a young lad, Jacob, who won the Young Fundraiser Award last year and he raised over £160,000 and he's done it really in memory of his mum who he lost.
01:28So, you know, to see how he has had the courage, I think, to kind of, you know, obviously whilst grieving his mum, to put a foot forward and to be an inspiration for other young people, not only from a fundraising point of view,
01:43but also when you're grieving, you can still do things that are positive or do some good.
01:50And this is how I choose to remember my mum. So obviously that's close to home for me and my family.
01:57So in meeting Jacob today, which I've done and obviously been aware of his award and his background, I think that that's something that, you know, for me will always trigger some emotion.
02:10Why are awards and ceremonies like Pride of Britain such an important thing?
02:13These are the people in society that deserve it the most. So it's really important that Pride of Britain exists, carries on doing its work and carries on highlighting the incredible people that we're amongst.