The 2026 Pride of Britain Award nominations are now open, with long-time host Carol Vorderman urging Mirror readers to consider voting for the remarkable everyday heroes in their lives
TV legend Carol Vorderman says anyone looking for hope in these dark times will be blown away by “the goodness of people” at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards.
Carol, 65, has been presenting the celebration of the most amazing people in our society since the Awards’ inception in 1999. Our nominations are now open for this year’s Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards with P&O Cruises, and Carol says: “Pride of Britain is needed now more than ever. We’re incredibly divided as a nation.
“And there are plenty of reasons to be miserable: the cost-of-living crisis, global uncertainty. But through it all, one thing unites us – and that is hope. And the goodness of people.”
Founded by the Mirror and now 27 years old, the Awards honour unsung heroes, including children of courage, tireless fundraisers, and individuals who have acted with outstanding bravery.
It’s unlike anything else on TV, says Carol, who first appeared on Countdown in 1982 – the very first woman to appear on Channel 4. She was the show’s numbers and letters expert for 26 years, until she left in 2008.
She says: “Here’s the thing, having worked in showbiz – telly anyway – for over 40 years, you do meet incredibly talented people. But doing Pride of Britain, which is now in our 27th year, you meet people living relatively normal lives, if you like. Then they do these extraordinary things.
“I think it reminds you, endlessly, that to be a great person, you don’t have to be rich. Usually, they aren’t; they’re far from it, and you certainly don’t have to be famous.
“It gives all of us, including me, hope. It gives me hope for everyone. Above all, people that I meet, whether it’s royalty, whoever, they’re the people who matter the most.”
Since 2021, Carol has been joined on stage on the night by co-host Ashley Banjo, 37, of dance group Diversity, for the ITV spectacular.
Award categories include the This Morning Local Hero, the Emergency Services Award, Child/Teenager of Courage and more.
Over the years, Pride of Britain winners have made an indelible impression on all who have heard their stories.
In 2018, British cave rescue divers John Volanthen, Rick Stanton, Jason Mallinson, Chris Jewell, Josh Bratchley and Connor Roe won the Pride of Britain Outstanding Bravery Award. It recognised their heroic efforts in rescuing 12 boys and their football coach from the flooded Tham Luang cave in Thailand.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when, to the surprise of both the team and viewers at home, all 12 rescued boys walked out on stage to thank the men who had saved their lives.
The same year, 10-year-old Max Johnson received the Child of Courage award after campaigning for an opt-out organ donation system in England, which eventually became known as ‘Max’s Law’. Max received a life-saving heart transplant, aged nine. He was on the waiting list for eight months after being diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle.
Elsewhere, in 2012, TV presenter Katie Piper was honoured with the Special Recognition Award for her incredible bravery and for setting up a foundation to support burns survivors following a horrific acid attack.
Also in 2012, Doreen Lawrence received the Lifetime Achievement award for her decades-long fight for justice, following the racist murder of her son, Stephen Lawrence, and for her work with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.
The 28th edition of the Awards, partnered with P&O Cruises, will be held at Grosvenor House in the Autumn, and will be shown on ITV1 at prime time.
“It’s an incredibly emotional event,” says Carol, who lives in Bristol. “I don’t hold it together when I first read the shortlist. That’s probably the most difficult bit. And it’s so hard to choose the winners – all the entries are so amazing.
“We have a day of judging and saying, ‘Can we carry that person over to next year?’ We do it all the time and very often that person then wins in the next year.
“Then we get to meet them and their families and so on, and then there’s the night itself.
“On the night, I have to put a different head on, really, because it is not about the presenters. It is only about the winners. The award presenters, yes, because they’re usually their favourite actor or band or whoever, and it means something to them. But it isn’t about the presenter getting emotional, because then you’re drawing attention to you and you shouldn’t because we’re nothing compared to them.
“I’ve cried all my tears beforehand. I say it to them the day before, ‘Tomorrow is a celebration for you. Everyone is there to celebrate you.’ So when they come up on the stage, they know that and they feel safe as well. They know myself and Ashley reasonably well by then too.”
But Carol’s favourite bit of the event is the ‘winners’ dinner’, the get-together before the annual ceremony.
She says: “To be honest, that’s my favourite night. You’re not on the show, so you have time for proper chats with everyone.
“Everybody’s there, but they don’t know each other’s stories, of course, so it’s very special for them to hear why everyone else is there.
“There’s something remarkable that runs through the DNA of all of our winners, and that’s why that night is special for us.”
The 2026 Pride of Britain Award nominations are now open, and Carol urges Mirror readers to start thinking about the brilliant people in their lives.
“Do it,” she says. “Because someone has to nominate those wonderful people, and if you’re not going to do it, who is?”
How to nominate
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 by visiting 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.
The awards
P&O Cruises inspiration award: 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, open to people aged 18 and over.
Good Morning Britain young fundraiser of the year: To reward a young person aged 17 and under for inspirational charity work.
This Morning local hero: To celebrate 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.
Emergency services award: 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.
Special recognition: For achievements not covered in other categories, such as inspiring carers, campaigners and members of armed forces.
*Click HERE to nominate your hero
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