25 years of Pride of Britain - jaw-dropping moments and incredible heroism

From the moment the first ever Pride of Britain winner walked on stage at The Dorchester to join on Thursday 20th May, 1999, it was clear something special was happening.

The courage and humility of Michael McNally, a bus driver who saved victims of the Omagh bomb, stunned an audience including royalty, the Prime Minister, Paul McCartney and the Spice Girls.

Michael was followed by inspirational - our first group of winners.

Since then, many things have changed. We have been at home at Grosvenor House since 2010, Carol has been joined by co-host Ashley Banjo and new generations of famous faces have taken their place in the audience, alongside Prime Ministers and Royalty.

But as we celebrate our 25th anniversary, one thing is resolutely the same - the selfless, modest heroism of the unsung heroes, who we celebrate as the very best of British.

They are of all ages, from all walks of life, and every corner of the country. They have overcome huge challenges, changed people's lives and inspired the nation.

Over the past 25 years, we have been proud to give them their well-deserved moment in the spotlight, and we've done our best to make it as special as possible.

We've had amazing surprises, emotional reunions, and some jaw-dropping celebrity guests.

Some of the most memorable moments include Teenager of Courage Moin Younis getting the royal seal of approval in 2017 when he threw his Aston Villa scarf to fellow fan , who proudly draped it around his neck.

Brits’ heroic response to global events provided two magical reunions. In 2010, little Mia Charlet, three, who had been pulled from the rubble of the Haiti earthquake, was reunited on stage with the firefighter who rescued her. And in 2018, there were stunned gasps when the Thai boys who had been trapped underground came out on stage to thank the brave cave divers who saved their lives.

Young Fundraiser of the Year Cameron Small pied Cheryl Cole in the face – all in the name of charity at the 2010 awards. The glamorous Geordie agreed to the custard pie treatment to raise £15,000 for Children’s Hospital.

Some truly memorable Pride of Britain moments came when celebrities flew to warzones to honour our forces on the frontline. Ant and Dec saw the risks our soldiers faced at first hand when they came under Taliban rocket attack at Kandahar airbase in 2008. Other celebrities who presented Pride of Britain Awards on the frontline include Cheryl Cole, Sir , Ewan McGregor, and Andrew Flintoff.

Two global icons met in 2013 when presented a Teenager of Courage Award to Malala, the schoolgirl who defied the Taliban and inspired the . David was in awe of Malala as he handed over her Award and said: “You’re an amazing young lady whose story has moved millions.”

Pride of Britain surprises provide some of TV’s most hilarious moments. Flight attendant Carol Miller, who saved a baby’s life at 30,000 feet, was surprised over the tannoy by Peter Kay at Manchester airport in 2009. Ant and Dec pretended to be waxworks at Madame Tussaud’s so they could tell Aimee Dempsey she had won an award in 2010. dressed up as a bee to surprise 91-year-old Jean Bishop, known as the Bee Lady for her own fundraising costume.

Marking the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in 2010, the last of "The Few" RAF heroes, including Spitfire and Hurricane pilots who were now in their 90s, were reunited to receive a Special Recognition Award for their valour.

Sir Nicholas Winton, 93, saved the lives of 669 children who would have perished in Nazi death camps by organising freedom trains to Britain. Relatives of some of the children he rescued were on stage to pay tribute to the Lifetime Achievement Award winner in 2003. One said: “Without him none of us would be here. He saved our lives.”

Not even a pandemic could stop us. In 2020, when Covid lockdown rules prevented our usual awards dinner, we sent famous faces across the country to surprise our winners – at a safe social distance of course, with Carol pulling it all together from a spectacular outdoor stage at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea.

Highlights of the show in that unprecedented year included Prince William and meeting frontline heroes, and the moment we turned the tables on footballer , surprising him with an award of his own moments after he had presented Child of Courage Emmie Narayn-Nicholas with hers.

These are just a few of the incredible stories we have shared in the 25 years since that first Pride of Britain Awards in 1999. Don't miss this year's show on as we write the next chapter.

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