Pride of Britain: Marcus Rashford gets Special Recognition trophy

Footballer Marcus Rashford was left awestruck as he was presented with a Pride of Britain Award during the 2020 ceremony, which aired on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Manchester United ace’s campaign to ensure vulnerable children were fed, saw the scheme extended throughout the summer holidays despite an original insistence that the initiative would not continue outside term time. 

The Government’s decision to vote against extending free school meals recently was met by staunch defiance from Rashford, who vowed to continue to advocate for change. 

Inspiration: Footballer Marcus Rashford was left awestruck as he was presented with a Pride of Britain Award during the 2020 ceremony, which aired on Sunday

The star was surprising fellow award winner Emmie Narayan-Nicholas in Manchester, who battled leukaemia and started providing food for parents living at their sick children’s bedsides – when he was given a Special Recognition Award by Ashley and Jordan Banjo.

Marcus, who received thousands of nominations, said: ‘No way!’ as he was given his award.  

He said: ‘Ultimately no kids should miss meals. For me that should be just standard no matter where you come from. If we get that as the new normal then we have made a lot of strides forward.’

‘I attended Pride of Britain last year so I was able to see firsthand just how deserving the recipients of the awards are.

You did it: The 23-year-old Manchester United ace’s campaign to ensure vulnerable children were fed, saw the scheme extended throughout the summer holidays despite an original insistence that the initiative would not continue outside term time

‘I am extremely humbled but I’d like to think that I am receiving this award on behalf of all of the incredible people who have selflessly stepped up to support their communities during this pandemic.

‘I have met many of them and I am no more deserving than them.

‘Parents who have sacrificed everything to feed their children during this challenging time, people who are volunteering at the FareShare food banks day in and day out, people who are fighting to protect our most vulnerable children every minute of the day.  

‘It is those people who really make me proud to be British and really define us as a United Kingdom.

Award winners: The star was surprising fellow award winner Emmie Narayan-Nicholas in Manchester, who battled leukaemia and started providing food for parents living at their children’s bedsides

Campaign: He said: ‘ Ultimately no kids should miss meals. For me that should be just standard no matter where you come from. If we get that as the new normal then we have made a lot of strides forward’

‘So today, I accept this award on behalf of all of those who step up without the need for thanks and accolades. I appreciate every single one of you.’   

The 2020 Pride Of Britain Awards mark the 22nd time Carol Vorderman is fronting the ceremony.

She was joined this year by co-host Ashley Banjo – with the pandemic rendering proceedings a little different for 2020.

Carol and Ashley were also joined by guest stars Holly Willoughby, Susanna Reid and Paloma Faith, who all filmed their contributions at the famous Royal Hospital Chelsea, which was lit up for the occasion with a stunning Pride Of Britain Awards set. 

As the awards air on ITV, landmarks across London, including the London Eye, BT Tower and County Hall, will turn red, white and blue in celebration of this year’s winners. 

Captain Sir Tom Moore was among those honoured in the ceremony which awards the remarkable achievements of Brits who have selflessly contributed the the nation and the world.

Captain Sir Tom Moore is being recognised for his efforts in raising £32 million for the NHS during lockdown. 

Winners will have their awards delivered to them instead of attending a ceremony in person this year.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have already filmed a segment to thank St Bartholomew’s in London for their work during the pandemic with Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway. They are set to make another appearance on the evening, too. 

Nominated by the public, the winners are from all walks of life, of all ages, and from all over the country. 

Since the first ceremony in 1999, royalty, prime ministers, and hundreds of leading figures from showbusiness, sport, politics and the arts have all taken part. 

The awards attract an audience of around five million viewers every year in a primetime slot on ITV – making it the highest rated awards show of its kind on British television.

The winners come from tens of thousands of public nominations and stories of remarkable individuals discovered by our team of researchers. They are whittled down to a shortlist from which our judging panel, made up of celebrated figures in national life, chooses the winners.

Fight: The Government’s decision to vote against extending free school meals recently was met by staunch defiance from Rashford, who vowed to continue to advocate for change