I keep it together but some of the stories just destroy me'

Ashley Banjo is proud to be a part of the Pride of Britain Awards but says presenting the show can be emotional

- GEORGIA TREVITT

Back for his seventh year as host of the Pride of Britain Awards alongside Carol Vorderman, it's evident that Ashley Banjo is as grateful as ever to be a part of this special annual event honouring the nation's unsung heroes.

"It's a proper landmark in the calendar for me now," the TV star, who joined the show as a roving reporter in 2017 before becoming co-host in 2021, tells OK!. "It's humbling and wholesome. You hear so much negativity on social media and in the news, and even though a lot of the stories on Pride of Britain are born from negative situations, we're celebrating the positive.

It's a really important thing to be a part of." On what he enjoys most about the job, Ashley, 36, continues, "Meeting these people is amazing. We get together and have a winners' dinner, where we get to sit with everyone and their families, and get to know their stories. It's like being at the most interesting dinner party in the world."

He adds, "There are some remarkable people out there. Some of the VTs they make they look like action movies. There was a guy this year who was saving somebody, swinging on a crane through fire. Crazy!"

And working alongside his pal Carol, 63 – who he grew close to after she took part in I’m A Celebrity alongside his brother, Jordan Banjo, in 2016 – is also a highlight.

“Carol’s great, she’s a legend,” he tells us. “I always say to people she’s not only lovely, but she’s super smart as well. She’s always made me want to raise my game as a host and she knows everything about everything. She doesn’t just know the names of the people and their stories, she’ll know the names of their extended family and what they do. She’s amazing. I’ve got a lot of love and respect for her.”