Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks have announced they are returning to the Pride of Britain Awards red carpet as hosts for the third year running.
The pair joined Ranvir Singh, 48, Tom Swarbrick, 39, and entertainment editor Richard Arnold, 56, on Wednesday’s Good Morning Britain to talk about their new presenting gig.
Pride of Britain has been ‘honouring the nation’s unsung heroes’ since it first began in 1999, and sees people from all over the UK win categories such as Special Recognition, King’s Trust Young Achiever, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser and Child of Courage.
The ceremony, hosted by Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo, is held at Grosvenor House in London at the end of the year.
Richard said to the pair: ‘In the meantime, you’re having your way on the Pride of Britain red carpet, which you have made your very own in recent years. And it is the best night, isn’t it?’
Pete replied: ‘100%. Sam and I are really blessed to go to loads of different events but we say Pride of Britain is the best event of the year. We mean it.
Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks have announced they are returning to the Pride of Britain Awards red carpet as hosts for the third year running
‘For us to do the red carpet, I think it’s our third year doing the red carpet, it’s my twelfth Pride of Britain, I love it.
‘It’s the best night ever. But actually working and getting to meet everyone, it’s just incredible isn’t it?’
Sam added: ‘Well it’s the best of Britain, right? The first part where we get to meet all of the nominees and the winners is so great.
‘Then once that’s done you go “Right, OK! Now the people that matter less…”
‘And you can be a bit more jokey with them because you want to hear the stories at the very start. We’re very, very blessed to do it.
‘Every year we think “Are they going to ask us back again?” But here we are, third year in a row!’
Richard pointed out: ‘You arrived on a tandem bike last year, which was quite something. You’ve got to have a gimmick haven’t you? Any ideas of how you are going to turn up?’
Sam laughed: ‘It didn’t even work last time!’
The duo hinted that they could arrive for the red carpet on a jet pack this year, after making their entrance last year on a tandem bike
Pete chimed in: ‘It didn’t work last year because it was raining so much, we could have come on a boat. Who knows! Who knows! Jet packing?’
‘I would do anything,’ Sam said.
‘The first year when they asked us to do something, obviously from Pete it was a stern no, but I feel like you’re getting into it now to be fair.’
‘I’m not,’ Pete replied with a smirk on his face.
Last year’s ceremony was held on Monday 20th October and then aired on ITV on Thursday 23rd October.
Richard later said: ‘The fact that you are here, Pride of Britain is upon us. I know the date hasn’t been released yet.
‘It’s some time in October, but when I see these boys, I think “Do I really need to go upstairs into the attic already and get my baubles?”
‘Because we’re almost, you know, once we start flagging that the Pride of Britain is on its way, we’re on the road, aren’t we?’
Ranvir said: ‘It’s absolutely wonderful. It’s a humbling night. It is a night where it puts your whole life into perspective.
‘We grumble about all sorts of things and then you see these remarkable people who didn’t do anything for any praise and they are there.’
Sam said: ‘They seem stunned sometimes when we talk to them, as if the night is about them, they can’t understand that.
‘Which is even more like they are so humble. They don’t even see the things they do as all that epic, that’s why they are, as I said, the best of Britain.’
Ranvir added: ‘Best night of the year.’
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6:00am on ITV.