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Ahead of the 2025 Pride of Britain Awards later this year, longtime presenter Carol Vorderman reflected on the previous year's ceremony to defend the Prime minister. During the 2024 event, Sir Keir Starmer joined co-host and Diversity star Ashley Banjo on stage to present the Outstanding Bravery Award to winner Emily Greenwood.

The 53-year-old was honoured after a walk on the beach with her son resulted in her swimming 400m in the sea, to save a 10-year-old boy and his stepdad after they were dragged out by powerful currents.

However, as the politician praised her bravery and handed Emily the award, many viewers took to social media to criticise the award ceremony for inviting the controversial Prime Minister. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Express, Carol responded to the backlash and fumed: "They should present an award we've had so many Prime Ministers, whoever they are, even Boris Johnson.

"The thing is, whether you're pro-monarchy or anti-monarchy, the monarchy is important in this country. Whether you're pro Labour or anti- Labour, he's the prime minister."

Hitting back at negative responses, Carol blurted: "So, people can just shut up basically."

Britain's Got Talent winner Ashley Banjo chimed in: "I think basically, the Pride of Britain Awards, the undertone of it all is about bringing people together.

"I think that night, for once, we put down the politics and we actually just celebrated people and like Carol's saying, whoever it is our prime minister, they're also a human being."

Listing the politicians who have appeared at the ceremony, the former Countdown star stated: "We've had [Tony] Blair, [Gordon] Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, Rishi didn't, and sadly we missed Liz Truss, she wasn't quite in long enough."

Carol quipped: "She was literally in and out like the hockey cockey, and then Keir Starmer, so they've all been there and if people want to have a moan about that [shrugs shoulders], as far as I'm concerned."

During the awards evening, Starmer told Emily: "Just seeing what you did, you're absolutely amazing. Your instinct was to help others to courage.

"This is about Pride and you've made all of us really proud, that decision that you took was really inspiring and I think the feeling for me and everybody here is inspired but al really humbled."

The 2025 Pride of Britain awards will return to screens later this year for the annual televised ceremony, which will air on ITV1 in October.