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Owain Wyn Evans presented with ‘Special Recognition Award’ after his 24-hour drumathon raises over £3m
The BBC weatherman was presented with the 'Special Recognition Award' by the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester.
BBC weatherman Owain Wyn Evans was surprised by being presented with a ‘Special Recognition Award’ live on air yesterday.
During an appearance on BBC North West Tonight, the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Diane Hawkins DL, spent most of her time on the show discussing with newsreader and presenter Roger Johnson her role getting to choose who is honoured with ‘Young Citizen Awards’ in our region each year.
The award was created to recognise young people who have done good things in their communities, and the High Sheriff explained how the search was currently on for this year’s winners.
But that wasn’t all she was there for.
The High Sheriff explained that she is also responsible for choosing who is awarded ‘Special Recognition Awards’, and so, just before she left, presenter Roger Johnson called over the show’s weatherman Owain Wyn Evans to join them on the red sofa, where the High Sheriff presented him with the honour.
“That’s incredible, I am so honoured,” an emotional Owain said.
Owain was awarded the ‘Special Recognition Award’ for completing his 24-hour ‘drumathon’ for Children in Need last month, and also for LGBTQ Representation.
Read more: BBC weatherman Owain Wyn Evans is doing a 24-hour ‘drumathon’ for Children In Need
As well as being seen live on air as the show went out, the video of the presentation of the award has also been watched hundreds of thousands of times since being shared on BBC NWT’s social media pages, with many congratulating Owain on his achievements in the comments and sending their well-wishes.
In case you missed it, weatherman and resident drummer Owain smashed his fundraising target after completing his 24-hour ‘drumathon’ for Children In Need.
Owain’s 24-hours of drumming officially began on BBC Breakfast on Friday 12 November at 8:35am, and was streamed live on BBC iPlayer for the full duration, before ending at the same time the following day on Saturday 13 November.
He managed to continue for the full 24 hours, and only paused for breaks, and to seek some medical attention for injuries that had developed from the persistent playing.
Throughout the 24-hours, Owain was was joined by musicians from around the UK in every genre of music, and one of the most memorable moments from the ‘drumathon’ had to be when Owain and 50 guest drummers recreated his viral rendition of the BBC News theme that took social media by storm during lockdown in 2020.
Owain said he believes his fundraising total could be nearing £3.8 million now.
Read more: BBC weatherman Owain Wyn Evans’ 24-hour ‘drumathon’ smashes £2.5m fundraising target
After completing the challenge at the studios in Salford, an emotional Owain said: “I’m feeling overwhelmed, people have been so generous [and] surprisingly, my hand held up OK but we had some problems with my arms because they’ve been moving for 24 hours.
“Thank you so much to everyone who has put your hands in your pocket and donated, BBC Children In Need helps causes which are really close to my heart.”
Owain spoke ahead of the challenge about what drumming has done for him growing up, explaining: “Over the years it’s helped me so much, it eases my anxiety and brings me so much joy [and] that’s why I’ve accepted this mammoth challenge [as] I want to help change the perception of who can be a drummer, and support all of the amazing charities and groups that BBC Children in Need helps.
“I’ve learned first hand how BBC Children in Need helps children and young people across the UK from a range of different backgrounds and identities.”
You can still donate to the BBC Breakfast Drumathon for Children In Need here.
Featured Image – BBC North West Tonight
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Jack Grealish welcomes baby girl with partner Sasha Attwood
Emily Sergeant
Jack Grealish and his girlfriend Sasha Attwood have announced they’ve welcomed their first child into the world.
The Manchester City and England star shared the exciting news with fans this week.
Back in July, the Birmingham-born couple – who are both 28-years-old, and are childhood sweethearts, having been reportedly dating since their high school days in Solihull – each took to social media to share with their millions of followers that they were “beyond blessed” to be expecting a baby together in a couple of months’ time.
The footballer posted a photograph of himself hugging Attwood from behind, with both of their hands over her pregnancy bump.
“Life’s biggest blessing,” Grealish wrote on his Instagram post.
And now, nearly three months after sharing the news, the couple have welcomed the newest addition to their family.
They’ve welcomed a baby girl named Mila Rose.
According to the posts shared by the couple to Instagram yesterday, Mila was born Friday 27 September, and Attwood has described her daughter’s arrival as “the most special moment of my life” in her message to her 324,000 followers.
Grealish has received an outpouring of love and support from dozens of his fellow players, both at club and international level, on the announcement of the birth of his baby daughter – including by England teammates Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice, among many others – as well as thousands of his fans in the comments.
Attwood also received thousands of well-wishes from friends and fans.
Read more:
Congratulations to Jack and Sasha on their new arrival.
Featured Image – Jack Grealish & Sasha Attwood (via Instagram)
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The 1975 and Charli XCX drop collab teaser in Manchester city centre
Danny Jones
Manchester, we might have a collaboration between two of the biggest British acts around right now as local lads The 1975 and pop sensation Charli XCX look to have just teased something big right here in the city centre.
It’s fair to say that if 2023 was the biggest year of The 1975‘s career to date then 2024 has very much been Charli XCX’s. In fact, we’d say it’s been a pretty great 12 months or so for pop music in general, which it feels like we don’t get to say that often.
That being said, despite the Cambridge-born singer having only just released her smash-hit BRAT back in June, is already ramping up for more new music to be dropped.
A massive new poster has appeared near Piccadilly and not only is it the bright lime green and plain black font now synonymous with her album but the words also read “the 1975” backwards.
It looks like this could finally be The 1975 x Charli XCX collab so many fans have been waiting for and there’s plenty of reason to believe it could be coming very soon.
For starters, rumours of the two working together have been running ever since the 32-year-old became partners with the band’s drummer, producer and co-songwriter, George Daniel, who has regularly appeared with her on stage at the likes of Boiler Room, not to mention sharing mixes of her songs.
She also came out as a surprise guest during their second-to-last visit to Manchester and the AO Arena back in January 2023 – much to the delight of the crowd.
Furthermore, Charli recently announced her next project rather straightforwardly called Brat and it’s completely different but still also brat.
And yes, that is genuinely the real title…
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While there are no other discernible clues to take from the rather large billboard, the title alone, George Daniel’s involvement and her own penchant for DJing of late quickly led people to piece together that she is planning to release a reworked version of her sixth studio album.
Moreover, Charli (real name Charlotte Emma Aitchison) has already revealed a number of feature artists on the remixed version of BRAT, including Addison Rae, Robyn, Billie Eilish and Yung Lean, as well as Troye Sivan and Lorde, who both joined her on stage recently for the ‘Sweat Tour’.
As already confirmed, whatever this new project ends up sounding like, it’s coming out next Friday, 11 October and if the collabs we already know about are anything to go by, then it’s a pretty safe bet that The 1975 will be also a appear on a tune or two. Who knows, maybe it could be something even bigger?
‘Bratty Healy’ is born, whether you like it or not.
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Featured Images — The Manc Group/Press Image (supplied)
