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.
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“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.
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.
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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.
So honoured to have received the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester’s Special Recognition Award for the Drumathon and LGBTQ Representation… live on air!! 💕 😭 😮 Just unbelievable ❤️ @BBCNWTpic.twitter.com/Yq2traHOr8
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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Liam Gallagher apologises on Noel’s behalf for brother’s ‘p*ss poor’ Joy Division cover
Emily Sergeant
Liam Gallagher has issued an apology “on behalf of [his] family” for his brother’s cover of a song by another legendary Manchester band.
Stop the presses, breaking news – the Gallagher brothers are slagging each other off again.
In what will be a shock to absolutely no one, Liam Gallagher has hopped onto his favourite social media platform Twitter once again this week to take another unprovoked aim at his beloved older brother – and this time, call him out for his recent cover of the iconic 1980 hit ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ by fellow Manchester band Joy Division.
Noel Gallagher recently performed a rendition of the Joy Division classic on BBC Radio 2 as part of the radio station’s popular Piano Room series, and was accompanied by his band, High Flying Birds, for the track, alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra.
The former Oasis co-lead vocalist and guitarist explained that he had chosen to cover the song as he would often play “this version of it at home down the years”.
But Noel did reveal to host Vernon Kay that he was cautious about doing so, and went on to express some initial trepidation about performing his rendition and putting it out into the world, mainly because “it’s such an iconic song, and being from Manchester… well, this is going to be tricky.”
The 56-year-old admitted he kept asking himself “How can I get away with that?”
He continued: “But now I’ve got my own studio, I went and did a little demo of it and I was like ‘you know what? I think I might be able to pull this off.”
One person who clearly didn’t think Noel could “pull this off” was his brother Liam, though.
Reacting to the cover in typical Liam Gallagher fashion, the former Oasis frontman wrote in a now-viral tweet yesterday evening: “I must once again apologise on behalf of my family for r kid’s p*ss poor and damn rite blasphemous version of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart.
“Tut f***ing tut SORRY.”
I must once again apologise on behalf of my family for Rkids piss poor and damn rite blasphemous version of joy division’s love will tear us apart tut fucking tut SORRY
And unfortunately for Noel, the comments underneath BBC Radio 2’s post of a snippet of the cover on its official Instagram account appears to show that a fair few others agree with Liam on this one.
“If you wanna win a race, choose NG as a competitor. The only one that’s been able to destroy Oasis, his band, the music. Terrible cover,” one person wrote.
“That’s a terrible terrible cover,” another person simply stated.
A third wrote in the comments: “Kinda sounds boring doesn’t it? I love Noel, but this cover ain’t it chief,” while a fourth added: “I hope he realise by himself that this is one of his worst covers ever,” and another, at least politely, claimed it was: “Definitely a bit different to the original.”
Of course, there are two sides to every story though, and there’s also plenty of positive comments and reactions under the video too to balance out the less-than-favourable takes.
So for now, this exchange will just get added to the seemingly never-ending Gallagher row saga.
Featured Image – BBC
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Chester Zoo calls for runners to take on new charity 10k to help ‘save endangered animals’
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo is calling for thousands of runners to take on a charity 10k through the zoo’s grounds in a bid to help save one of its many endangered species.
The UK’s biggest charity zoo is looking for 2,500 runners of all abilities to sign up for its brand-new ‘Run for Nature‘ later this year – which begins inside the zoo’s 128-acre grounds, and sees participants race past the elephant, giant otter, and giraffe habitats, all before heading out and around the wider countryside estate.
As well as the 10k route, there’s also a special one-mile ‘zoom’ fun run around the zoo, which is perfect for energetic kids under 12.
All runners will get a medal when they cross the finish line, and there’ll even be some exciting prizes up for grabs for those who raise the most money.
Chester Zoo calls for runners to take on new charity 10k through its grounds and beyond / Credit: Chester Zoo
Taking place on Sunday 24 September, all funds raised from the run will go towards the Chester Zoo’s ongoing and extremely-important efforts to find a vaccine for a deadly virus that threatens endangered elephant populations all across the world – which is known as Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV).
Scientists at the zoo are currently in the middle of the world’s first vaccine pilot study to fight the virus, and hope that proceeds raised from the upcoming events can help “create a future where Asian elephants survive and thrive.”
“We’re so excited to be able to offer places for 2,500 fundraisers to run our first ever 10k Run for Nature later this year,” explained Hannah Wright, Fundraising Lead at Chester Zoo.
Runners will raise money to help the zoo’s efforts to save endangered Asian elephants / Credit: Chester Zoo
“As a charity, fundraising is at the core of this event, but we also hope that it’s a great fun event that the whole family can get involved in – whether running, supporting or sponsoring.
“All participants will be receive a sustainable medal and top fundraisers will have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes, which include annual memberships, animal experiences, and meal vouchers for our gastro pub, The Oakfield, as well as a selection of animal adoptions.”
Emily Sergeant -
21st December 2021 
