Pride of Scotland hosts Elaine C Smith and Sanjeev Kohli salute unsung heroes

With just one day to go until the Pride of Scotland Awards hosts Elaine C. Smith and Sanjeev Kohli are getting ready to host the hootenanny of the year to honour the nation’s unsung heroes.

The comedy duo brought fun and laughter to our People’s Oscars last year with their on-stage antics and they are looking forward to giving our inspirational 2024 winners a night they will never forget.

Rab C Nesbitt legend Elaine, who prompted a Lulu sing-a-long at the 2022 awards, said: “Sanjeev and I have dedicated our lives to entertaining folk and making them laugh but these awards aren’t about us – they are about the hidden stars who live among us.

“The remarkable unsung heroes making a difference to communities across Scotland who never look for recognition and we might never know about if it wasn’t for nights like this.

“This will be my fourth year as host and it’s the most fantastic and heart-warming event in my calendar. I owe it to all the winners to give them a good as night as possible – it’s the least I can do after what they do so selflessly for others.”

Elaine, 65, who is getting ready to play the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, added: “There have been so many stand-out moments over the years. In 2023 it was Graeme Souness starting crying on stage while talking about his hero – Isla Grist.

“The teenager has epidermolysis bullosa – a rare and painful skin disorder which causes her skin to burn and blister at the slightest touch. She inspired the football legend to swim the channel and raise £4.5million for drug trials – just incredible.

“In 2022 it was when I spotted Lulu in the audience and started belting out the first few notes of Shout as a gag. Next thing I knew she was on stage singing her hit and getting everyone to join in.

“One of the most memorable moments of the 2022 awards was when a little Ukrainian kid whispered “I love you” to Stevie Carr who had rescued her and 55 other orphans from the war-ravaged city of Dnipro.

“I became a gran again five months ago to my first grandson Finn and it’s the kids who get me every time – so much courage inside these little tiny people.

“I’ve given up trying to find make-up that can withstand the tears and am resigned that by the end of the night I will be greetin’ and there will be mascara running down my face.”

From acts of kindness and selfless bravery to raising millions for charity the Daily Record Pride of Scotland Awards with TSB will salute the nation’s unsung heroes.

A host of stars from the worlds of TV, film, music, sport and politics will descend on The Hilton Glasgow tomorrow night to honour the winners.

Still Game’s Sanjeev agrees with Elaine about it being one of the most uplifting nights of the year and advises guests to pack their Kleenex.

The dad of three, who has also starred in River City and Dinosaur, said: “In a room full of the nation’s biggest celebrities the Pride of ­Scotland winners outshine them all – they are the stars of the show and the VIP guests become their biggest fans.

“I just know there will be a lot of fun and laughter but I’m also preparing myself for the tears, especially when it comes to the Children of Courage – they break my heart. I am genuinely touched by their stories.

“Being a dad, it’s the kids who affect me the most, especially ones who have done something incredible to help their siblings like last year’s winner Grace Sinclair who has been fundraising to help families living with cancer after her wee brother Harry was diagnosed with leukaemia.”

Sanjeev, who is the star of Irn-Bru’s newly released TV ad for the Euros, added: “This is my third year as host and there have been dozens of incredible moments. Like Elaine, my stand-out memory from last year involved Graeme Souness but not just for
the reasons she mentioned.

“I was beside his wife Karen who is English and never watched Still Game and had no idea who I was. I started giving her a rundown of the room and pointed out Greg Hemphill’s wife Julie Nimmo who played Miss Hoolie.

“Her jaw dropped and next thing I knew she whispered something to Graeme and the two of them shot out of their seats straight over to Julie to ask for a selfie. Graeme Souness the Balamory fan was never on my bingo card – so funny.”

Elaine, who has been filming a pilot for a period drama set in 1870s Glasgow with Martin Compston, said the awards are the perfect antidote to all the horror in the world.

The Two Doors Down star, back in panto this year at the King’s in Glasgow, said: “We are bombarded daily with dozens of bad news stories, from the suffering in Gaza to the atrocities being inflict-ed in Ukraine.

“Pride reminds us of how much good is going on in this country each day carried out by people who care about others and the plight of humanity. The awards spread joy and light and we need so much more given the world we live in.”

Sanjeev, whose radio series Fags, Bags & Mags is the longest-running Scottish sitcom, is looking forward to meeting all the winners but admitted his dad Parduman will always be his Pride of Scotland.

The comic, who used to write for Elaine, said: “My dad is 90 now and has Alzheimers but he will always be my hero. It is hard watching him lose his faculties but one thing he hasn’t lost is his sense of humour.

“My character Navid in Still Game is basically him. I took him along to a screening once and I got him to stand up to take the applause.

“I’m also really proud of my mum Kuldip as she is staying strong despite the change in my dad. I’m also in awe of the carers who come in four times a day and always with a smile on their faces. God bless our NHS.”

Cue the stars – all the celebs expected to attend

Susan Boyle, Blythe Duff and Denis Lawson and James Cosmo who will salute our 11 people’s champions, with FM John Swinney.

Gladiator Sabre/Sheli McCoy, Dancing On Ice’s Mark Hanretty, Granite Harbour star Dawn Steele and Still Game’s Gavin Mitchell and Greg Hemphill will also attend.

As will Love Island’s Paige Turley and Laura Anderson, who will do the red carpet, Two Doors Down star Doon Mackichan, River City’s Joyce Falconer and Scot Squad’s Grado, Karen Bartke and Manjot Sumal.

SHOTY’s Anna Campbell-Jones, STV newsreader Kelly-Ann Woodland, comic Chris Forbes, DJ George Bowie and radio star Grant Stott will turn out.

Kirsty Hanson, Allan McGregor, Jon McLaughlin and Greg Taylor, basketball’s Kieron Achara and boxing’s Jim Watt and Barry McGuigan add clout.

And chart toppers St Phnx and Nathan Evans will perform.

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