Stars pay tribute to unsung heroes

by Sinead Garvan
Newsbeat entertainment reporter

Dannii Minogue said she had a box of tissues at the ready

Gordon Brown took a break from politics to pay tribute to some of the UK's unsung heroes at Monday night's Pride of Britain Awards.

Amid tight security, the prime minister walked into the London studios with Kevin Spacey, while Russell Brand kept his wife Sarah company.

The event always sees a great turn out from the world of sport, entertainment and politics and more than a hundred celebrities turned up in the pouring rain.

See pictures of the stars on the red carpet

James Corden told Newsbeat why they all like coming: 'It's kind of humbling really.

"You spend quite a lot of time going to award ceremonies that don't really mean anything and so to be at one that has a real heart to it is amazing."

James also said he'd had a word with the prime minister about the current financial situation.

He added: 'We had a brief chat about some stuff. I'm going to come in next week and help him.

"He's got a lot on his plate at the minute and because I've managed to clear all my debts in one easy monthly payment, he wanted to know how I did that."

Among those hnoured were Britain's Olympic team.

My Mum had breast cancer when I was a lad and got over it. It is a very special and pertinent cause Comedian Russell Brand on breast cancer charity

Double gold medal winner Rebecca Adlington and Christine Ohurugu both turned up in gold dresses.

Rebecca told Newsbeat she was very excited: 'It was amazing, we arrived at the hotel and there were so many different gold dresses laid out.

"I've got massive shoulders so it took me about ten to find one that actually did up. I'm wearing my own shoes though - Jimmy Choos."

Rebecca and Sir Richard Branson also handed out a Child of Courage award to 13 year-old cancer sufferer Liam Fairhurst, who has raised £280,000 for charity by swimming.

Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher got a Special Recognition award.

The 24 year-old marine jumped on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers in Afghanistan.

Sir Michael Caine was on hand to present this one.

Kevin Stacey paid tribute to Ricky McCalla who works as a mentor

He said: "I'm a bit old to do stuff that he does. I was a soldier myself but I'd have never done what he did. It was quite an extraordinary act of bravery."

X Factor judges Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue presented 9 year-old Nathan Thompson with a Child of Courage award. He saved his mother from a knife attacker who broke into his house.

Also honoured was 26 year-old Ricky McCalla, whose dreams of being a dancer were shattered when he was shot in the neck. He's now a mentor to young people at risk of getting involved in crime.

Lucky Ricky got Kevin Spacey to hand him his award and Kevin seemed impressed with Ricky.

He said: "He could of responded to this crime with bitterness, anger, revenge.

"Instead he decided to turn it on its head and said 'actually that's not going to do me any good'. He's now giving opportunities and chances to others."

Russell Brand presented one of the last awards of the evening. It was to Fundraiser Of The Year Nina Barough who raises money for breast cancer.

Russell told Newsbeat it was close to his heart.

He said: "[It's] because of my devotion to femininity and females and mammaries and what not, but also because my mum had breast cancer when I was a lad and got over it.

"It is a very special and pertinent cause."