Forget celebrity red carpets—tonight in Glasgow, it’s the everyday heroes getting a standing ovation. The Pride of Scotland Awards 2025 are set to honour 12 remarkable people whose quiet courage and tireless kindness are anything but ordinary.
Dubbed the “People’s Oscars,” this year’s ceremony is packed with emotion, surprise reunions, and stories that will stick with you long after the lights go down.
Not Just Another Awards Night—It’s Scotland at Its Best
Held at the Hilton Hotel and co-hosted by comedy greats Elaine C Smith and Sanjeev Kohli, the event blends glitz with grit. Yes, there’s a red carpet. But behind the sequins are some of the most powerful human stories Scotland has to offer.
From life-saving teenagers to mums who never gave up, each winner has done something extraordinary. Some have stared down loss. Others have lifted whole communities.
And none of them asked for recognition. They just got on with it.
That’s exactly why they’re being honoured.
The 2025 Pride of Scotland Winners at a Glance
These aren’t the kind of people you’ll find chasing headlines. But tonight, they’re centre stage where they belong. Here’s just a glimpse into who’s being celebrated:
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The Speirs Family – For turning heartbreak into hope after the tragic loss of their son, raising thousands for organ donation awareness.
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A brave teenage swimmer – Who saved a child from drowning, risking their own life in freezing water.
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A cancer survivor – Who gave birth to a miracle baby just months after gruelling treatment.
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A wheelchair-bound mum – Living proof of resilience after a devastating medical reaction left her fighting for mobility.
Each story could be a film script. But it’s real life.
“You Don’t Do It for Awards—But This Feels Special”
Take 17-year-old Isla from Aberdeenshire. One minute, she was walking her dog. The next, she was diving into a river to save a five-year-old who’d fallen in.
“No one else was around. I didn’t really think,” she said quietly backstage. “You don’t do it to be called a hero. But… this feels special.”
Her parents, tearfully watching from the audience, nodded.
They hadn’t told anyone at school about the award. They wanted her to be surprised.
Tonight, she stood on stage, overwhelmed and beaming as the crowd rose to its feet.
One sentence was enough: “I’m just glad I was there.”
Music, Laughter, and Tears—All in One Room
The Pride of Scotland isn’t just a tear-jerker. It’s got style.
BGT finalist Vinnie McKee, fresh off his national TV success, took the stage to perform for the very people whose stories had the room in bits.
There was laughter too—thanks to hosts Elaine and Sanjeev, who nailed the balance of humour and heart. At one point, Elaine joked: “We should all feel like underachievers tonight. And that’s exactly how it should be!”
And yes, there were celebrity guests—athletes, actors, broadcasters. But they weren’t the focus.
As Sanjeev put it bluntly: “These aren’t winners because of votes or judges. They’re winners because they showed up when it mattered.”
Why This Event Still Hits So Hard Every Year
There’s something raw about the Pride of Scotland Awards that other ceremonies can’t quite fake. Maybe it’s the fact that all 12 winners had no idea they were being nominated. Or that the judging panel had to comb through thousands of nominations from people who just wanted their neighbour, friend, or parent recognised.
There’s no glitz for the sake of it. Just one clear purpose: give the spotlight to people who usually stand at the back.
This year’s winners reflect the best of Scotland’s soul—quiet strength, humour in hard times, and action over applause.
And in a year of political noise and social tension, that kind of clarity matters more than ever.
| Winner | Reason for Honour |
|---|---|
| Speirs Family | Organ donation advocacy after personal loss |
| Isla, 17 | River rescue of a child |
| Sarah McNally | Gave birth after cancer recovery |
| Thomas Lee | Ran 52 marathons in 52 weeks for mental health |
| Amy Douglas | Teenager who set up free food programme in school |
| David Chan | Rescued three neighbours during house fire |
| Jamila Begum | Language tutor helping refugees settle |
| Craig + Fiona Kelly | Founded grief charity after losing daughter |
| Liam Turnbull | Raised £60k for MS research at age 12 |
| Mairi Blackwood | Volunteer paramedic supporting remote island health |
| Carla Ross | Wheelchair-bound single mum advocating for disability rights |
| Archie Ferguson | WWII veteran honoured for lifetime community work |
A Quiet Reminder That Heroes Walk Among Us
You won’t see most of these names on magazine covers tomorrow. They’ll go back to school runs, volunteer shifts, quiet nights in.
But for one night, they got to shine.
And as one judge on the awards panel put it: “Every person in this room makes you want to be better.”
That’s the legacy of Pride of Scotland—not just who wins, but how it changes the people watching.
And let’s be honest—Scotland could use a bit more of that these days.
