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Leeds United legend Chris Kamara honoured with Freedom of Wakefield award
Such an inspiring bloke. So well deserved.
Leeds United legend and well-known presenter Chris Kamara has been honoured with the Freedom of Wakefield Award for his years of charity work.
The former footballer turned beloved broadcaster, who even your nan will remember for his iconic "I don't know, Jeff" moment live on Sky Sports, has touched the hearts of millions across the country through his personal struggles.
Best known to the British public simply as 'Kammy', the pundit who regularly reported live on Soccer Saturday for 24 years was sadly forced into stepping away from his role after being diagnosed with apraxia.
The neurological disorder affects the body's ability to perform natural motor functions including speech and the 66-year-old sportscaster has been raising money for the cause ever since.
However, Kammy's charity work extends far beyond apraxia awareness, as he's also been a devoted Marie Curie fundraiser and ambassador for the English football charity, Show Racism the Red Card.
As a result, he was officially presented with the Freedom of Wakefield this week, a regional accolade seen throughout many cities and towns across the UK which recognises eminent services and inspiring achievements to a place and its people.
Although he was originally born in Middlesborough, Kamara has lived in the Yorkshire city since 1990. Dedicated to the award back to the locals, he told Wakefield Council: "The people and the places are amazing, and we will never leave.
"All my family are here and it will always be our home. That is why this means so much to me, I'm blown away by it."
Reacting to the reception he got when walking out on the pitch at Elland Road on Tuesday night, his response was perfect: "Unbelievable! I have to say dreams do come true.
"When I played in this stadium for Leeds United, it made my boyhood dreams come true. Who would've thought 33 years later you would give me a reception like this? Thank you all so much."
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Recognising the community hero who already received an MBE in 2023 for his service to charity, football and racism in an official statement, the Council continued to heap praise on the household name.
The Mayor of Wakefield Josie Pritchard said of Kammy: "Chris is a local and national legend and an inspiration to so many people. We are absolutely delighted to be giving him the highest honour we can bestow – Freedom of the City.
“He has been a massive supporter of many charities, raising millions and making a difference to the lives of many. Locally, he is an active supporter of Wakefield Hospice, Andy’s Man Club and Pinderfields Hospital, to name but a few."
Council Leader Denise Jeffery went on to add, “Chris is a true ambassador of our city, loved by everyone you speak to. We couldn’t ask for a more down-to-earth and genuine person to award this to. His contribution to charity and our city really is - unbelievable."
Featured Images — Chris Kamara (via X)/Sky Sports
News
Traitors star and comedian Joe Lycett is putting cash behind the bar at a pub in Sheffield
Daisy Jackson
Comedian Joe Lycett is putting money behind the bar at a pub in Sheffield this week, as he continues to encourage people to get out and support their local boozers.
The TV favourite – who is also currently one of the stars on The Traitors – announced the news as he bid farewell to his fictional TV pub The Lycett Arms.
On the show, he said: “There are 45,000 pubs in the UK – go and give them some love.”
Joe Lycett then proceeded to list 30 brilliant pubs up and down the country, including one in Sheffield, and announced that the drinks are on him this week.
He told audiences: “[This] Friday I’ll be putting a little bit of money behind the bar in all the pubs you’ve just seen. I hope you can have a drink on me.”
The chosen pub in Sheffield is The Hallamshire House, a lovely old boozer serving real ale in Crookesmoor.
Announcing the news to social media, Channel 4 and Joe Lycett wrote: "Take this as your excuse to drop what you’re doing, call a mate, and head to your local pub. Even if you see this during the middle of a working day. Go. Be free."
Well, you certainly don't have to tell us twice.
Some pubs have even agreed to match the offer, commenting on the post: “Thank you so much for the shout out. Next time you find yourself nearby, pop in for a pint!”
So this Friday, get your friends together and have a free pint on Joe Lycett himself - you know you want to.
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Featured image - Channel 4
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BBC is casting for next series of The Traitors and wants people from Yorkshire who are ‘good at lying’ to apply
Clementine Hall
The BBC is currently casting for the next series of The Traitors, and is looking for some deceptive Yorkshire folk to take part.
It's safe to say that The Traitors is pretty much a cultural phenomenon at this point.
Pretty much everyone and their dog is tuning in to watch The Celebrity Traitors on Thursday and Friday evenings, but this time it's not about the celebs.
Producers describe The Traitors as a ‘game of trust and treachery’, and there’s always plenty of twists, turns, shocks, and surprises along the way – but do you reckon you’ve got what it takes to play?
If so, the BBC is currently casting for the next series of the popular show, and is calling on people in Yorkshire and across the UK to apply.
Applications are currently open to players who are over 18 years of age and have the right to legally reside in the UK.
The first series of the smash-hit BBC reality competition show proved pretty popular when it premiered back in 2022, but the second series took things to a whole new level, and truly seemed to capture the attentions of the nation like no other – with millions of viewers tuning in to watch the three episodes each week.
But in case you haven’t seen it, The Traitors is, put simply, a competition series that’s built on strategy, suspicion, and deception, where a team of players are tasked with competing in a series of missions – with the more missions they complete successfully, the bigger the prize pot gets.
However, hidden among the players are the ‘Traitors’, who meet in secret and decide who to eliminate from their fellow players known as the ‘Faithfuls’.
The aim for the ‘Traitors’ is to stay undetected until the end, while the aim for the ‘Faithfuls’ is to banish all of the Traitors before the game ends.
Up for it? You have until 31 May 2027 to get your applications in online here.
Read more: Leeds Christmas Market is getting two brand-new themed bars for 2026 – including a Scottish Highland Lodge
Featured image - BBC / Studio Lambert Assossiates
Danny Jones -
17th April 2024 
