The Virtual Grand National (VGN) – which proved a popular replacement for the real thing when it was cancelled due to COVID-19 12 months ago – is set to be televised again on ITV in April.
While former jockey Bob Champion is looking forward to ‘riding’ in the Race Of Champions – which will again be part of the programme – 40 years on from his famous win aboard Aldaniti.
The winner of the University Entrepreneurs Grant, as chosen by Dr Jacob Salder and Phil Hodari, was revealed on March 4th. The University Entrepreneurs Grant is part of the Educate North Awards, the regional awards ceremony for FE and HE institutions.
The finalists are the University of Chester’s Jade Rice, two entrants from Manchester – Dr Mohammad El Hajj and Riddi Varshitaa Viswanathan – plus the University of York’s Nihad Cehic.
The announcement was made via three northern radio stations – Heart Yorkshire, Smooth North West and Smooth North East -and an online video. The usual ceremony was moved online because of the current pandemic.
Rob McLoughlin, broadcaster and organiser of Educate North and the UEG, said: “The competitors have worked hard during lockdown to make their pitches and to try and grab the attention of the judges. Normally the contestants have to face the live audience at the fabulous awards ceremony but because of restrictions we’ve taken it online and the standard is high and the judging tense. The competitors are impressive and the scale of the ideas tremendous.”
For more details and the video announcement of the winner, visit the Prolific North page.
The annual Educate North Awards will be moving online for the ceremony on 22 April 2021. The awards are organised by Rob McLoughlin’s Carm Productions and will be hosted by Jim Hancock, former Political Editor of Granada TV and BBC North West.
Further details of this year’s awards are given on the Prolific North website.
With the future of the BBC at stake and a government that has shown signs of wanting to slim down the Corporation, Rob McLoughlin has written an assessment of what the future holds for the BBC.
Are we about to see the appointment of the last Chair of the BBC?
You can read Rob’s in-depth article on the Prolific North website.
The Educate North Awards, which were originally planned to be hosted on September 30th, have been moved to March 2021 at The Midland Hotel, Manchester.
The awards were created by Rob McLoughlin, the award-winning broadcaster and producer, and the full shortlist was revealed earlier in the year. They also encompass the University Entrepreneurs Grant (UEG), a business competition now planned to take place online in Autumn 2020.
For more details, see the Prolific North website.