Joe Wicks and 99 other stars are going back to school to inspire children

Virgin Radio

17 Oct 2022, 08:23

The initiative is part of the BBC's centenary celebrations.

It has been announced that the BBC will celebrate its centenary by sending 100 stars into classrooms across the UK. The plan is to inspire 400,000 children to “realise their ambitions”.

Leading the charge is lockdown fitness champ Joe Wicks, award-winning George The Poet and racing driver Nicolas Hamilton - they will be holding what are being described as 'storytelling and careers' sessions, to mark the broadcaster’s 100th anniversary on Tuesday (October 18th).

The ambitious BBC 100 Share Your Story school tour promises to reach more than 400,000 teenagers by the end of its centenary year, with 700 school visits.

Body coach Joe, who this year presented a BBC One documentary about his turbulent childhood, told i, “I can’t wait to go back to school and share my story with students on Tuesday on the BBC’s one hundredth birthday, what an honour.

“Sharing my story about my parents’ mental health was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done but the impact it’s had on me and others has been amazing.

“I want to encourage students to speak up about what they’re experiencing and realise that no matter how tough things are right now, with hard work, determination and self-belief, the sky really is the limit.”

James Stirling, BBC 100 executive editor, said, “Education and learning has been at the core of the BBC’s public purpose for almost 100 years, starting with School Radio in 1924. Today, BBC Teach, BBC Bitesize and BBC Young Reporter are loved and valued by students, teachers and parents across the UK.”

“As we approach our 100th birthday, we’re so excited to be taking the BBC’s education expertise and unparalleled storytelling talent into the classroom, to inspire thousands of future storytellers.”

Here's to a hundred more years!