The festive special Scotland’s People 2023 : A Thank You returns to shine a heart-warming spotlight on those amazing individuals who have gone that extra mile to selflessly help others within their communities.
Jackie Bird:
“Each year I find the stories featured inspiring and humbling in equal measure, finding out about people who have done so much for others. Some are coping with adversity in their own lives, some have turned tragedy around to do something incredibly positive and some have wells of energy which defy belief… But all of them have incredibly big hearts.”
Jackie Bird and the team have poured through rafts of deserving nominees often put forward by friends, family and members of their local community, as well as recommendations from charities across the country. They will be recognising the achievement of a special selection of people and giving them a special surprise, often involving big names and emotional tributes from the local community.
Featuring this year are stories from across Scotland from the Highlands, to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dundee, from West and Midlothian, to Dumfries and Galloway, with appearances and tributes from the likes of Chris Packham, Scottish national rugby coach Gregor Townsend, Scottish Paralympic sprinter Libby Clegg, singers Robyn Stapleton, Hannah Rarity and Dermot Kennedy, and the theatre cast of Dirty Dancing.
A key story for the show this year will be a tribute to honour Korean veterans in Scotland for their service and dedication in the year that marks 70 years since the end of the Korean War, often dubbed ‘the forgotten war’.
Jackie Bird:
“And I’d like to think that Scotland’s People – and the very special surprises for those chosen – will go some way to honouring these people. We have some wonderful moments in store, which will provoke emotion, but also some smiles.”
Scotland’s People 2023: A Thank You, tomorrow (Wednesday 20 December), BBC One Scotland, 8 pm
