Radio 1 and TV presenter Adele Roberts beamed “Southport, I hope I did you proud tonight!” after she was awarded the Broadcast Prize at this year’s Attitude Awards.
The awards are to benefit the Attitude Magazine Foundation, which raises money for LGBT causes.
Adele, who was born in Southport and often talks about her home town on her Radio 1 show, said: “We won! Beyond #proud.
“For every broadcaster who’s gone before and for every queer kid across the UK who deserves to see and hear themselves reflected in media.
“Thank you Attitude Magazine, Radio 1 and every person who’s taken a chance on me in radio and TV.
“I feel so lucky to live in a time when I can be out and proud and I cannot wait to see more of our community shine…
“Thank you to our allies, please keep helping us gain equality…
“And to my Katie. Thank you for always inspiring me to be a better person. You are my hero, Kate Holderness.
“Southport, I hope I did you proud tonight. My heart is so happy xxxx”
The awards dished up another glittering occasion and honoured Olympic gold medal winning diver Tom Daley and pop band Steps with top prizes.
Prizes were handed out on Wednesday night at a ceremony held at the Camden Roundhouse in London which featured musical performances from Steps, Paige and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Bimini.
Tom Daley picked up the sport award, while Elaine Paige was given the honorary gay prize.
Adele Roberts was given the broadcast prize.
Adele was a housemate in Big Brother 3, earning seventh place, in a series watched by over seven million people.
In 2002, she landed her first radio job at Rock FM in Lancashire, presenting the weekly Smooth Grooves Show, while also presenting shows on The Hits Radio in Manchester.
She moved to BBC Radio Xtra in 2012, and has grown her career on Radio 1 ever since.
In 2015 it was announced that Adele would be the new host of the BBC Radio 1 Early Breakfast show.
In November 2020, she became the new host of Radio 1’s Weekend Breakfast Show.
In 2020, Adele became the first black woman to host the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast show after the regular presenter Greg James failed to make it on air after attending The Brit Awards.
She is a regular TV presenter for BBC Sport, covering events including The London Marathon.
At The Attitude Awards, Netflix series Sex Education was named as the winner in the Gamechanger category.
Pop band Steps were honoured with the Icon Award, while actor Ben Aldridge won in the television category.
Actor Billy Porter picked up the Man of the Year prize, while Channel 4 series It’s A Sin won the Inspiration Award.
Bimini won the style prize, actor Chella Man won the hero award and West End star Max Harwood won the breakthrough award for his role in the musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
Darren Styles OBE, Publisher and Managing Director of Attitude magazine, said: “We created the Attitude Awards to showcase the very best of the global LGBTQ community – to give a platform to those role models who demonstrate so clearly that who you are, or how you identify, is no barrier to what you might become.
“Consequently, we pride ourselves on attracting the very best talent both for the benefit of the show on the night and those with whom we share in print, digital, online or social formats.
“Our headliners and host for 2021 are no exception – everyone’s favourite pop supergroup and a man who’s on telly every time you turn it on!
“We are delighted to have Steps headline our show, and to have Tom Allen steer our winners into safe harbour, and can’t wait to share another incredible evening.”
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