Joe Lycett, Billy Porter and Jill Scott are among the winners in this year’s Hits Radio Pride Poll while Manchester, Brighton and Margate Pride events also take top spots.
The winners of the annual Hits Radio Pride Poll 2023 are comedian Joe Lycett, named TV/Film Icon; Queen of the Jungle and football star Jill Scott, named as the nation’s Sporting Icon; Callum Scott, named as this year’s Music Icon; and Billy Porter, the only international name on the list, taking home the Style Icon title.
Voted by fans and listeners of dedicated LGBTQ+ station Hits Radio Pride, the poll also highlighted the best Small, Medium and Large Pride events that take place across the UK. Controversially, Manchester Pride – a previous winner – was recognised as the best Large event, Brighton & Hove Pride took top spot in best Medium event and Margate Pride got a shout out as the best Small event.
Jordan Lee, Hits Radio Pride Presenter, said: “Whilst we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community all year round, Pride Month is a special time for all of us at Hits Radio Pride. It lets us highlight, celebrate, and support those communities nationwide that are making a huge difference.
“We’re here to amplify LGBTQ+ voices and it is always a beautiful experience to see how passionately our listeners join us to offer support to and for the best Pride events each year as well as celebrating those LGBTQ+ icons using their platforms to make a difference over the last 12 months.”
Jordan Lee spoke to Billy Porter on Hits Radio Pride and revealed to the Broadway star that he had been named this year’s Style Icon. Billy was thrilled and shared just how much making a statement with his style means to him: “My Great Aunt Dorothy told me to dress for the job you want, not the one that you have. I’m first generation post-civil rights movement and I dress to impress – first impressions are important. And I’m just grateful that I never cared about what anybody else thought about how I expressed myself though clothing so I’ve never been limited. What you see is who I’ve always been and I think that’s why folks resonate so much because I’m not putting it on.
“You can go back to photos of me and people would call me crazy and tell me I looked ridiculous and made fun of me and it never mattered to me. I hear people say all the time ‘I could never pull that off’ but all you have to do is put it on! It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about your choice.”
Listen to Hits Radio Pride HERE
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