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Britian’s sporting stars contribute to BBC One’s The Great Big Bid
MUMBAI: Some of Britain’s sporting celebrities rubbed shoulders with the wealthiest individuals in a night where they lead the way in raising nearly half a million pounds for BBC Children in Need at The Great Big Bid charity gala auction.Sporting greats like David Beckham, champion rally driver Colin McRae,rising star of the Pro-Am race scene and model, Jodie Kidd all contributed majorly ,to the event which kicks off a week of fund-raising on BBC One in The Great Big Bid.
Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff’s, Ashes-wining bat – custom made for him and one of the few to survive the England hero’s smashing performance during the Test series – sold for £22,000 to millionaire UK businessman, Nick Robinson, in a heated battle with Australian paparazzi boss, Darryn Lyons.It was dramatic as Lyons threatened to turn the bat to ashes on Australian soil. The bat, signed by Freddie, was only saved from going up in flames when Robinson made the winning bid as the hammer was about to fall.
Beckham once again showed his generosity towards children by offering four places at the opening of his new football academy. The David Beckham Academy is due to open next month and the four lucky children will not only meet their hero ,but, be presented with an exclusive new kit and be the first to try out the facilities.
The lot was snapped up for £15,000 by Peter Jones from BBC TWO’s Dragon’s Den who immediately, on Beckham’s recommendation, presented it back to BBC Children in Need to select the four children from one of the many projects they fund. Jones also walked away with one of the evenings most expensive lots when he bid £55,000 for a passenger ride with World Rally Champion driver, Colin McRae.
Supermodel Jodie Kidd, who has recently made a name a for herself as a skilled amateur racing driver, offered the experience of a lifetime trip which will see the winning bidder, computer magnate, Paul Barry Walsh, who paid £15,000, take a luxury private jet to Bologna for a VIP visit to the Bologna Motor Show where he will see Jodie compete in the Maserati Trofeo Pro-Am race.
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Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
