Joe Lycett and Billy Porter among Hits Radio Pride Poll winners
Hits Radio Pride listeners have been voting in the station’s annual Pride poll, which is now in its fourth year.
The poll includes categories spanning music, TV/film, sport and style, voting for those within popular culture who have used their platforms to make a real impact over the last twelve months.
Comedian Joe Lycett was named TV/Film Icon, with Queen of the Jungle Jill Scott announced as the nation’s Sporting Icon. Callum Scott was this year’s Music Icon and Billy Porter was the only international name on the list, taking home the Style Icon title.
The poll also highlights the best Small, Medium and Large Pride events that take place across the UK. Manchester Pride – a previous winner – was recognised as the best Large event, Brighton Pride took top spot in best Medium event and Margate was voted the best Small event.
Hits Radio Pride Presenter Jordan Lee 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 twelve months.”
Jordan 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 phots 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.”