Happy Hit: From riverside bench to Windsor Castle

Happy Hit: From riverside bench to Windsor Castle

Author: BBC Local Radio February 2, 2022 Duration: 4:37

Meet Jay Flynn, as online pub quizmaster who hosted weekly quizzes, which at their peak attracted 180,000 people, and raised more than £1m for charity.

Before he was a quizmaster, Jay spent nearly two years living on a bench on London's Victoria Embankment.

Jay talked to BBC Radio Lancashire just before he was made an MBE by Prince William at Windsor Castle.


In a world that often feels fragmented, Make a Difference offers a necessary counter-narrative, sharing surprising stories from communities across England who are pulling together. This BBC Local Radio podcast captures the unscripted moments of cooperation and resilience that define our times, moving beyond headlines to find the human connections being forged in neighborhoods, towns, and cities. Each episode is a journey into the personal journals of collective action, exploring how ordinary people are addressing challenges in society, culture, and even health and fitness, from grassroots mental health projects to local cultural initiatives that rebuild a sense of belonging. You'll hear directly from the individuals at the heart of these efforts, their voices preserved with the intimacy and authenticity of its original local radio broadcasts. Listening to this podcast feels like discovering a series of quiet, powerful revelations about the capacity for kindness and practical support that persists around us. It’s a collection of audio snapshots that together form a larger, hopeful portrait of England, reminding us that impact often starts with a simple conversation next door. These are not grand manifestos, but real stories of tangible change, curated to inspire and connect.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 57

The Make a Difference Show
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