Catching up with Carol was a boost... she’s a friend for life

Presenter Vorderman drops in on 2016 winner Nikki

her she had kept up with her news, watching her Youtube videos when she could. “I know she’s a really busy lady, but it was nice to hear she’s still had an interest in me,” smiles Nikki, who lives with dad, George, 53, and mum Tanya, 52.

“She thought it was amazing I had over one million followers now.

“She’s such a lovely lady and kept giving me lots of hugs.”

Nikki adds: “I’m so proud to be part of the Pride of Britain family.

“It’s meant so much to me and I loved being part of the 20th anniversary celebrations.”

Nikki, who is in the middle of her mock GCSES, has worked closely with charities such as Changing Faces.

She says: “It’s helping people meet people with differences, talk to people the same age who are going through similar things.” Nikki has also appeared in Emmy award-winning TV series My Life: Born to Vlog, shown on CBBC. And, after being given her Pride of Britain Award by Mary Berry, she went on to win Junior Bake Off.

Her fundraising efforts have potentially helped many others.

She adds: “We’ve raised £750,000 and found the genetic mutation that causes AVM. There’s no cure yet but I’m hopeful.

“It’s great that we’ve found this research so I have hope.”

Nikki says Carol was proud and amazed at all she has achieved.

She says: “She told me, ‘Whenever you’re feeling down, you know you have a million people who are behind you’.”

And Nikki knows that Carol is at the front of that queue.

Pride of Britain: Celebrating 20 years also looks back at the celebrity surprises that have delighted winners – of which there have been nearly 400 – over the past two decades.

Leading royal and political figures have taken part, including Prince Charles, Prince William, and every Prime Minister including Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson

And celebrity guests have included the likes of Diana Ross, David Beckham, Sir Paul Mccartney, Dame Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Idris Elba, Cheryl Cole, Robbie Williams, Jon Bon Jovi, Mary Berry, Simon Cowell, Jimmy Carr, Peter Capaldi, Steven Gerrard, Gareth Southgate and Sir Lenny Henry.

Pride of Britain: Celebrating 20 years is on ITV at 5pm on Sunday.