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Heroes of 2020

A series celebrating those who inspired, cheered and brought us joy this year

31 December 2020

  • Maya Gabeira poses for a portrait during Athletes Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on march 25, 2016

    ‘I’m fascinated by power, force and bravery’: the woman who surfed the biggest recorded wave of 2020

    Seven years ago, she was nearly killed in pursuit of the sport she loves, but she defied experts’ predictions and made a stunning comeback

30 December 2020

  • Researchers at the Oxford Vaccine Group’s laboratories.

    ‘Four years' work in one’: vaccine researchers are the unassuming heroes of Covid-19

    We don’t know their names, but these scientists have been working tirelessly to fight the pandemic. It’s time to say thank you

29 December 2020

  • Paul Heaton

    Paul Heaton: ‘If my manager says: “Don't do something stupid!” I know it’s a thing to do’

    When music magazine Q folded during the pandemic, the founder of the Housemartins and the Beautiful South stepped in with a large donation to the staff. And it’s not his only act of quiet altruism this year

28 December 2020

  • Tony Mortimer … ‘Agatha Christie – she’s a genius!’

    ‘Your worries disappear!’ East 17's Tony Mortimer on discovering reading – as a 50-year-old

    Until lockdown hit the singer – who won an Ivor Novello for songwriting – had never read a full book. Now he has galloped through 70 and is writing his own. He talks about his life-enriching habit

25 December 2020

  • Refuse collectors (posed by models)

    ‘Many people did something immense, for complete strangers’ – readers’ heroes of 2020

    During the pandemic, there have been many unsung heroes – the people who carried on doing essential work for our society. Here are some of them

24 December 2020

  • Bernadine Evaristo (left) and Reni Eddo-Lodge … took the literary world by storm.

    ‘This has never happened before!’ Bernardine Evaristo and Reni Eddo-Lodge on their history-making year

    The novelist, playwright and poet talks to the writer about what their spectacular success has meant for them – and for the hopes of black female writers in future

23 December 2020

  • Zelda Perkins

    Zelda Perkins: ‘There will always be men like Weinstein. All I can do is try to change the system that enables them’

    When she was just 24 and her colleague was attacked by Harvey Weinstein, Perkins took on the media mogul. She explains the impact of this year’s verdict and why she is still fighting against the non disclosure agreements that kept his crimes being revealed

22 December 2020

  • Marcus Rashford with the free school meals distribution.

    What Marcus Rashford’s campaign for hungry children tells us about the footballer – and Britain

    The 23-year-old sports star is a fully fledged national hero. It’s time to celebrate his commitment and grace – but remember he should not have to do any of this
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