Tony Hudgell from Kent to get a Gold Blue Peter badge alongside Marcus Rashford and Greta Thunberg

A little boy from Kent has been awarded a prestigious Gold Blue Peter Badge alongside celebrities Marcus Rashford and Greta Thunberg.

Double amputee Tony Hudgell, who walks with the help of crutches and prosthetic legs, is among a group of seven 'brave and brilliant' kids to be given the huge accolade.

The Gold badge is the most sought after of all Blue Peter badges with only a small number being awarded each year to people who have accomplished great things, inspired a nation, saved a life or who have shown bravery and courage.

Six-year-old Tony, inspired by fellow Gold badge holder the late Captain Sir Tom Moore, has raised £1.6m for The Evelina Children's hospital following an incredible 10km charity walk in Kings Hill last year.

Tony was left without his legs after suffering terrible abuse at the hands of his birth parents Jody Simpson and Antony Smith. The Maidstone couple were both eventually jailed for 10 years in 2018.

Blue Peter is celebrating the bravest and best achievements of seven of its young viewers, including Tony, by awarding them the highest accolade the programme can give in a special show, which also gives awards to footballer Marcus Rashford and environmentalist Greta Thunberg.

Footballer Marcus Rashford is being awarded a Gold Blue Peter badge for his free school meals campaign work whilst Greta is recognised for her dedication to raising awareness about climate change and the way she has inspired a generation to make changes for the planet.

Alongside Sir Tom Moore who inspired little Tony's charity walk, previous well-known recipients of a Gold badge include Her Majesty the Queen, Sir David Attenborough, Dame Mary Berry, Raheem Sterling and astronaut Tim Peake.

Ellen Evans, editor of Blue Peter, said: “The Blue Peter Gold Badge Awards is a feel-good show about the extraordinary things that young people achieve.

"Each year only a few Gold badges are awarded to our amazing audience who have shown outstanding bravery, overcome adversity and achieved the most brilliant things. It’s so difficult to choose who is awarded a badge and I hope that Archie, Holly, Tony, Emmie, Steffan, Ayaan and Mikaeel inspire others with their stories as both Greta and Marcus have done.”

The special Gold Blue Peter Badge Show aired for the first time on Thursday, February 25 at 5pm on CBBC but is available to re-watch on iPlayer. To learn more about how your children could apply for a Blue Peter Badge click here.

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