Archive · 22 Aug 2026
Jeremy Vine Dropped as Host of 2026 Carers Awards
Jeremy Vine was chosen to host an awards ceremony for unpaid carers.
Some campaigners were unhappy because of his television and radio discussions about welfare, benefits and disability.
They said his views and coverage made him a poor choice for the event.
Carers UK listened to these concerns.
It then decided that Vine would not host the ceremony.
The organisation said it wanted the evening to focus only on celebrating carers and the people who support them.
Vine said he understood why he was a controversial choice.
He said he was happy to step aside and believed his programmes had treated unpaid carers sympathetically.
The 2026 awards will still take place without him as host.
Jeremy Vine will no longer host the 2026 Carers UK Awards.
Campaigners criticised his appointment because of his coverage of welfare, benefits and disability issues.
Carers UK said it had listened to concerns from its community.
The organisation said the ceremony should focus entirely on celebrating carers and support organisations.
Vine said he was happy to step aside and defended his coverage of unpaid carers.
- Who
- Jeremy Vine, Carers UK, and campaigners for unpaid carers and disabled people.
- What
- Jeremy Vine was removed as host of the 2026 Carers UK Awards after criticism of his appointment.
- When
- The appointment was announced earlier in the week and reversed days later; the awards are scheduled for 2026.
- Why
- Campaigners objected to Vine’s coverage of welfare, benefits and disability issues, while Carers UK said it wanted to avoid distractions from celebrating carers.
Campaigners’ concerns
Vine and Carers UK’s responses
Suitability for the awards
Campaigners’ concerns
Campaigners said Vine’s coverage of disabled people, welfare and benefits made him an inappropriate host for an event celebrating carers and people affected by disability.
Vine and Carers UK’s responses
Vine acknowledged that his work on welfare and benefits made him a controversial choice, while Carers UK said he had been supportive of the organisation, including through his radio show.
Treatment of carers and disability issues
Campaigners’ concerns
Mike O’Brien and other campaigners accused Vine of hostility toward disabled people, vulnerable people and unpaid carers, citing recent programme discussions and social media content about benefits claimants.
Vine and Carers UK’s responses
Vine said he was very aware of the vital role unpaid carers play and believed his programmes had covered them sympathetically.
Reason for ending the hosting arrangement
Campaigners’ concerns
Campaigners urged Carers UK to reconsider the appointment after the backlash.
Vine and Carers UK’s responses
Carers UK said it listened to concerns and decided the evening should focus entirely on celebrating carers, without other content becoming a distraction; Vine said he was happy to step aside.
- Event
- 2026 Carers UK Awards
- Former host
- Jeremy Vine
- Organiser
- Carers UK
- Reason for backlash
- Campaigners questioned Vine’s suitability because of his coverage of welfare, benefits and disability issues.
- Carers UK position
- The organisation said the ceremony should remain focused on carers and the organisations supporting them.
- Vine’s response
- He said he was happy to stand aside and defended his coverage of unpaid carers.