'Game Changers' podcast is back for Season Three with Aimee Fuller as the new host

TV presenter and Olympic gold medalist, Sam Quek is to host the second series of Amazing Starts Here, an award-winning podcast series featuring ordinary people doing extraordinary things with the help of National Lottery funding.

Launching on 20 September 2023, Sam will share the stories of eight remarkable individuals from all walks of like across the UK, including some familiar faces in the form fellow gold medal winning athletes Alex Yee and Libby Clegg.

The Olympic and Paralympic duo will talk about their journeys from grassroots to glory, give an insight into the sacrifices and dedication required to become an elite athlete and share their hopes and dreams for the future.

In addition, expect to hear from the amazing people behind a series of inspirational projects making a huge impact in their communities – like a sustainable arts initiative which grows its own jeans or very special choir of singing mums now be prescribed on the NHS and a courageous teenager overcoming the odds to make his mark on a football pitch.

And what links them all is they have been supported by National Lottery players who raise £30 million for good causes throughout the UK.

Sam Quek said: “Why are a group of singing mums being prescribed on the NHS? How big an issue is mental health among the farming community? And what type of training does an elite athlete do when they are 38 weeks pregnant?

“These are some of questions I will be exploring in the exciting second season of the award-winning podcast Amazing Starts Here by The National Lottery.

“As a former elite athlete, I’ve been fortunate to benefit directly from National Lottery funding and have seen how its helped us bring home medals galore from Olympic and Paralympic games.

“In this series, I will be meeting some impressive people who have been making their mark in all aspects of life across the UK and catching-up with some familiar faces to find out how National Lottery support has empowered them to turn their dreams into reality.

“I hope you can join me to find out where the amazing starts”

Jonathan Tuchner, from The National Lottery, added: “Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £30 million is raised for good causes throughout the UK every single week.

“National Lottery players should be extremely proud to have supported the fantastic people and their projects who feature in Amazing Starts Here.

“These are just a snapshot of the life-changing activities taking place every day in all corners of the UK supported by The National Lottery.”

Amazing Starts Here is produced by the multi-award-winning podcast production company, Listen. Director of Content from Listen, Darby Dorras, added “we’ve loved working so closely with Sam and the National Lottery team to bring to life truly remarkable and insightful stories which are a properly life-affirming must-listen.”

The previous series of Amazing Starts Here presented by TV star and activist Amber Rose-Gill picked up a Silver in the Best Use of Celebrity category at the 2023 Corporate Content Awards and was highly recommended in the Best Use of Audio or Podcast category.

“From physicists to visionary thinkers and Grammy winners to Olympians, this 30th birthday series of The National Lottery’s Game Changers podcast has it all.

“And as a former elite athlete, I’ve been fortunate to benefit directly from National Lottery funding and have seen how it has helped us bring home medals galore from Olympic and Paralympic games.

“In this series, I will be meeting some seriously impressive people who have been making their mark in all aspects of life across the UK and catching-up with some familiar faces to find out how National Lottery funding has empowered them to turn their dreams into reality.

“I hope you can join me on this amazing game changing journey”

Jonathan Tuchner, from The National Lottery, added: “National Lottery players have been changing lives every day for the last 30 years, raising £30 million pounds each week for good causes.

“National Lottery players should be extremely proud to have supported the fantastic people and their projects who feature in Game Changers.

“These are just a snapshot of the life-changing activities taking place over the last three decades in all corners of the UK supported by The National Lottery.”

Game Changers is produced by the multi-award-winning podcast production company, Listen. Darby Dorras, Listen’s Director of Content said: "We're incredibly proud to bring the new, re-branded Game Changers to life. In this latest series we’ve taken our storytelling to the next level, bringing together inspiring and recognisable voices with creative storytelling and immersive sound design to truly highlight the powerful impact of National Lottery funding. We’re thrilled to be working on this meaningful project again.”

Previously called Amazing Starts Here and hosted by the likes of Strictly star Sam Quek and TV personality Amber Rose-Gill, the podcast picked up a Silver in the Best Use of Celebrity category at the 2023 Corporate Content Awards and was highly recommended in the Best Use of Audio or Podcast category.