BBC’s Dr Oscar Duke announced as host of the Variety Disability Sports Awards 2026

Doctor, broadcaster and disability advocate Dr Oscar Duke will host the Variety Disability Sports Awards 2026 for Variety, the Children’s Charity this month. The star-studded event, which is the UK’s leading bi-annual celebration of disability sport, will unite trailblazers from across the world of disability sport for a landmark celebration of achievement, innovation and inclusion.

Dr Oscar Duke is best known as the resident doctor on BBC One’s Morning Live and has appeared across television and radio, bringing his medical expertise and personal experience of disability to audiences across the UK. Born with albinism, Oscar has a visual impairment and is a passionate advocate for greater understanding and inclusion.

The Variety Disability Sports Awards celebrates and champions disabled sportspeople and shines a light on the individuals and organisations helping to build a more inclusive and accessible future for sport. Honouring everyone from grassroots pioneers to elite competitors, the awards spotlight the people redefining the future of disability sport in Britain. The awards also honour those making an impact both on and off the field of play, highlighting the people driving change as well as sporting excellence itself. Through the awards, Variety aims to improve access to sport for disabled and disadvantaged children and young people, so that every child has the chance to take part, be active and reach their potential.

The previously announced 2026 shortlist features an extraordinary group of athletes, organisations and individuals driving disability sport forward, with nominees ranging in age from 13 upwards. Among this year’s nominees are celebrated Paralympic athlete Richard Whitehead MBE, nominated in both the Inspiration Award and Outstanding Individual Achievement Award, Tully Kearney OBE, Michele Weltman MBE of London Marathon Events and the England Women’s Blind Football Team.

Variety has also previously announced the 2026 judging panel, chaired by Paralympic bronze and silver medallist Stefanie Reid MBE. The panel includes Dr Kush Kanodia and Alice Evans from the ParalympicsGB Lived Experience Advisory Board, Matt Elkington from the Lawn Tennis Association’s Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Disability team, Nick Goldup, Chief Executive of Wheelchair Alliance, Andrew Douglas, Founder and Chief Executive of Innovision and Parallel Lifestyle and Games, and Alison Oliver, Chief Executive of Youth Sport Trust.