‘It’s extraordinary to witness how quickly people have got together’: Amanda Holden travels to the Ukraine border to interview refugees fleeing the conflict after Putin’s invasion
Amanda Holden has travelled to the Ukraine border where she is interviewing refugees fleeing the conflict following Vladimir Putin’s invasion last month.
The Britain’s Got Talent judge, 51, is spending time at a refugee camp at Medyka in Poland, a short distance from the Ukraine, with Amanda remarking: ‘It’s extraordinary to witness how quickly people have got together.’
There, she’s been talking to people who’s lives have been ripped apart by the conflict for a new podcast called Ukraine’s Hidden Voices, which gives a platform to those affected.
Doing her bit: Amanda Holden has travelled to the Ukraine border where she is interviewing refugees fleeing the conflict following Vladimir Putin’s invasion last month
The mum-of-two, who arrived in the country on Friday, told of her experience on Heart FM, she said: ‘I am literally watching people trickling in from over the border. It’s extraordinary to witness how quickly people have got together. There’s a whole village here.
She went on: ‘There are stalls and stalls of food and clothes. I’ve seen things from Asda and Tesco. It’s amazing where it’s all come from. People are serving teas and coffees and hot food.
‘Every single thing has been thought up. There are even dog leads and dog bowls and toys for kids. There is nothing that hasn’t been thought of.’
On the ground: The Britain’s Got Talent judge, 51, is spending time at a refugee camp at Medyka in Poland, a short distance from the Ukraine, with Amanda remarking: ‘It’s extraordinary to witness how quickly people have got together’
Amanda started up the podcast after being contacted by a woman in the Ukraine on a social media post, with the Heart FM presenter then determined to do something to give civilians affected by the harrowing conflict a voice.
She’s since recorded seven episodes of the podcast and traveled to Poland ahead of the weekend to get a first-hand look of what the refugees are dealing with and to further talk to people in person.
Amanda took to her Instagram to document her visit, sharing several images and videos from the refugee camp.
In one stark video, Amanda showed a long queue of people waiting to head back into Ukraine city Lviv to help, after bombs were dropped there earlier in the day.
Visit: Amanda’s recorded seven episodes of the podcast and traveled to Poland ahead of the weekend to get a first-hand look of what the refugees are dealing with and to further talk to people in person
First hand look: Amanda took to her Instagram to document her visit, sharing several images and videos from the refugee camp
Heartbreaking: In one stark video, Amanda showed a long queue of people waiting to head back into Ukraine city Lviv to help, after bombs were dropped there earlier in the day
While another showed a man, dubbed the ‘peace pianist’ playing the piano in the middle of the camp.
Amanda also filmed the piles of donations sent there, with items including clothes, bedding and wheelchairs.
In addition, the TV personality also uploaded a snap of members of a Bristol charity while making a dig at the UK government as she wrote: ‘This little charity trying to make a big difference despite the ridiculous bureaucracy of our government.’
The sound of music: While another showed a man, dubbed the ‘peace pianist’ playing the piano in the middle of the camp
Charitable: Amanda also filmed the piles of donations sent there, with items including clothes, bedding and wheelchairs
Hard at work: In addition, the TV personality also uploaded a snap of members of a Bristol charity while making a dig at the UK government
‘Hero’: While she also shared on her grid an image of a man, alongside the caption: ‘Zoom in on this hero … Read his sleeve… I’m witnessing this for real & I’s overwhelming… help in anyway you can #ifnotus then who?
While she also shared on her grid an image of a man, alongside the caption: ‘Zoom in on this hero … Read his sleeve… I’m witnessing this for real & I’s overwhelming… help in anyway you can #ifnotus then who? ( I had permission from him to take this picture).’
Launching the Ukraine’s Hidden Voices earlier this moth, Amanda said: ‘I wanted to use this podcast to speak with mums, dads, sons and daughters about what is happening on the ground in Ukraine.
‘At this time it’s vital that we don’t turn away, but we turn towards them and hear their stories and try to help in any way we can. Their stories are so important.’
While the podcast’s official page reads: ‘Ukraine’s Hidden Voices will bring you interviews and conversations with many people from many different walks of life, all trying to survive and make the best life possible for themselves, their family and friends as the War in Ukraine continues.’
Experience: Amanda’s visit to the Ukraine follows in the footsteps of judge Robert Rinder, who recently returned from the war-torn country after finding his Strictly partner Oskana Platero’s disabled grandparents
Amanda’s visit to the Ukraine follows in the footsteps of judge Robert Rinder, who recently returned from the war-torn country after finding his Strictly partner Oskana Platero’s disabled grandparents.
The TV judge, 43, appeared on Friday’s Lorraine to discuss the experience, where he revealed the elderly couple were forced to escape without their wheelchairs or medication following the Russian invasion.
He said: ‘Her grandfather has Parkinson’s and her grandmother wasn’t able to get out of bed. Disabled people have had to escape with nothing that they need, no wheelchair or medication.’
Rob continued: ‘They had nothing when we arrived really, except each other, we gave them what we could – a wheelchair, they gave us tea. They said despite having nothing, they were grateful to us and the British public for absolutely everything.’
Sharing an insight into their experience, Rob said: ‘They are 85 and 95, they took a week to get over the border. They went through a trauma of being able to cross the border.
‘That’s the thing about what matters most, what this crisis brings home is hold your family close, hold democracy close. How great we can be at our very best.’
Rob also touched on his friendship with Oskana, who he said was ‘desperately worried’ about her grandparents when he first spoke to her following the outbreak of the war.
Emotional: The TV judge, 43, journeyed to the border of war-torn Ukraine when he heard that Oskana’s relatives had to flee their home following the Russian invasion
Sharing an insight into their experience, Rob said: ‘They are 85 and 95, they took a week to get over the border. They went through a trauma of being able to cross the border’ (pictured with Oskana’s aunt)
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