TV charity show star is ex-BNP organiser

A CHARITY worker who was exposed as a BNP activist four years ago was handed a cheque for £2,000 after ­featuring on the Channel 4 show ­The Secret ­Millionaire.

TV STAR He appeared on The Secret Millionaire TV STAR: He appeared on The Secret Millionaire

Millionaire and former nurse Roisin Isaacs was unaware of Ewan Gurr’s secret past as the right-wing party’s youngest-ever organiser when she decided he was worthy of the cash.

Gurr, 23, a Dundee pastor’s son, rebelled against his Christian upbringing and was dabbling with drugs and alcohol by the age of 16.

Since being exposed by the press, he claims to have turned his life around through his charity work, and has quit the controversial political party.

On Sunday, Gurr appeared on The Secret Millionaire and highlighted his work as co-ordinator for the Discovery Food Project, which helps starving families in Dundee.

In the show, a “secret” millionaire goes in to a deprived area undercover and seeks out community and project volunteers whose efforts deserve financial support.

Yesterday, Gurr, whose parents, Des and Sharon Gurr, are senior pastors at the Assemblies of God Full Gospel Church in Dundee’s Hilltown, was reluctant to talk about the BNP.

‘I’m not especially proud of my political past. I don’t want to look back, but forward ’

Gurr, who was on first-name terms with the party’s chairman Nick Griffin, said: “I’m not especially proud of my political past. I don’t want to look back, I would rather look forward.

“As far as my political involvement is concerned, race was never an issue for me. I have lots of African friends, and I certainly don’t want to jeopardise their trust and friendship. Politics is really about highlighting problems, but my work now is more about helping solve the problems and not just whingeing about them.”

Gurr, who revealed on the show that he is getting married in July, and even invited Ms Isaacs to the wedding, was delighted with the programme.

Ms Isaacs donated £7,500 to the Discovery Food Project as well as giving Gurr himself £2,000.

Gurr said: “We have serious issues in the Hilltown area, especially with teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol addictions and mental illness.”

The Channel 4 show highlighted three or four cases in the community, but Gurr said they are just the tip of the iceberg.

He said: “It is common for us to visit homes in Dundee and find families who have been starving for more than a week.

“We offer an emergency service for people who need help immediately. We are confidential and we try to make sure people in awful situations have a healthy meal and that they do not degenerate into situations of severe mental illness.

“Every month, we deliver about 100 bags of groceries to desperate people who have sought help . But my main concern is the people behind locked doors who are unaware that help is out there. There must be so many that we are not yet reaching.”

Gurr said that since the programme was screened, several volunteers have been in contact with him.

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