Megan's design picked for Children in Need T-shirt

Megan Grinham, 21, from Colchester, entered the BBC annual appeal’s competition.

Her showstopping design was picked from hundreds of applications.

It will remain a closely guarded secret until it’s officially unveiled on June 5, although it will reflect Children in Need’s key colours.

The national fundraiser raises millions of pounds ever year and is fronted by the famous Pudsey bear.

The T-shirt will be sold online and across Asda stores nationwide in aid of Children in Need.

Megan, who attended Philip Morant School and its sixth form college, learned of her win last week and started working on Monday with the Asda’s fashion arm, George, on refining her design ready for production.

The George at Asda and Graduate Fashion Foundation teams, who ran the competition, made a surprise trip to her university to break the news – along with Pudsey Bear.

Megan said: “It was amazing, it was a shock and was surprising, but I feel honoured and really excited to work with them.”

She is now in her final year of her degree at Norwich University of the Arts and will also receive a two-week paid internship at George’s head office.

Her grand design will be used for BBC Children in Need’s official 2019 campaign, which will see key supporters, fundraisers and celebrities sport it.

She will also attend the much anticipated appeal TV show in November, although she said she doesn’t yet know what this will entail and if it will earn her any screen time.

The inspiration for the design came from what BBC Children in Need means to Megan and many others.

She said: “I believe strongly in the community - people coming together to help one another.

“A group of people is always stronger than one.

“I believe the BBC Children in Need Appeal supports this idea of community and how many people from all over the country get together and raise money for disadvantaged children and young people.

“BBC Children in Need is an amazing charity and I believe my design demonstrates the sheer amount of people they help.”

The design had to be gender neutral and age-appropriate for adults and children to wear.

Kate Farley, course leader in Fashion and Textiles at NUA, said: “We’re delighted that Megan has created the winning design – she’s a talented student who cares about people and the environment. She’ll be thrilled to see people wearing her design in support of such a great cause.”

Claire Hoyle, commercial director at BBC Children in Need, added: “Congratulations to Megan, who will see her T-shirt design featured throughout our fundraising campaign.”

After she graduates this summer, Megan said she is keen to start looking for fashion designer jobs.