Maisie Smith helps launch 1 Million Minutes ‘listening benches’

Six special ‘listening benches’ have been designed by six celebrities…

EastEnders regular Maisie Smith joined Susanna Reid and Martin Lewis in the Good Morning Britain studio to talk about her involvement in a special part of the 1 Million Minutes campaign – special ‘listening benches’ across the country.

Six special ‘listening benches’ have been designed by six celebrities, and are in situ in six cities across the UK – and they’re in a place to encourage people to strike up a conversation.

In Nottingham, Windsor, Belfast, Edinburgh, Exeter and Leeds, the benches – designed by Vicky McClure, Maisie Smith, Calum Best, Kadeena Cox, Matt Whitlock and David James in the hope of getting people talking. Maisie joined the show to share why the campaign is important to her.

“I’m always very open about mental health,” Maisie explained. “It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, what you have – everyone is going through something and I just think the world would be a kinder place if everyone understood that.

“I think especially growing up in the limelight as a teenager you’re very judgemental of yourself so when you do see comments of other people judging you it can add to the strain of the things you’re already going through I think people do think I’m confident because I cover my nerves with a big smile and that’s what I’ve been doing my whole life.”

Maisie’s bench, which is decorated in the colours from the LGBTQ+ flag, was inspired by her friends.

Susanna asked her if she had a technique for dealing with her nerves. “It depends what it is,” said Maisie. “A lot of the time – and it’s going to sound really stupid – but I write a script. I write down all of the questions that I could be asked and try and come up with something or my brain goes to mush when I’m under pressure, I just completely freeze and no words will come out.”

Maisie’s bench, which is decorated in the colours from the LGBTQ+ flag, was inspired by her friends. She explained: “I‘ve got a lot of friends in the LGBTQ+ community and I know for a lot of people it’s not an easy subject to talk about which is the entire process of this campaign is promotion talking so it felt quite personal for me to do that.”

Now in its sixth consecutive year, 2021’s 1 Million Minutes initiative, which launched on the show on Wednesday 1 December, will roll out across the UK and is backed by a host of celebrity stunts and endorsements, plus the entire GMB family. The project, which asks viewers to pledge time rather than money, has so far seen over a quarter of a billion minutes since it began, donated to charities looking for volunteers to connect with those who feel alone.

More information at itv.com/1millionminutes. In 2020, the campaign achieved a record 87 million minutes pledged.

Good Morning Britain, ITV, weekdays from 6 am. Catch up on the ITV Hub.