Meet the big-hearted youngster near Harborough who has become a mini BBC superstar at the age of just seven

A high-flying, big-hearted youngster from a village near Market Harborough has become a true mini BBC superstar as he helps to supercharge Children in Need.

Gifted video-maker and news presenter Seth Donoghue is just seven years old.

But the Marston Trussell wonder boy has already raked in almost £800 for the BBC’s Children in Need appeal.

And he’s been saluted by Radio 2 and TV star Zoe Ball and top comedian Paddy McGuinness on the BBC’s Big Night In as well as blazing a trail across the Beeb’s top-notch Children in Need website.

Seth’s dad Mark Donoghue, 35, said: “We are immensely proud of Seth.

“It’s almost impossible to believe just how well he is doing for a boy of just seven years old.

“He’s fast becoming a multi-dimensional media star operating across all platforms!”

The excited dad-of-two said Seth launched his bold bid to take over the airwaves and cyberspace single-handedly when the Covid-19 lockdown was enforced at the end of March.

“He got a bit bored like a lot of kids at the time so we decided to have a bit of fun and really engage him.

“So we started to make and put together videos with Seth for YouTube,” said Mark, whose wife Anna, 33, is director of merchandising at leading Market Harborough fashion chain Joules.

Backed by a compelling BBC News-style beat, Seth presents bright news slots on local stories ranging from lambs being born to his dad flying a kite to his beloved sausage dogs and playing the piano.

“The BBC quickly picked up on Seth’s videos and got in touch with us – they are loving what he does.

“So we were featured on their Big Night in when Seth was thanked by Zoe Ball and Paddy McGuinness just before they paid tribute to legendary NHS fundraiser Captain Tom.

“We had also done some filming with the BBC although it wasn’t used on the night.

“Seth’s also been interviewed by top TV body coach Joe Wicks for Children in Need.

“Joe was fantastic.

“And he stressed the importance of giving for the good of your own physical and mental health,” said Mark, who’s an IT consultant in the music industry and has a baby daughter Lyla.

“Seth’s also being used in marketing material for Children in Need’s Act Your Age campaign.

“That’s going out to every primary school in the UK so his new-found fame really is stretching far and wide across the whole country.”

He said Seth will be riding seven miles in the Market Harborough area to raise much-needed money for Children in Need.

“Seth has just got a bike for his seventh birthday and not had his stabilisers off too long so this will be a huge achievement for him.

“He’s a good boy, he’s got a big heart, he loves what he’s doing and he’s very compassionate as well as becoming more and more confident,” said Mark.

“All of our neighbours know what he’s up to here in Marston Trussell, where we’ve had an incredible community spirit throughout the lockdown.”

Seth, who attends nearby Clipston Primary School, said: “It’s going really well and I’m looking forward to doing my bike ride.

“I am really enjoying everything that I have been doing to help Children in Need.”

But this budding TV starlet isn’t planning at the moment to carve out a stellar career in the media in future.

“I’d like to be a vet,” said Seth.

If you would like to top up Seth’s growing coffers for Children in Need you can visit his fundraising website here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/seths7milebikeride

The talented youngster is featured on the BBC Children in Need website here: https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/fundraising/act-your-age/fundraisers-stories/

And you can enjoy some of his videos from lockdown here: https://youtu.be/dLdiyz4fvzo