Edmonds vows to battle "broken Britain"

Noel Edmonds has revealed details of a new series he believes is "potentially the most significant" of his career.

The primetime entertainment show for Sky One has the working title Noel's HQ and is billed as "TV's response to what many see as broken Britain".

The show will tell the stories of people in need and match them up with offers of help in the form of cash, time or expertise, some of which will be presented from a wall of deposit boxes.

Edmonds identified gangs, family breakdown, "crazy" health and safety rules, speed cameras and CCTV as symptoms of "broken Britain".

"There is a realisation that what is going on in Britain has to be addressed at a fundamental level - that is our level," he said. "My whole career has been built on broadcasters giving me the opportunity to attract audiences - this is a completely different challenge.

"If this fails to attract interest at every level we have a very serious problem... On a daily basis I feel less secure and I see people who are quite clearly unhappy."

The presenter said the programme would be positive and address the issues, with items on people who have committed "random acts of kindness" and hidden camera stunts to single out the generous and the greedy.

NHQ will also "name and shame the idiots who are trying to change society with health and safety rules and initiatives that don't work".

A 90-minute special will air in the autumn, after which Sky One will decide how often and in what form the show should return, said director of programming Richard Woolfe.