Surprise Surprise – Jazz Musician Marianne Finds Herself On The One Show

Published on: 11 Dec, 2025
Updated on: 13 Dec, 2025

Marianne on the famous couch – live with Jamie Cullum

By David Reading

Guildford jazz musician Marianne Windham found herself a surprise guest on BBC’s The One Show this evening – to receive a well-deserved accolade for her work in supporting young musicians.

Marianne, leader of Guildford Jazz, has used her love of music to raise many thousands of pounds giving young people in the Guildford area access to music lessons and instruments. It was announced on the show that this year alone she has helped and funded 116 children.

This evening (December 11) Marianne had been coaxed up to London on a pretence and was watching a special Christmas carol concert by The All Souls Church Choir just outside the studio doors, without a clue about what was going to happen. And then she found herself being led inside the studio – where there was a show live on air.

There the One Show presenters told her the news – she had been selected for a special accolade during their “One Big Thankyou Special.” Of course, her husband and daughter were in on it.

Some of the children she has helped were on film saying how much they had benefited from her work and then, to cap it all, legendary pianist Jamie Cullum joined her on the couch.

Being the centre of attention is not entirely new for Marianne, who plays double bass. Described as an inspirational and dedicated chair of Guildford Jazz, she has just received the prestigious Parliamentary Services to Jazz Award for 2025, which is awarded annually to “a living person who is deemed to have made the most outstanding contribution to jazz in the UK”.

Marianne joined this elite group thanks to her her tireless efforts in promoting music and, in the process, providing work for more than 2,000 musicians while raising over £190,000 for various local charities including Challengers, the Guildford charity which provides support for disabled youngsters and their families.

Thanks to Marianne’s leadership and sterling support from of her small team of volunteers, Guildford Jazz has become one of the leading jazz clubs in the UK and a firm favourite with musicians.