A famous TV star who started out in Sutton Coldfield has returned to a school in her hometown to share the secrets of her success. Presenter and former model Emma Willis met starstruck pupils at Plantsbrook School in the heart of the town to tell them how she reached the top.

Emma, who was born and grew up in Sutton, is one of 100 BBC stars who are visiting schools across the UK as part of Share Your Story, a storytelling tour celebrating the Corporation’s centenary by engaging with 250,000 students.

The 46-year-old is best known for presenting shows including The Voice, Big Brother, and Delivering Babies, spoke to students about her journey to stardom, before answering their questions.

Headteacher Jason Farr said: “It was a wonderful opportunity for Plantsbrook students to hear Emma Willis share her story, on how she has achieved her success. It is so important that young people get to engage with successful people, to be inspired by their examples.

“And it was even more powerful knowing that Emma is from our area. It was an inspiring and unforgettable day, and we are tremendously grateful to Emma and the BBC for sharing their time with us.”

Share Your Story takes a ‘diverse group’ of 100 BBC Storytellers into schools across the UK, to share stories of their personal journeys, setbacks and successes. BBC Storytellers involved include ‘relatable and inspiring’ BBC staff and well-known BBC stars from TV, radio, sport and news, such as Greg James, Stacey Dooley, Alex Scott, Laura Kuenssberg, Graham Norton and Ade Adepitan.

The BBC has teamed up with the National Literacy Trust, charity Voice 21, and the British Film Institute’s Into Film programme for the scheme, in which pupils are also supported to tell their own stories in class, in the form of a poem, a rap, a film or a speech.