Aye, Stephen... and I’d have walked 100 miles more to give that award
We have all seen how much Holly Willoughby enjoys her annual night out at the National TV Awards.
So when Holly declares that a different event is “my favourite night of the year” you know it must be a good one.
That’s Pride Of Britain for you. A special evening that people like to prepare for in special ways.
On the red carpet for last night’s ITV show Rochelle Humes revealed: “I’m always armed with tissues.”
Chart-topper Anne-Marie’s thinking was along the same lines: “I’ve worn waterproof mascara. I’m ready.”
As for me? I make a special effort to suppress the giddy cynicism that normally kicks in whenever I see a roomful of celebrities being nice.
It’s not easy. I mean, you try not yelling, “Andi Peters?” when Carol
Vorderman says, “It’s time to find out who’s won ITV’s Fundraiser Of The Year Award.”
What makes it slightly easier is seeing the winners and hearing their stories.
They’re the kind of people who make you think to yourself, what a wonderful world.
Stephen Fry said it best when he handed over the Special Recognition Award to the Oxford vaccine team:
“I would have walked one hundred miles over broken glass to present this award.”
Aye, Stephen. And
I’d have walked one hundred more. Of course, the scientists seemed suitably embarrassed by the fuss. They were just doing their jobs. Sometimes though, it’s nice to be told that you’re doing a great job and that millions of people are grateful to you for doing it. It’s also nice to meet your favourite celebrity in the flesh – and the awards organisers pulled some big names out of the bag this year. Child Of Courage Harmonie-Rose enjoying cake and karaoke with Ed Sheeran was a wonderful way to kick the evening off.
But it was matched by the joy on the gobsmacked faces of young fundraisers Hughie and Freddie when their I’m A Celebrity day out was interrupted by a couple of familiar looking Geordie fellas.
However, my favourite celeb moment came when The Prince’s Trust Young Achiever of the Year Award winner Hassan Alkhawan – who, by the way, had already been to St James’s Palace to meet Prince Charles – was told Sharon Stone was on her way to the stage to hand over his award.
The look on his face was exactly the look I’d have on my face if I was about to meet Sharon Stone.
Well done, Hassan. And well done to all the winners. In the words of Jack Nicholson in As Good as It Gets, “You make me want to be a better man.”