Joanna’s our secret weapon...

Kay Burley believes it’s the glittering array of guests

Sky will parade on the day that will give it the edge overitsrivals,aswellasthe technology at their disposal. ‘You’ll be able to see our coverage in ultra high definition,’ she says. ‘That means the diamonds in the Sovereign’s Orb [below] will sparkle just that little bit brighter and the anxiety and then relief on the King’s face will be just that little bit more sharply defined.’

She says she hasn’t been suffering from anxiety herself, but is not taking anything for granted, despite more than 40 years of covering royal events, back to Charles and Diana’s wedding. ‘I’m very aware of the challenge and the workonehastodoto prepare.isaytothesky team, “You are only ever going to need ten per cent of your research but you have to do 100 per cent because you don’t know which ten per cent you’ll need!’

Kay has toured Westminster Abbey with Sky’s royal expert Alastair Bruce, and has been looking out for gems of knowledge that might come in handy on the day. ‘I’ve absorbed every sort of intelligence I can from all sorts of different places,’ she reveals. ‘There’s been a lot going on.’

She reckons Dame Joanna Lumley could prove to be Sky’s secret weapon, providing insider knowledge after attending the ceremony in person. ‘I was privileged to host the Platinum Jubilee with Joanna [above], who has that extra depth of knowledge and colour because she knows the Royal Family well. And some of her stories are straight out of the Patsy playbook! She’s very, very knowledgeable and funny in equal measure.’ If it were Patsy Stone, Joanna’s Ab Fab character, in Sky’s studio the Bolly would be flowing, but Kay will be sticking to Earl Grey tea. ‘I need to have my earpiece in so I can hear what my director’s saying, but I also need my cup of Earl Grey in my special Kay Burley At Breakfast mug... with milk because I’m northern. With those two things in place, away I go!’