Charmed life

Inside the smartest parties in town

A Mamma Mia! star pouring the chablis as Downton heiresses offer up the bread rolls? Mr Carson would be appalled (although actor Jim Carter was in fine fettle), but the upstairs-downstairs order was interrupted for one night only at The Ivy for the charity Acting for Others, which raises money for theatre workers. The nation’s best-known luvvies donned aprons to take on the most challenging role of all: waiter to London’s theatrical elite. Downton Abbey’s Laura Carmichael and co-star boyfriend Michael Fox were a dab hand at the orders (well, he did play a footman), while Jeremy Irvine kept the wine flowing for Sir Ian Mckellan and Dame Maggie Smith. But did he earn any tips?

Dame Maggie Smith and Sir Ian Mckellen

Paul Smith and Victoria Pendleton

Michael Fox and Laura Carmichael

Ginny Holder and Samantha Bond

Jeremy Irvine

Art collector Valeria Napoleone

Journalist Tim Blanks and designer Clare Waight Keller

Sharleen Spiteri

Fashion entrepreneur Michèle Lamy

Actor Ed Speleers

Model Chey Carter and journalist Fenn O’meally

Actor Sai Bennett

Artist Linder Sterling

Designers Craig Green and Frith Kerr

Designer Ashish Gupta

Frederick Forsyth and guest

Dame Penelope Wilton and Sir Derek Jacobi

Celia Imrie

Harriet Thorpe

Neil Stuke, Jason Watkins and Shelia Hancock

Jim Carter