The Variety Club Showbiz Awards 2010

Written by James Gadsby-Peet 15th November 2009

The brightest stars from the showbiz world lit up London's West End last night as they came together to show their support for one of UK's longest running charities dedicated to sick, disabled and disadvantaged children and young people - The Variety Club - and to honour the most talented individuals from the world of entertainment at The Variety Club's 57th Annual Showbiz Awards 2009.

The glitz, the glamour and the gossip of this evening's dazzling event, which is UK's longest running televised awards ceremony, will be broadcast on FIVE on Sunday 22nd November 2009 at 3.35pm.

The evening's star-studded event, amid the grandiose of The Grosvenor House Hotel, commenced with an array of international A-list celebrities, industry stalwarts and leading luminaries from the worlds of film, television, comedy, theatre, popular music and classical music gracing the Red Carpet.

The guest list welcomed names such as Kevin Spacey, Ben Kingsley, Patrick Stewart, David Suchet, Kelly Brook, Jon Culshaw, Alan Carr, Justin Lee Collins, Pixie Lott, Spandau Ballet, The Saturdays, Alesha Dixon, Nick Knowles, Zoe Salmon, Joe Calzaghe, Dame Kelly Holmes, Antony Cotton, John Stapleton and Michelle Collins. The stars dazzled for the cameras and set fashion-tongues wagging as they make their way to the exclusive reception where champagne flutes overflowed, as a prelude to a gourmet banquet and the eagerly awaited awards ceremony, taking place against a theatrical backdrop of exclusive world-class entertainment.

 The Variety Club's 57th Annual Showbiz Awards 2009 is one of the most eagerly anticipated entries on the British entertainment calendar and has become an international celebrity institution in itself. Nearly every showbiz personality of note from the past 60 years has been honoured by The Variety Club including Tommy Trinder, Dame Vera Lynn, Lord Laurence Olivier, Lord Lloyd Webber, Sir Alec Guiness, Sir Michael Caine, Dame Helen Mirren, Dame Judy Dench, Sir Ben Kingsley, Diana Dors, Daniel Craig, Keira Knightley, Jude Law, James McAvoy, Al Pacino, Peter Sellers, Tommy Cooper, Ricky Gervais, Alan Carr, The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Katherine Jenkins and Hayley Westenra.

The Variety Club is the essence of life for kids who desperately need the help to get healthy. I am full of admiration for the work you have done for the past 60 years and hope you carry on with the work you do. I am extremely honoured to be associated with this charity and this award.

Sir Ian McKellen

And the winners are:

Also at this year's Showbiz Awards, The Variety Club, in partnership with The Co-operative, revealed the face of its 2010 Gold Heart campaign Alesha Dixon. Gold Hearts badges will be sold in Co-operative food, bank, travel and pharmacy stores from 28th January 2010 as well as H Samuel Stored and across the AHG/MWB Group.

The annual awards show is held to raise significant funds for and awareness of the work The Variety Club undertakes to help sick, disabled and disadvantaged children and young people. Celebrating its Diamond Jubilee this year, the Variety Club has raised over £200 million and improved the lives of more than a million children and young people since its inception. Among our tireless work, we provide Sunshine Coaches, Easy Riders electric wheelchairs, exciting and educational trips, equipment for children's hospitals and life enhancing equipment.

Photography courtesy of David Baird, Andy Paradise and Mickey Bowles

Showbiz Awards 2009

Gloria Hunningford with husband Stephen Way