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I’ve partied at the BAFTAs with Ben Affleck – what it’s really like, from Kate & Wills’ whispers to what stars eat
THE BAFTAs is one of the glitziest nights in the showbiz calendar, when Hollywood comes to London.
As a showbiz journalist, I’ve been lucky enough to attend several times, rubbing shoulders with stars from George Clooney to Renée Zellweger and Tom Holland.
The last time I went, in 2023, as a guest of EE, which sponsors the awards, I was put up at the five-star Corinthia Hotel in Whitehall, which was perfect for pretending I was an A-lister myself.
Many of the celeb guests were also staying there, so I had my eyes peeled when I hit the drinks reception at 1.30pm. There, I was given the chance to take a pic with a real BAFTA, which I can confirm weighs a tonne.
It’s not the first time I’ve had a snap with the coveted award – Ben Affleck let me hold his Best Director gong at the 2013 awards dinner.
We chatted about how similar my Belfast accent and his Bostonian one were, while his then-wife Jennifer Garner tucked into his dessert.
Back at the Corinthia, I reluctantly gave the award back, then headed into the reception where I drank Taittinger champagne with stars including Sex Education’s Emma Mackey and Aimee Lou Wood. We were also treated to a performance by singer Tom Grennan.
At 3pm, it was time to take to the red carpet at the Royal Festival Hall, where the ceremony was taking place.
Over the years I’ve waited in cold, rain and even snow to grab the nominees for a chat, so it was lovely to stroll down the carpet alongside big names like Jamie Lee Curtis, Barry Keoghan and Carey Mulligan.
Inside, the building was packed with celebs wherever you looked, even spilling out on to the balcony, where I spotted Derry Girls pals Nicola Coughlan and Dylan Llewellyn deep in chat.
By 5.30pm, it was time to be seated inside the auditorium. My seat was on the balcony, which was the perfect spot to spy stars, including Paul Mescal, who was constantly making sure his parents were OK.
I also had a bird’s-eye view as BAFTA’s president, Prince William, and Kate Middleton took their seats at the front.
Kate stunned in a white gown with black gloves while William was in a deep chat with fellow Etonian Eddie Redmayne.
It was cute to watch the royal couple whispering to each other during the show.
The ceremony flew by and once it was over, everyone left their seats to mingle before dinner at 9pm.
Unlike in previous years, there was no alcohol served during the show, so everyone was keen for a glass of fizz and some food.
We had the choice of vegan butternut arancini with sage or confit chicken terrine with truffle and onion chutney, followed by chocolate mousse for dessert.
Event chef Tim Brennan had to build the kitchens from scratch to feed the 2,000 VIP guests as the venue didn’t have adequate facilities.
The dining room was an impressive mass of tables, with decorations inspired by the five Best Film nominees.
Unsurprisingly, most of the celebs don’t eat the meals and barely sit at their tables, instead preferring to catch up with other actors.
At the end of the night, I spotted several people taking home cardboard cutouts of Colin Farrell’s donkey, Jenny, from The Banshees Of Inisherin.
Most celebrities headed to various after-parties, with Netflix holding a bash at Chiltern Firehouse and Vogue, in partnership with Tiffany & Co, taking over members’ club Annabel’s.
Once my feet could take no more, I headed back to my plush hotel room and tucked myself into the biggest bed I’ve ever seen.
If there was an award for partying, I’d have certainly taken home the prize.
I was so fat I couldn’t even get out of bed and my little girl always asked why I was so sad – now I’ve shed 12st
A MUM lost an incredible 12st after feeling like her life had fallen apart with postnatal depression.
Katy George reached rock bottom after her weight hit 23st and she was unable to face getting out of bed.
But her mum, Diana, urged her to join a slimming club, and together they have lost over 15st.
The pair have opened their own beauty salon to celebrate the major turnaround.
Katy says she can now be the mum she dreamed of being to Holly, aged five.
The 29-year-old, from Blackpool, says: “I was so unhappy, stuck in bed all day. I was virtually immobile.
“My little girl was always asking why I was sad.
“Now, 12st lighter, she’s always asking me why I’m dancing around the house! My life has completely turned around.
“My mum is my big inspiration. Without her, I’d never have done it.
“I can’t thank her enough.”
Katy was chubby as a child but slimmed down in her teenage years.
However, when she became trapped in an unhappy relationship, she began comfort eating and gaining weight.
In December 2019, she gave birth to her daughter, Holly, and her weight spiralled.
At 5ft 4in, and 23st, she became too depressed to get out of bed.
“I had a difficult birth,” she says. “I contracted sepsis after a C-section and I was very ill.
“I developed postnatal depression, then it was lockdown.
“I was very isolated, and I was in an unhappy relationship.
“I felt so lonely, and food was my only escape.”
Katy adds: “I’d eat meat and potato pie and mash, takeaways, and pizzas.
“I could polish off a whole tube of Pringles. I was trying to fill the void inside me.
“At the start of 2024, I split with my partner, which was the right thing to do, but then I faced the challenge of being a single mum.
“I felt absolutely desperate.”
I used to spend my days in bed. Now I can be the mum I’ve always dreamed of being
Katy George
Doctors warned Katy her health was at risk, and she was referred to a diabetes specialist.
Seeing her daughter’s unhappiness, Diana persuaded her to attend a Slimming World meeting.
Diana, 56, says: “Katy just wasn’t the same girl anymore.
“She had no energy, she rarely went out. I was so worried about her.
“I felt I was losing my daughter. I was less bothered about her physical appearance and more worried about the way it affected her mentally.
“I persuaded her to come to Slimming World with me.
“I’d fallen off a ladder while I was cleaning a few years earlier and broken my back, which stopped me doing exercise. I’d put on a few stone, so I saw it as a chance for both of us.
“I told her I’d pay each week if she lost, and she’d have to pay if she gained!”
DIET SWAPS
Spurring each other on, the pair both went on to achieve incredible success.
Katy says: “My mum was brilliant, she really pushed me.
“I managed to lose 5st before joining Slimming World in January 2024 and we joined the group together; I’d never have had the confidence to do it on my own.”
In her first week, Katy lost an amazing 11.5lbs, which gave her the motivation to continue.
As time went on, she grew to love her new lifestyle, swapping carbs and fatty foods for grilled chicken, salads and sweet potato fries.
One year on, she has lost a further 7st, giving her a total 12st weight loss.
She now weighs 10st 11lbs and has dropped from a dress size 22/24 to an 8/10.
Diana has lost 3.5st, dropping from almost 14st to 10st 3lbs.
The 5 best exercises to lose weight
By Lucy Gornall, personal trainer and health journalist
EXERCISE can be intimidating and hard to devote yourself to, particularly at this time of year, when the rain is as relentless as your craving for carbs.
So how do you find the right workout for you?
As a PT and fitness journalist, I’ve tried everything.
I’ve taken part in endless fitness competitions, marathons and I maintain a regime of runs, strength training and Pilates.
Fitness is so entrenched in my life, I stick to it even at Christmas!
The key is finding an activity you love that can become a habit.
My top five forms of exercise, especially if you’re trying to lose weight, are:
- Walking
- Running
- Pilates
- High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
- Strength training
Katy says: “I feel so much better. I have lots of energy and I’m always on the go.
“I owe mum a big thank you. She and I opened our own beauty salon, Natural Hair and Beauty, last year to mark our new start.
“I can finally be the mum I’ve always dreamed of being.
“I used to spend my days in bed, now I’m always out with Holly at play centres or the zoo or LEGOLAND®.
“My daughter used to ask me why I was sad, now she asks why I’m always dancing!
“I’m proud of myself and I know she’s proud of me too.”
Diana adds: “I am so proud of Katy – I feel like I’ve got my girl back and that is worth the world to me.”
Linda Robson reveals Birds of a Feather stars went ‘on strike’ in furious pay row with Only Fools and Horses cast
ACTRESS Linda Robson reveals she and her Birds of a Feather co-stars went ‘on strike’ after learning they were being paid a “pittance” in comparison to their male sitcom counterparts.
The 66-year-old admitted that she and her fellow acting stars, Lesley Joseph and Pauline Quirke, were left less than impressed to discover how little they were being paid during their first few years on the sitcom.
Whilst Linda has since managed to amass a small fortune thanks to the longevity of the programme as well as her regular role on Loose Women and various reality shows, things weren’t always so rosy for the Islington native.
Linda has confessed that she, Pauline and Lesley were left in-shock when they discovered that the stars of Only Fools and Horses, which included Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, were making a mint in comparison to them.
Speaking at the TV Choice Awards, Linda revealed the pay row even put a halt on filming until their salaries matched those of the Only Fools stars.
The Loose Women panellist said: “We found out how much [money] Only Fools and Horses were getting and in comparison we were getting a pittance.
“Then, we said, ‘we aren’t doing any more [episodes] unless you give us the same money as the boys’.”
Linda later admitted they were successful in getting the payrise with the three Birds of a Feather stars all managing to secure top contracts to be on the same wages as the Only Fools stars.
Only Fools and Horses started in 1981 with Birds of a Feather coming along eight years later.
Both shows were screened by the BBC during their crossover years amid the pay row.
Elsewhere, Linda spoke about managing to land her first major acting role since wrapping up the comedy for good in 2020.
She will be playing a role in the next series of Channel 5‘s The Good Ship Murder.
Led by Shayne Ward and Catherine Tyldesley, Linda will be filming on the show for eight days next month.
Spilling all on her role, she said: “I’ve just won a part in Murder on the Ship or whatever it is called that Shayne Ward does.
“So yeah, I’m going to be doing eight days of filming for that in Malta.”
Offering up a hint as to her character, she also cheekily implied she would not die on the show as a result of being out there for eight days.
Linda continued: “Hopefully I don’t die!
“My character’s name is Elsa and I think I play a cabin steward and I’m filming that in March.
“I’ve met Shayne quite a few times too – he’s been a guest at Loose Women but apparently he sings in every episode doesn’t he?”
Linda then laughed: “He won’t get me to sing!”
European theme park to get £66million revamp with new waterpark, rollercoaster and two rides
ONE of Germany’s most popular theme parks is set to open two new rides later this year as part of a multi-million-pound investment.
Despite not being well-known among Brits, Holiday Park in Haßloch, Germany, welcomes 660,000 visitors every year.
Part of a five-year masterplan, the theme park is pumping €80m (£66.6m) into new rides and attractions.
This multi-million-pound cash injection includes two new coasters, both of which are slated to open this year.
New ride 100% Wolf will be a family-friendly thrill coaster that will be the main attraction inside a new themed land.
Running along a 760m-long track, the new ride will feature a vertical spike.
It aims to bridge the gap between the park’s indoor rides and its thrill coasters, offering something for the whole family.
When it opens later this year, 100% Wolf will become the theme park‘s fourth rollercoaster.
Meanwhile, Holiday Park’s Burg Falkenstein ride has been given a new look for 2025, with a new Smurf theme.
Slated to open later this year, the reimagined ride will feature over 45 animatronic figures based on the comic book characters.
In total, there will be 42 Smurf figures, each standing at 60cm tall and capable of intricate movements.
A new Mack Extreme Spinning Coaster is set to open at the theme park next year.
But by far its biggest investment is a new €40m (£33m) waterpark.
While it’s slated to be a standalone waterpark, not much is known about the huge multi-million investment.
There are plenty of other rides and attractions to keep families entertained until the park’s new offerings open in the spring.
Holiday Park is home to more than 40 rides and attractions, including bigFM Expedition GeForce, which is routinely named the best rollercoaster in the world.
Other rides at the theme park include The Big Wave, the Free Fall Tower, the Balloon Race and the Lighthouse Tower.
There are several water rides at the theme park, including Dino Splash, Donnie Slide, Dizzy Slide and Jerome Race.
Indoor rides for younger park-goers include the Ball Pool and the Farm Carousel.
Entry tickets for the winter season start from as little as €12 (£10) per person.
Holiday Park is just under a 90-minute drive from Frankfurt where direct flights operate to the UK.
Direct flights operate from London to Frankfurt, with return fares from £27 per person.
Use these tips on your next theme park trip
Next time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out.
- Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides at the front will have the longest queues as soon as it opens.
- Go on water rides in the middle of the day in the summer – this will cool you off when the sun is at its hottest.
- Download the park’s app to track which rides have the shortest queues.
- Visit on your birthday, as some parks give out “birthday badges” that can get you freebies.
- If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how much it rained, you may get a free ticket to return.
And here’s everything we know about the UK’s new Universal theme park as government prepares to approve planning.
Alton Towers has a pirate takeover week during February half term and there’s Nickelodeon Land at Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort.
Trump WOULD back legal action if Prince Harry lied on visa application – & duke should be ‘very worried’, warn insiders
DONALD Trump would back legal action if Prince Harry lied on his visa application and he should be “very worried”, insiders have warned.
The US President previously hinted he may deport Meghan Markle‘s husband amid claims he lied about past drug use on visa forms.
But Mr Trump then said: “I don’t want to do that. I’ll leave him alone. He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.”
Years of insults include the Duchess of Sussex calling Mr Trump a “misogynist” while he has labelled her “nasty”.
Now a source has told The Mail on Sunday Mr Trump remains committed to Harry facing a criminal prosecution if he is found to have lied.
They said: “President Trump has made it very clear that if Harry is found to have not told the truth on his visa application, then he could face prosecution.”
The source added: “President Trump has said he won’t deport Harry but there is no doubt he would support a prosecution.
“The word in Washington is he should be very worried indeed. There is no love lost between the Sussexes and President Trump.”
Harry’s reference to taking cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms in his book Spare prompted a conservative Washington DC think tank to question why he was allowed into the US in 2020.
US judge Carl Nichols ruled in September 2024 that the public did not have a strong interest in disclosure of the duke’s immigration records.
But after a fresh challenge, he agreed earlier this month to release the “maximum amount possible” about how Harry, 40, got into the US.
In an order published this week, Judge Nichols formally told the government to state by next Thursday (February 20) which legal documents related to the case can be disclosed.
He said that after that “the Court will determine what portions of those materials can be produced to Heritage”.
Mr Trump, who can intervene and ask for the documents to be released, previously warned that Harry could face consequences if he lied about taking drugs on his US visa application.
The Heritage Foundation brought the lawsuit against the Department for Homeland Security (DHS) after a Freedom of Information Act request was rejected, with the think tank claiming it was of “immense public interest”.
In his controversial memoir, the duke said cocaine “didn’t do anything for me”, adding: “Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me.”
How the Royal drama gripped UK and beyond
JAN 8, 2020: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announce they are to “step back as senior members” of the Royal Family and divide their time between the UK and North America.
JAN 18: Buckingham Palace announces an agreement has been reached for Harry “to step back from royal duties, including official military appointments”.
JAN 20: The Palace announces Harry and Meghan will no longer use their HRH titles and will not receive public funds for royal duties. The couple say they intend to repay £2.4million of taxpayer money for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home.
MAR 3: Harry and the Queen meet for a four-hour conversation about Megxit.
MAR 9: Meghan and Harry attend the Commonwealth Day service – alongside William and Kate –their final royal event before giving up royal duties.
MAR 27: The couple move to Los Angeles after a brief stay in Canada.
JUNE: They buy an £11million mansion in Montecito, California.
SEPT: Netflix announces a huge $100million deal with the couple.
NOV: In an article in the New York Times, Meghan reveals she suffered a miscarriage four months earlier.
MAR 7, 2021: The couple give a US TV interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which the Duchess reveals her suicidal thoughts and accuses a member of the Royal Family of racism.
MAR 8: The Palace responds, saying the race issues raised are “concerning” and “while some recollections may vary” the matters will be “taken very seriously”.
APR 17: Harry attends the funeral of his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh.
JUNE 4: Daughter Lilibet is born in a hospital in Santa Barbara, California.
JULY 1: Harry and William unite to unveil a statue of Diana at Kensington Palace.
JUNE 2022: The brothers come together for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, and again two months later for her funeral. The state occasion is Meghan’s final visit to the UK.
DEC: Netflix series Harry & Meghan airs. The Duke says in one episode it had been “terrifying” to have his brother “scream and shout” at him about their future.
JAN 8, 2023: Harry is interviewed by ITV to publicise his controversial book Spare – published two days later – claiming it was “Meghan versus Kate”.
APR: Harry has a “heart-to-heart” talk with dad Charles before agreeing to attend the King’s Coronation in London.
MAY 6: Arriving alone for the ceremony, he sits two rows behind his brother and leaves soon after the service.
JUNE: Harry becomes the first senior royal in more than 130 years to give evidence in court, when he appears at the High Court for his case against Mirror Group Newspapers.
JULY: Streaming giant Spotify announces it is parting ways with the Suss-exes’ Archewell Audio brand, above, in a “mutual decision”.
SEPT: Harry rejects an offer to spend the anniversary of the Queen’s death with his father at Balmoral.
FEB 2024: Harry flies to the UK to be with his father. They meet for half an hour before Harry flies home. He does not meet William.
MAR: Meghan launches lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard, which posts just nine times on Instagram.
APR: A judge brands Harry’s legal appeal for taxpayer-funded security following his move abroad “frankly hopeless”.
MAY: Harry pays a brief visit to London for an event held two miles from where Charles was staying. They do not meet.
JAN 1, 2025: Meghan relaunches her Instagram account with a video shot by Harry on a beach near their US home.
The Heritage Foundation’s lawsuit argued that US law “generally renders such a person inadmissible for entry” to the country.
The think tank also said answers on the duke’s prior drug use in his visa application should have been disclosed as they could raise questions over the US government’s integrity.
In the DHS’s response to the legal claim, it said: “Much like health, financial, or employment information, a person’s immigration information is private personal information.”
The submissions previously made by lawyer John Bardo on behalf of DHS also said no “publicly available information, shows that Prince Harry was ever convicted for a drug-related offence”.
Mr Bardo added that any suggestion from the Heritage Foundation of wrongdoing on behalf of the US government was “purely speculative”.
Mr Trump said in a GB News interview with Nigel Farage in March last year that Harry should not receive preferential treatment.
Asked if the duke should have “special privileges” if he is found to have lied in his application, Mr Trump said: “No. We’ll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied they’ll have to take appropriate action.”
