They were joined by three more actors from the show — Fatima Dowling, Mo Julyan and Barry Hinton — as the ballroom began to fill up. Across the room, Carolyn saw the network executives take their places. Day waved over at Sally Westlake, the head of drama, and she blew him a kiss.
‘So where’s Eddie?’ asked Phillippa.
‘It’s not his thing,’ said Carolyn. She didn’t want it generally known that the relationship was in trouble. In fact, in her heart of hearts she hoped he would call her and apologise because the one thing she wanted most in the world just then was to have him back in her life. She missed him. She missed him a lot. And while the pain of his infidelity still burned, she was starting to feel she was partly to blame. She had been working stupidly-long hours for several months and hadn’t spent enough time with him. A waiter appeared and began pouring champagne. ‘Besides, with Eddie here I’d have to watch how much I drink.’ She waved at the waiter and mouthed ‘red wine.’ He nodded.
The head writer on the show, Zach Atkins, arrived in a white jacket and a black Mickey Mouse bow-tie. With him were two more writers — both earnest young men in their late twenties. They sat together next to Phillippa. Carolyn smiled over at Zach and he smiled back, but he looked away quickly and was soon deep in conversation with the director.
The room filled up over the next twenty minutes and then the meal was served. The food was excellent, way above what was normally served at an award ceremony, brought to the table by fit young men who looked as if they had just walked out of a fashion magazine. The starter was baked scallops, the main course was an apple and cranberry stuffed pork roast and the dessert was vanilla cheesecake with Scottish raspberries. There was a vegetarian option but as Carolyn was an enthusiastic meat-eater she didn’t even look at it. It turned out that alcohol had to be paid for but Day made sure plenty of wine ended up on their table.
When the coffee arrived, the lights dimmed and Ricky Gervais and Dawn French walked out to thunderous applause. The next hour was spent with the two presenters bantering back and forth and a succession of actors, writers and directors making their way up to the stage to be presented with a gold statuette. Gold coloured, anyway. Carolyn had two Soap Digest Best Actress awards in her downstairs bathroom and the gold had long worn away even though the cleaner only dusted them twice a week.
The first award was for Sexiest Female, won by a Hollyoaks actress, and a young hunk on Emmerdale won the award for Sexiest Male. Two photographers snapped away while four camera teams moved around the audience, shooting reaction shots. Carolyn, like the rest of the actors, smiled professionally when there was even a chance they would be caught on film.
‘What is he, twelve?” asked Seb, nodding at the Emmerdale actor, who was posing next to Dawn French as the photographers snapped away.
‘He’s fit,’ said Carolyn.
‘He’s a male model, not an actor,’ sneered Seb.
‘You’re just upset because he’s not gay,’ whispered Carolyn.
‘Bitch,’ said Seb.
‘And he didn’t get his award for his acting, he got it for his chiseled good looks and six-pack abs.’
The next award was for Best Scripted Reality Show. Carolyn looked over at Day. ‘What?’
The producer shrugged. ‘It’s the new big thing, darling.’
‘So now we’re doing away with sets and studios? Why don’t we just film in our own homes? They’re not bloody actors, Paul.’
‘You’re preaching to the converted, darling,’ said Day, leaning over to refill her glass.
The comedian read out the list of contenders, adding — ‘These are my favourite shows on TV. Fit birds, am I right?’
The table where The Only Way Is Essex actors were sitting went wild, shouting and cheering. They were followed a few seconds later by whooping from the Made In Chelsea table.
The comedian opened the envelope and expressed mock surprise. ‘I love these guys,’ he said. ‘And I’m not saying that because I’m from Essex. Because I’m not.’
The TOWIE table went crazy and a chair was tipped over as one of the actresses stood up and waved a bottle of champagne over her head.
‘Nice,’ said Carolyn.
Half a dozen girls with orange fake tans and silicon-enhanced breasts tottered onto the stage and made a series of embarrassing speeches, punctuated with loud whoops.
‘Do you think there’s going to be an award for worst tan?’ asked Seb.
‘And most silicon,’ laughed Andrea.
The girls were ushered off the stage, still whooping and yelping like overexcited puppies.
The award for Best Newcomer was next, and it was taken by Mr Sexiest Male. He went back up on stage to rapturous applause and screams from the TOWIE table.
‘So who did he have to sleep with to get two awards?’ scowled Seb.
‘Anybody he wants to. I’m guessing,’ said Phillippa. ‘I’m going to have to start watching Emmerdale more.’
Mr Sexiest Male and Best Newcomer made quite a sweet speech thanking his agent and his mother and everyone there for making him feel so loved.
‘Sweet,’ said Carolyn, and she actually meant it. Like Phillippa, she decided to make more of an effort to watch Emmerdale.
EastEnders picked up the next three awards — Best Comedy performance, Best Villain and Best Storyline, then Coronation Street won the award for Best Single Episode.
‘This isn’t looking good,’ Carolyn said to Harrington.
‘I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Best British Soap,’ he said. ‘And my toes.’
Ricky Gervais announced the contenders for the Best Actress. Andrea was one of the four names and she beamed as a TV crew moved in for a close-up. It was the killer moment at any awards ceremony. If you won, it was important to look surprised and humble. If you lost, it was just as vital to look as if you were thrilled for the winner. The camera was unforgiving and would pick up the slightest hint of jealousy or bitterness, so smiles had to be broad and eyes wide. Andrea sat with her back ramrod straight, her head up and a slight smile on her face as she listened to the comedian announce the winner.
Carolyn’s jaw dropped when she heard him call Andrea’s name. ‘Oh, my God!’ she said. Then she realised a television camera was pointing in her direction so she changed her look of surprise into admiration and started to clap.
The full range of emotions was flashing across Andrea’s face. Surprise. Amazement. Delight. She stood up and allowed Day, Harrington and Seb to embrace her, then she headed for the stage. ‘Did you know she’d won?’ Carolyn asked Day as he sat down again.
The producer shook his head. ‘They played their cards close to their chest.’
‘But you must have put her up for it?’
‘The network did,’ said Day. ‘They didn’t even ask me.’
‘The green-eyed God rearing its ugly head, darling?’ teased Seb.
‘Don’t be silly, Andrea’s a sweetie, and one hell of an actress,’ said Carolyn. She looked over at the network table and saw Sally and Lisa standing as they applauded Andrea on her walk to the stage. Carolyn drained her glass and held it out for Day to refill.
Andrea’s speech was clearly rehearsed and Carolyn wondered if she had known about the award in advance. A TV crew began filming the Rags To Riches table and she smiled supportively and increased her clapping rate.
Best Actor went to Chris Gascoyne of Coronation Street, which Carolyn figured was well-deserved as she’d seen several performances of his that were as good as anything she’d seen on the London stage.
‘What’s he got that I haven’t?’ asked Seb, only half-joking.