Everyone's a Winner...

Awards season is finally upon us. In Tinseltown, hopes are dashed as dreams are fulfilled at the Oscars, Golden Globes and Emmys – shiny statues held aloft by beautiful people in sharp suits and sparkly gowns. The celeb-tastic extravaganzas are the TV highlight of my year. But I have to say, the glitz and glamour of the American events pale in comparison to our British counterpart. And for one very good reason: I’ve succeeded in getting underneath every hot dish at the BAFTAs.

While most TV viewers are glued to the faces of the stars at their dinner tables, my eyes are fixed lower, namely under their plates. For 5 years now Scarlett Willow has had the prestigious role of providing the placemats for the London based event. Its satisfying to know that dressing the tables is as important as dressing the stars…

Using stills from celebrated movies, the mats are always a big hit, and have a habit of disappearing at the end of the night. In 2008, James McAvoy may not have got a gong, but he left clutching his Scarlett Willow placemat, looking very pleased with himself. It seems that for those who have everything, there’s still space in their lives for a Scarlett Willow placemat. I like that.

I’m not sure who’s hosting the event this year, but my fingers are crossed that it’s Stephen Fry. He’s my unlikely secret crush. As an actor, comedian, presenter and brain box with a personality, he’s one of our most valued national treasures. It was because of his velvety narration that I became engrossed in ‘Delia through the Decades’, a recent TV ode to the queen of cuisine, Delia Smith.

As I’ve already admitted, I’m a disaster in the kitchen. While the nation has relied on Delia, I have relied on dialing for delivery or more latterly my considerably more culinary competent husband. In cupboards across the country, copies of her ‘Complete Illustrated Cookery Course’ lie splattered, battered, grease-stained and annotated, while mine (a hopeful gesture from J when we married…) remains almost pristine.

I say almost, because of one chocolate smudge that marks the day I made her brownies. They were squidgy and moist and scrumptious. I think the fact that I had my 12 year-old goddaughter as my sous-chef might have helped. Who am I kidding? The girl was completely in control of the situation – but I offered support by arranging them onto one of my glass platters, for stylish tea-time serving.  Ah, the glorious symbiosis of Delia Smith and Scarlett Willow – so obviously made for each other!

So, while the world speculates about who might win at the Baftas, I’m busy wondering what they might eat. What crumbs and smears might find their way onto my placemats. Although I’d imagine the nominees are all too nervous for food, and that the mats that they sneak home at the end of the evening are as clean and unspoiled as my cookbook. It may not be the coveted award they were after but at least no one goes away empty handed!

Scarlett Willow