SUNDAY night at the London Palladium proved to be an evening of shocks.
I’m just back from the Bafta TV Awards after the usual hectic evening in the backstage press room.
The online version of tomorrow’s MEN Pg 3 story is here.
I managed to grab a spot right by the side of the press stage, again situated in the Stalls Bar.
Sat beside a Palladium poster from August 1935, featuring Gracie Fields topping the bill, it got pretty crowded at times.
But thanks to large screen TV feeds, an audio switchbox and that proximity to the stage, I did my best to do three things at once.
That is – covering both what was happening on stage in the main theatre and in the winners’ interviews a few feet away on the press stage, at the same time as writing the story on a laptop with our first edition deadline looming.

BRUCE Forsyth has been a TV constant in many of our lives.
Most of us grew up with him in a corner of the room, as the ultimate television entertainer.
So it’s good to be able to report the news just released by BAFTA that Bruce is to be presented with the Academy Fellowship at Sunday’s TV awards.
Something of a full circle for the man who first shot to fame as the host of Sunday Night At The London Palladium.
That’s the time and the stage where the award will be presented by Paul Merton.
A Gift of the Council of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the Fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed by the Academy.
It is presented in recognition of “an outstanding body of work”.

BAFTA held a photocall this morning of the preparations ahead of their Television Awards on Sunday night.
As usual, I’ll be in the press room at the London Palladium as the winners are brought off stage to talk to the media.
You’ll be able to read my reports both via the MEN website and this blog, as well as Monday’s hard copy Manchester Evening News.
Cranford is my idea of the big winner on the night.
And I’m among many who would like to see Life On Mars triumph in the Drama Series category – after the judges got it wrong last year.
The British Academy Television Awards, hosted by Graham Norton, start at 6.30pm and finish around 9pm.
BBC1 screen their two-hour “as live” highlights programme from 8pm.
The BAFTA website is also planning some exclusive online content of its own on Sunday night.
For those wondering who will be attending on Sunday – I have a list.

IT’S a fine life when there are people like Jodie Prenger to interview.
I caught up with Jodie yesterday afternoon, ahead of the third live I’d Do Anything studio show on BBC1 tonight.
She’s one of the final 10 contenders in the search for a Nancy, who will star in a new West End stage production of the musical Oliver!
Off screen, Jodie does not disappoint.
She has all the Oom-Pah-Pah needed to play Nancy.
And that includes a serious side also required for the role.
We’ll get a taste of that this evening.
There’s a news story on Pg 6 of today’s MEN – the online version is here.
As you will read via that link, Jodie has her eyes firmly set on becoming Nancy, along with a career in the West End.

SHE’S the bedrock of the family, the one who holds it all together.
But just who is this girl?
Read on to find out…
So did you guess?
Yes, it’s the Chatsworth estate’s Debbie Gallagher.
She looks very different in the Shameless series finale, screened on E4 tomorrow night and on Channel 4 next week.
Actress Rebecca Ryan was transformed as part of father Frank’s fantasy world.

DAVID Renwick is a comedy genius.
He’s the writer who created classic shows like One Foot In The Grave and Jonathan Creek.
David is also the man behind that absolutely pitch perfect delight which is Love Soup.
I first heard his name over 30 years ago when, aged 19 and a few months out of journalism college, I took up a job as junior reporter on the Luton News.
On my first day, the news editor informed me that I was sat at the very same desk once occupied by another young man called David Renwick.
David had sold jokes to BBC Radio, Cliff Richard and The Two Ronnies.
And two years before my arrival, he had vacated this reporter’s desk to pursue a full time TV writing career.

IT is all go once again in Cranford.
The first Monday morning of British Summer Time brought some good news…about Christmas 2009.
That’s when we’ll see a new two-part BBC1 Cranford Christmas special.
Sadly, there can be no return for Philip Glenister, Sir Michael Gambon or Dame Eileen Atkins.
Their characters all died in the original award-winning serial, screened last year.
But Dame Judi Dench will reprise her role as spinster Miss Matty Jenkyns in the serial based on three novels by Knutsford-raised Elizabeth Gaskell.
She will be joined by Imelda Staunton, Jim Carter, Francesca Annis and Julia McKenzie for the special.
Mrs Gaskell, who later lived in Longsight, based Cranford on Knutsford and told the story against the backdrop of the Manchester railway on its way to Cheshire.

ONCE there were five. Now only four remain.
Viewers saw police detective Jon Young (second from right) killed off in Sunday’s first episode of ITV1’s He Kills Coppers.
But actor Liam Garrigan didn’t mind his short-lived role.
“I get to be the catalyst for what happens in the second and third episode,” he told us at the series press launch.
Rafe Spall (also pictured below) is another one of the cast members.
The son of Timothy Spall plays troubled and corrupted Sixties’ police detective Frank Taylor.
Frank begins the search for police killer Billy Porter in next Sunday’s episode, with the action then moving on from 1966 to 1971.
Jake Arnott wrote the novel on which this three-part drama is based and was also responsible for BBC2’s The Long Firm.
He explained the background at that press launch.

LIFE behind the cameras is often not what you might expect.
Actors are real human beings, with all the flaws and insecurities that go with that.
Never make the mistake of confusing performers with the characters they play on screen.
It is all, quite literally, an act.
Never more so than with Steptoe and Son.
Manchester-raised Harry H. Corbett and co-star Wilfrid Brambell were loved by millions.
But they became trapped together by the very success that made them national treasures.
Whatever your plans for tonight, do not miss The Curse Of Steptoe (BBC4, 9pm).
It’s a brilliant drama about the tragedy of Harry and Wilfrid, with marvellous performances from Jason Isaacs and Phil Davis.

RAISED eyebrows at 8am today as the nominations were revealed for next month’s BAFTA TV Awards.
Cranford deservedly received the most nominations and should do well on the night.
But this year it’s also about who was NOT nominated.
No Ant and Dec this year or Jonathan Ross, on top form in 2007 but perhaps too rude for BAFTA.
And nothing for Coronation Street – left out of the battle for Best Continuing Drama for the first time in a decade.
So no trip to London for the Rovers Return regulars. They’ll have to watch the glittering ceremony on the telly.
Meanwhile EastEnders, The Bill, Holby City and last year’s winners Emmerdale get to sit in the posh seats.
The Corrie snub is set to spark quite a debate, not least on the pages of the MEN.