Another fantastic Nibbies night
April 3, 2009
by Liz Thomson / BookBrunch
THE G20 had left town by the time the parade of limos - including a heritage Bentley, out of which stepped Sebastian Faulks - formed in Park Lane and the stars launched themselves on to the predictable red carpet that led, eventually, to the Great Room at London's Grosvenor House, where the Galaxy British Book Awards were to be presented. It was the twentieth such ceremony and this year the evening was dedicated to the memory of Fred Newman, Chairman and co-founder of Publishing News Limited, who passed away last November and who, with his business partner Clive Labovitch, dreamed up the Awards, affectionately known as the Nibbies.
Long since a fixture of the book trade calendar, and presented for the sixth time by Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, the event attracted the usual galaxy of stars, more than a hundred of them, among them Jerry Hall who, unusually - perhaps uniquely - has actually finished writing her memoirs a whole six months ahead of their publication by HarperCollins. "Publication day is my birthday, 9 September," her agent, Ed Victor, revealed. As to their content, "I tried to be kind, but it became boring." Since her ex, Mick Jagger, has already withdrawn from at least one book contract because he couldn't remember anything (ah, the 1960s…), the model and actress seems assured of the last word.
None was more accommodating of her fans than Julie Walters, who crossed back and forth, back and forth, laughing and joking all the way and stopping for a final photo call with Richard and Judy, who'd overtaken her. Waiting at the other end of the carpet was her publisher Alan Samson, and Orion Group colleagues Malcolm Edwards and Mark Rusher. "Where's the champagne then!" gasped Walters, self-consciously hamming it up as "my boys" queued up to kiss her.
Sadly, there was no sign of Barack Obama, who was nominated in two categories, winning the Nibbie for Tesco Biography of the Year with Dreams of My Father - no sign even on video. Then again he was a tad busy, having left London but a few hours earlier for the NATO summit. "No premature ejaculation," warned comedian Jo Brand, as she opened the envelope and prepared to announce the President as the winner, saying she'd take good care of his Nibbie. "Any time he wants to come and collect it, I'm sure to be in." Finding herself beaten by Obama, Walters took it on the chin. No doubt they're fans of each other's work and I'm sure there's a copy of the Mamma Mia! DVD somewhere on the White House shelves to relieve the tension of a difficult day in the Oval Office.
In the absence of an actual statesman, Michael Palin was statesmanlike, accepting the Galaxy British Book Award for Outstanding Achievement - an award he'd presented to Alan Bennett a few years back. At the end of an evening of glitz and glamour, knockabout and occasional vulgarity, it was he who reminded everyone what lay at the heart of the evening. "Being a writer is a great privilege but also a stern test. I strive to do better each time… Books exemplify the possibilities of expression… the tonal shades of the real world". As to the book itself, it's "a brilliant piece of technology".
Amen to that - and an excuse for everyone in the room to raise their glasses yet again. Jamie Byng, wunderkind of Canongate and Obama's publisher, savoured another moment of triumph before dashing off to swap his DJ for jeans and T-shirt in order to turn DJ for the night. Or rather morning. While he and Peter Collingridge spun the vinyl, as they used to do in their Edinburgh student days, the more energetic of the night's celebrants danced until 3am, fuelled by bacon butties and French fries.
BookBrunch.