Hayley Wins! Variety Club Showbiz Awards

[Richard]

From The Independent...

Party Of The Week: Variety is the spice

By Elisa Bray
Friday, 21 November 2008

On Sunday night, the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane opened its doors to the 56th Variety Club Showbiz Awards. While guests tucked into the green tea, crème brulée and petits fours that ended the three-course dinner, an auction to raise funds for the children's charity hit the heights as James McAvoy won an Apollo 11 presentation signed by Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins and Neil Armstrong, for £10,000. One raffle-winner, Sir Ben Kingsley, generously returned his year's membership to the 25 Club to be auctioned.

Gibraltar pianist Aaron Monteverde treated guests to one of his flamenco-flavoured compositions. Later the crowd enjoyed an opera recital by Classical Performer of the Year Hayley Westenra and a lively appearance by the cast of Hairspray.

Michael Caine was given a standing ovation as he picked up his Outstanding Contribution award to the tune of "Simply the Best". He praised his wife Shakira "for being married to the same actor for 36 years". Caine won the New Talent award many years ago; this time it went to Colin Morgan, 22, star of the BBC television series Merlin.

After the audience watched a clip of McAvoy in Wanted, the Scottish star thanked the Variety Club "for using a clip on which I spit all over my face". The reason for his Film award? "Probably the amount of blows I took to the head."

The awards will be broadcast on Sky1 at 5pm on 30 November

Richard

[Martin]

Hi Richard
You just beat me to post this article. I was amused to read Elisa Bray's statement in the article that Hayley had given an "opera recital".

I would be interested to learn which song(s) Hayley did actually sing for the audience.

Martin

[Richard]

Perhaps she sang 'O Mio Babbino Caro'!

Richard

[Caitlin]

Thanks for posting this article Richard.

I too would be interested in hearing what she sang that was classified as an "opera" performance. Perhaps 'Lascia Ch'io Pianga'? Or 'One Fine Day'?

In any case - Congratulations Hayley

<3 Caitlin

[Nordly]

Congratulations Hayley!!!!!! And thank for for posting articles and link!

~NL

[Dave]

Hello everyone,

Here is the Sky TV promotional clip they are currently showing on several of their channels. Hayley is in it... but don't blink!

Remember to watch the show, those who can...
Sky One at 5pm tomorrow Sunday November 30th.

Variety Club Showbiz Awards - TV promo clip (Xvid at 1mbps, 30 seconds, 4 MB)

I shall post all of Hayley's part in the show early tomorrow evening. I predict that Hayley will appear in the actual show just after the 2nd set of adverts, about halfway through but look out for her in the audience too!

Hayley walks up to receive her award

Cheers, Dave

[Karsten]

Hi Dave,

Many thanks for the teaser.

Looking forward to tomorrow evening.

A few additional pictures could be found here:

www.famous.uk.com/search-action-nl.do?searchfield=C&searchstring=westenra&Submit=Submit

Cheers, Karsten

[grant]

Hi Dave

Thanks for the reminder but unfortunately I don't have Sky! Nevertheless, I'll be looking forward to seeing it on here.

Best wishes
Grant

[Richard]

Thanks Dave!

I'm relying on you too.

Richard

[Stephany]

Thank you for the reminder, Dave! I wish I could watch the entire ceremony because it sounds like there was some great performances. I'm very curious to hear what Hayley chose to sing!

Stephany

[Dave]

Hello everyone!

Hayley has just been shown on the Sky One Variety Club Awards show so here is a video of her entire involvement... and all questions can now be answered!

Hayley at the Variety Club Awards 2008 - h.264 codec (1.2 mbps, 50MB, 5m 19s)

Hayley at the Variety Club Awards 2008 - .wmv codec (600kbps, 23MB, 5m 19s)

HWI website, Variety Club Awards (600 kbps)

The complete video is already up at hwivid on YouTube or... here for the song alone so click away (good for the Search engines!)

Have I missed anything? Oh yes, if the highest quality h.264 codec version won't play after downloading, you need VLC Media Player and/or a codec bundle such as FFDShow! H.264 is simply the most efficient video codec out there... better than normal DivX.

Enjoy!

Cheers, Dave

[martindn]

Wow, thanks for doing that that Dave! Wonderful!

There is a huge difference in quality between the highest quality version and the "Song only" on YouTube. Sound quality too! Song only is useful, since I can rip it to a CD to play in the car. I really need that video editing software! Then I can enjoy the better sound quality.

All the Best

Martin

[Richard]

Many thanks, Dave!

I managed to download the VLC Media Player, and I can certainly see the difference in quality between the different versions of the video.

Best Wishes,

Richard

[postscript]

Well done, Dave, you serve us very well (the Variety Club broadcast). I'm one of those who believes that it is an ill wind that doesn't blow someone some good. I believe Hayley may think similarly. In this case it is the timing of the ill wind that has blown in her direction. She gained the exposure necessary at the right moment. She was there for that event, she was there for the Remembrance event in the Albert Hall. All essential 'general' exposure which she needs. Yes, she is probably emotionally devastated at the cancellations but will probably try and console herself with thoughts like these:
I have the voice that got me here.
I have the family that put me on the road and is still there when I need them.
What are my problems compared with the child whose only dream is a clean cup of water?
Her response was interesting in that she hoped to be available to the Variety Club in future for their charity work. I suspect, given a little time to pace herself, she will be happy to be available for them.

She has often said she felt she 'had it easy' which is why she was prepared to act as curtain warmer to Il Divo and her long-term response will be 'we all have our crosses to bear' and this is mine.

Peter S.

[I-H-F]

Thats for that, Dave.

Congratulations Hayley on your award!

Nice performance of Santa Lucia. I noticed Simon Pegg seemed happy that Hayley won her award. I wonder if he is a fan. I don't think I've seen him on HWI. Or maybe he goes under an assumed name? i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif