We caught up with the stars on the 2017 Pride of Britain red carpet...
A solid fixture in the red carpet event calendar, The Pride of Britain Awards 2017 took place on Monday 30 October, and despite the miserable weather, a host of suited and booted celebs turned up to support a great cause.
With a guestlist longer than Holly Willoughby’s dress train, the celebrities descended on the Awards dressed to the nines and we managed to catch up with a few of them on the red carpet. Liam Payne swapped his usual tracksuits and chains for a suit and tie, Amanda Holden flashed the flesh (shock!) in a plunging purple dress and Carol Vodermann – who has hosted the awards every year since 1999 - looked age-defying in a sultry red ball gown.
WATCH: Liam Payne opens up about Cheryl and baby Bear on the Pride of Britain red carpet...
The Strictly cast all cosied up to their partners – with Mollie King and AJ Prichard sparking even more rumours about whether they’re an item or not – and Ozzy and Sharon Osborne put on a united front after their marriage trouble, locking lips on the red carpet and confirming they’re as loved-up as ever.
And we managed to grab some chats with some of the celebs as they glided down the red carpet and first up was last year’s X Factor winner, Matt Terry.
Matt Terry on his love for Scherzy...
A year ago he was just a contestant on the X Factor, awed by the glitz and glamour. Now, when Closer meets Matt Terry, he’s dressed in a suave black suit and an unusual black top hat only someone with celeb confidence would risk wearing.
And Matt says that he’s loving this year’s X Factor – but that he’s unsure about some of the changes made to the show.
He says: “It’s a great show this year – watching it is kind of bittersweet. I’m grateful I’m not there now that there’s no sing-off. If you get the lowest number of votes, you’re gone straight away which is terrifying. I think it’s a shame they’ve scrapped the sing-off – it can really save you and gives you the chance to really show off your voice.
“I also think it’s dangerous to know who has the most votes every week. It may damage them and make them get complacent. I’m gutted we all missed out on the prizes – I’d love to have flown to New York to meet Pink!”
Matt, 24, also said he’s still close with his X Factor mentor Nicole Scherzinger – who he excitedly waved to as he spotted her on the red carpet – and said he’s even planned what he’s getting her for Christmas already.
“I’m still really close with Nicole – still chat to her all the time on Whatsapp. I’m going to be hanging out with her during the live shows too – it’s good to talk to her acts and give them a bit of advice.
“I’ve already planned my Christmas present for her, but it’s pretty big so I’m not sure when I’ll be giving it to her! She’ll like it though – and no, it’s not a life size cut out of me!”
Megan McKenna's all about the music...
Meanwhile, reality star turned country music star Megan McKenna graced the carpet in an uncharacteristically demure outfit – a floor length golden gown, pearl earrings and natural, understated make-up.
And Megan, 25, told Closer that, having left announced her TOWIE departure last month, she’s now throwing herself into her music – and that she’s planning on keeping her personal live off the screen from now on.
“I wanted to juggle TOWIE and my music, I really did,” she says. “But it got to the point where my music is more important to me. I left the show because my love life was playing out on TV and I just want to keep my private life private from now on. I want to focus on my music because at the end of the day, that’s my real dream.
Megan also told us her shock at knocking global superstar Taylor Swift off the top of the UK charts – and says that she’d love to follow in her footsteps and perform all around the world.
“I never expected a number one in a million years. I just can’t believe people actually want to listen to my music – especially stuff that I wrote myself. That’s the most touching thing.
“In an ideal world, I want a worldwide tour, meeting everybody, writing more music and telling everyone my stories – because I’ve got a lot of stories to tell!”
While Megan made her way slowly down the red carpet, pausing to talk to press and have a photo taken, fellow TOWIE stars Chloe Sims and Lauren Pope stayed well away from her, making their way swiftly into the awards without even saying hello.
Alesha Dixon on saving Simon's bacon...
And we also caught up with stand-in superstar Alesha Dixon – who, at a last minute request, had to stand in for Simon Cowell at last weekend’s X Factor live shows.
And Alesha, 39, revealed that it really was a last minute job – and that she was on the sofa only a few hours before the show began when she got the call.
She says: “I obviously had a great time on the X Factor last weekend – I love the show. But it wasn’t under the best circumstances, was it? I would have rather have been at home on the sofa with a cup of tea watching it. In fact, I was actually lying on the sofa feeling a bit poorly on Sunday afternoon when I got the call from one of the producers, who was having a hissy fit and asked if I could stand in for Simon.”
And Alesha – who looked stunning in a dress she designed herself for her fashion collection with Little Black Dress – said that she was thankful that all of Simon’s acts remained in the competition while she stood in for him and that she wishes him all the best with his recovery.
She said: “It wasn’t ideal but at the same time it was fun and I’m glad that none of Simon’s acts went home on my watch, or Simon wouldn’t have been happy! He’s doing well though I hear. I’m sending my regards and he knows I love him very much.”
Jimmy Carr stands by James Corden...
Finally, we grabbed a chat with comedy king Jimmy Carr – who was as charming and smiley as ever as he chatted about how it felt to be at the Awards.
He said: “Normally, we spend our days moaning and groaning and complaining about everything. But tonight is about realising there are real people in the real world doing real amazing stuff. It’s about humanity – there are incredibly heroic acts and then there are realy simple ones that deserve equal praise. I feel incredibly privileged to be here.”
Jimmy, 45, also offered his thoughts on the recent backlash against James Corden – who was heavily criticised after making a series of Harvey Weinstein-related jokes during the scandal.
“I’m a huge fan of James Corden,” said Jimmy. “He’s one of our greatest comic talents. People said he crossed the line – but I don’t think there should be a line with comedy.
I never draw a line. I make jokes about everything – I’m an equal opportunities offender, I’ll offend anyone and everyone.
“Humours a great mechanism for making sense of the brutal things in life. So people can’t pick and choose what they get offended about.
And when asked who his dream guests on any of his TV shows, Jimmy surprised us with his answer.
“Kim and Kanye of course,” Jimmy said. “They’d be great on Your Face or Mine. Kanye has a very handsome face indeed, a very strong jaw. It’d be great to be face to face with them and see them in the flesh.”
CREDIT: A big thanks to Uspaah (www.uspaah.com) and Aidan Mattox (www.aidanmattox.com) for getting us ready