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JASMINE WITH AWARDS HOST-ACTOR HUGH QUARSHIE AT THE MVSA AWARDS
So this week I’ve amused myself in a variety of ways. First I had dinner with model Rachel Ritfeld at her new London home. You may know Rachel from having graced many a magazine cover; music videos or catwalk shows as well as starring in a past Channel4 show A place in the sun. Hailing from Surinam in South America to central London via Europe is how Rachel Ritfeld has come to prominence in the world of all things glamorous. She’s also a goodwill ambassador for Surinam in the UK and involved in a plethora of ventures, ranging from catwalk model and entrepreneur, to being the one time UK face of American hip-hop guru Damon Dash’s exclusive line of bling-bling Tiret watches. Now a mother and TV presenter for a new range of TV shows you will hear about soon, this tenacious woman cannot be stopped.
JASMINE WITH THE ACTOR RUDOLPH WALKER AT THE MVSA AWARDS
Then I took my mum to the Ritz for lunch for her birthday. I receive daily Bookatable e-mail voucher options so when the Ritz one popped up a while ago I knew it was time to take mummy there. I’ve attended a few times for afternoon tea but never lunch and I have to say the experience was amazing! They greeted her so well. The maitre d announced ‘’welcome Mrs Dotiwala- and many happy returns of the day!’’ She was so chuffed! Our £50 per head voucher was for 3 courses and 2 glasses of wine but we received at least double that and rose champagne. The waiters couldn’t have made us feel more comfortable and talked us through every dish and wine impeccably. The whole experience lasted nearly 3 hours! They even gave her a Ritz goodie bag with birthday cake to take home at the end. The Ritz brand certainly has a reputation for a good reason. It was exquisite! A wonderful experience that id recommend to everyone! (With a voucher LOL!)
JASMINE WITH MUSIC LEGEND OMAR AND ACLT’S ORIN LEWIS AT THE MVSA AWARDS
Next of course we had the annual MOBO Awards where TLC, Trey Songz and many TEAMUK acts did their thing.
But before all that I was lucky enough to be invited to the annual MUSIC, VIDEOAND SCREEN AWARDS in Birmingham.
As ever my Dolce & Gabbana team raced a ballgown across to me at the last minute! My saviours! Thank you guys!
It was my first time attending THE MVSA AWARDS and it was a really well put together evening. At the Birmingham International Convention Centre, the venue was heaving with men in black tie and ladies in beautiful long, classy gowns. The ballroom was full of candle lit dinner tables with silver service waiting staff. The pre dinner reception saw photographers bustling with power players and CapitalFM Birmingham were also in the house. A few Birmingham-ites strolled over to tell e how much they enjoyed reading this column and in particular a young man seemed genuinely excited to meet me gushing about his excitement. I only wished VOICE boss George Ruddock who was also in the house networking with his fellow power players were present in that moment. I was about to ask the young man to re-enact his excitement in a staged moment in front of George but was quickly ushered into the ballroom, as the show was about to begin.
The awards were Hosted by Holby City actor Hugh Quarshie (Dr Rick Griffiths) and Eastenders actress Tameka Epsom (Kim). I have always though Hugh is the most handsome, distinguished older man and has a certain Denzel Washington thing going on! He and Tameka were a very entertaining double act. Hugh was gracious and sharp and Tameka as ever brought the quick 1 liners and comedy to proceedings!
Everywhere you looked were movers and shakers from the acting and theatre world and the vibe in the room was classy and sophisticated. On my table were comedy house talent manager Sarah Moore, actress Sharon D Clark (Holby City), Rudolph Walker (Eastenders Patrick Trurman) his real life daughter Shoena and his old screen wife Angela Wynter who played Yolande Trueman. Patrick had ladies queuing up all night to take a photo with him. At one point all the ladies on our table and his daughter felt like we were his security as we had to fend off his female admirers- he was so accommodating to all and a gallant gent all night-what a great guy!
JASMINE WITH MICHELLE KELLY, KUSH FILMS MARLON PALMER, MUSICIAN DAVID PROSPER AND ANGIE LE MAR AT THE MVSA AWARDS
On an adjacent table were Eastenders actor Chuckie Venn, luxury goods designer Alexander Amosu, actress, comedian and talk show host Angie Le Mar with her hubby David Prosper. Also in the house were singer Omar looking very lithe and dapper in his tweed jacket, actor Jimmy Akingbola who was very loud and had the audience laughing all evening with his infectious personality, lovers rock singer Janet Kay who performed her classic ‘’Silly games’’ during which I screeched at the top of my tone deaf voice, the ACLT’S head man and lady Orin Lewis and Beverley de-gale, ITN newsreader Charlene White, Birmingham’s very own justice Williams MBE and many many more.
ITN’S CHARLENE WHITE ACCEPTING HER AWARD AT THE MVSA AWARDS
The show was kicked off by an amazingly energetic troupe of young fame style singer/dancers that did a long set in which they had us all singing and dancing alongside them. The show is special in that it engages and empowers youth to produce the whole event from stage-managing to scripting. It was great to see them take charge and lead the event with confidence.
JASMINE WITH ”HER” MSVA AWARD
At the start of the evening THE VOICE big boss George Ruddock had asked me to present the award for best theatre production. He had done it himself for the past 3 years and decided to let me have a go. So I being a professional lass decided to hold off from drinking not a sip of alcohol until after I’d presented my award so the glasses of champagne and wine were lined up around my dinner plate awaiting me to finish onstage. Just before my moment however a stage manager informed me that George was going to be presenting the award solo so I could relax. Great I thought relaxing as instructed and knocked back 3 glasses of my awaiting plonk. 10 minutes later the stage manager returns to my table and whispers her apologies and informs me that I will indeed be needed to present the award alongside George. Whoops! My thighs were already feeling alcohol heavy and my vocal chords were slurring in a party of their own. Oh well I thought, do your professional best. It was okay in the end and as far as I know no one noticed my swaying state as I presenter the winning award to Julius Ceasar .
All the awards were interspersed with entertainment in the form of music, comedy and more. A young lady that performed a Whitney Houston tribute particularly stood out. She was beautiful and her vocals really did remind us of Whitney-she was strong and powerful-a great tribute! The night culminated with an after party at the very impressive top floor 360 degree glass rooftop Marco Pierre white restaurant on the top floor of the indigo hotel in the cube. Actor will Johnson DJ’ed and the drinks flowed until the early hours. Kush films founder Marlon Palmer had us all entertained with his banter and I stole Curtis Walkers comedy award so I could pose with it all night. A great awards ceremony that was on a par with the best of them- definitely the best screen awards I have attended. Very professional- great job by founder Dean Alexander.
Jasmine's Juice. The news, views and fabulosity from the UK's most connected fly girl. Mover, Shaker, Connector.