SHORTLISTS LAUNCH
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A galaxy of stars
It really was a case of lights, camera action at the Arts Club, in Mayfair last week, at the announcement of the Galaxy British Book Awards, which drew
the majority of
authors featured - and, of course, Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, who arrived hot from the Cactus studios with model Marie Helvin. She had been on the show to discuss The Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies, which had clearly captivated her. Indeed, many of the guests present were pretty captivated by Helvin, who spent a long time chatting with Orion CEO Peter Roche before working the room. The occasion also marked the publication of Shortlists magazine, which R&J had held up to camera ahead of its release to bookshops the next day.
 The class of 2008 - the host of shortlisted authors who attended the star-studded launch of the 2008 Galaxy British Book Awards shortlists at the Arts Club, in Mayfair, London |
It was quite a turnout, with Alastair Campbell and Clarissa Dickson Wright, who are only on hissing terms, a bejeaned Andrew Marr, just in from the London Library, where he'd been researching his next book, Paul Torday, Max Arthur, Charley Boorman, Penny Vincenzi, Stef Penney, Catherine O'Flynn, R J Ellory, Danny Schienmann, Tim Butcher, Katharine McMahon, Lloyd Jones and Francesca Simon among them. Each was required to sing for their supper with a short interview with Amanda Ross's colleagues from Cactus.
 Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, who arrived hot from the Cactus studios with model Marie Helvin. She had been on the show to discuss The Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies / right: Charley Boorman, Francesca Simon and Alistair Campbell |