As incoming Chair and Chief Barker of Variety, the children’s charity, I recently hosted the 70th anniversary of the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards. It was a truly star-studded event with Princess Beatrice presenting the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Heart Award to the world’s most successful classical singer, Katherine Jenkins OBE.
Simon Cowell’s fiancée Lauren Silverman told the 750 VIP guests gathered in the Hilton on Park Lane’s magnificent ballroom how most of his exceptional generosity in philanthropy is completely private, and he has never wanted or sought any recognition for these acts of kindness.
Naomi Campbell, one of the five original supermodels, was awarded a Variety Club Silver Heart for her outstanding contribution to fashion in bringing positive change and inclusion to the catwalk and beyond.
Naomi began her speech with a quote from her friend, the late Nelson Mandela: “Giving children a healthy start in life, no matter where they are born or the circumstances of their birth, is the moral obligation of every one of us.”
Earlier this year I interviewed Dr Maki Mandela, Nelson’s oldest daughter, who, in front of 5,000 people, told me of her father’s great love and admiration for Naomi.
Naomi also presented her friend Edward Enninful OBE with the Variety Club Silver Heart Award for outstanding achievement in fashion journalism, and in his acceptance speech he also thanked Variety for changing Lives.
When Edward became the first black editor-in-chief of British Vogue, few in the world of fashion wanted to confront how it had so far failed to represent the world we live in. But Edward, a champion of inclusion throughout his life, rapidly changed that.
Awards compere and Heart radio’s Amanda Holden was taken totally by surprise fellow when fellow radio hosts Ashley Roberts and Mark Wright announced that she had won the Variety Club Silver Heart Award for outstanding contribution to radio.
Amanda was gobsmacked, responding with the words: “Oh my God, I have not done a speech or anything!”
Amanda’s breakfast show on Heart is the biggest on UK commercial radio. In her speech (she coped with the challenge!), she talked movingly about the privilege of being part of everyone’s lives during lockdown, giving comfort to many lonely people at home each morning.
Newcastle-born Anita Zabludowicz warrants a special mention for her Variety Club Chief Barker Silver Heart Award for outstanding contribution to the UK arts.
Anita is globally recognised as one of the most influential collectors and art patrons in the world with her Zabludowicz Art Collection in north-west London housing one of the world’s leading independent contemporary art collections. Anita’s father was a local chairman of the Variety Club, bringing life full circle.
As we all enjoy the World Cup, I was filled with sadness on reading that the greatest footballer ever, Pele, had been moved to end-of-life care in a Brazilian hospital.
My meeting with Pele six and half years ago is etched in my memory for ever. It was at a private party hosted by Nick and Holly Candy at their One Hyde Park Knightsbridge Penthouse.
Pele was in London to auction his 1970 World Cup winner’s medal. We were lucky enough to spend quite a long time chatting to the legendary footballer. Pele correctly predicted to me that Chelsea would regain the Premier League title they had just lost to Leicester City the following year.
I was being interviewed live on Piers Morgan’s primetime TV show last week when we were mobbed by a pair of TikTok pranksters. One of my own “fans” messaged: “That was lovely, it could have gotten nasty but Jonathan handled it really well.”
Those of you who watch Goggle Box would have seen a tribute to TV Royalty Lesley Land at the end of last week’s show. The show paid tribute to Lesley with a simple message. "In loving memory of Lesley Land. 1981-2022." Lesley was the driving force of many of Channel 4’s most memorable press campaigns of the last decade, including Baby Hospital, The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan, Stand Up To Cancer, TFI Friday, The Big Narstie Show, and Miriam & Alan – delivering them all with her remarkable flair and panache. The family Shiva to which Anita, Brook and Daniel Land kindly invited me, was one of the most distinguished gatherings I have attended. In the words of Channel 4 ‘Lesley was a wonderful friend, a generous colleague and made tremendous fun wherever she went. But ultimately family was at the core of Lesley’s life. Our hearts go out to them at this devastating time. Much loved by all who knew her, she will be sorely missed.”
As this year draws to close, I wish you all Chanukah sameach. Where you all are for this festive season I wish much joy, health, and happiness.
For me it is going to be historic at one of my favourite hotels in the world, the Coral Reef Club in Barbados. Four generations of my family will be holidaying together, aged 2 to 92. There is great excitement at both ends of the age scale. My parents have brought their dates forward to be with us longer. My two-year grandson is waking up saying ‘Barbados, Grandpa Jonathan, beach, break sandcastles’.
My current read is The Emperors of Byzantium by Islamic and Byzantine art expert Kevin Lygo. A must read for the holidays. With rich scholarship and extraordinary storytelling flair, Kevin delivers a fascinating history of the Byzantine empire through its powerful and power-hungry leaders.
In signing my copy, Kevin Lygo, a TV demigod himself as Director of Television at ITV makes the inscription - ‘To Jonathan, Emperor of TV’. I am wondering now whether to make this the title of my own book!
My charity shoutout is the remarkable 50-year-old Chickenshed Theatre Company, recipients of the Variety Club Silver Heart Award for outstanding contribution to diversity and inclusion in the performing arts.
Sir Trevor Nunn once introduced Chickenshed with the words: “There is saying a saying in Africa, that if you can walk, you can dance. If you can talk, you can sing.
“At Chickenshed we say, even if you cannot walk, you can dance, even if you cannot talk, you can sing.”
