Was it wise to ask Steven Berkoff to present a prize at last night’s Specsavers ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards at Grosvenor House?
In front of a celebrity audience that included Benedict Cumberbatch and Stephen Tompkinson, Berkoff was asked by compere Bradley Walsh to name his favourite villain from the pantheon of bad guys he has played. Clutching the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award (won by thriller writer Charles Cumming), Berkoff embarked on a resumé of his career before plumping for London gangster George Cornell, whom he played in the film The Krays.
“He was murdered by the Krays in the Blind Beggar pub,” boomed Berkoff. “I was killed over and over again, and the actor who killed me is here tonight: Martin Kemp.” Up popped Martin’s brother Gary, who declared: “You’re mistaken, Steven. It was me.”
Walsh complained that Law & Order, the series he stars in, had not been nominated for a single award. When Homeland star Claire Danes won the Best Actress award Walsh reacted to her non-appearance. “Great,” he declared. “Here, put this in the Law & Order office.”
