Hello my friends, it’s been a wee while since my last blog post so wanted to bring you up to date on all thats been going on in my world recently.

Autumn seems to have come and gone all too quickly and we now find ourselves well and truly in the throws of winter, dark afternoons to boot.  Urghh.  I managed to brighten up my weekend though a few weeks ago, hosting the Diamond Kids Royal Gala with my first ever crush, Jason Donovan.

OK, I didn’t divulge that little bit of info, but I did have to take a moment to savour the surreal-ness of it all.  Me and JD!!  Who’s have thought eh. The talent we saw at The Savoy Theatre was truly amazing, thanks to all who took part and supported. We were so honoured to also have HRH Princess Beatrice there too, who was whooping and clapping her way through all the fab acts.  Well done everyone, here’s to next year!  All proceeds went to my beloved Childline so on behalf of all the young people that call and email us daily for help, thankyou.

 

My charity hat (well, more like cycling helmet) was also on earlier this month for the Princes Trust Palace to Palace bike ride.

I might be smiling in this picture but believe me, the pain in my butt is betraying that!  This was taken at the END. I may have been wearing all my fab Bontrager padded shorts and gear but 45 miles of uphill cycling was more than my tush could bear.  A huge thanks to Trek Bikes UK for sponsoring me with my gear and super duper bike – I was the envy of the team.

Together with my Anna’s Angels team which comprised of my buddies, elder brother, Rugby star Victor Ubogu and Sherlock himself, Benedict Cumberbatch, and the other 30,000 or so cyclists, we raised over £350,000 for the Princes Trust.  A terrific cause and the saddle sore was more than worth it for the sandwiches and cuppa we received at the finish line near Windsor Castle.

I managed to take a few days to chill…and indeed scream, as I popped along with the family to enjoy Alton Towers Scare Fest over the Halloween weekend.  We stayed on site in the Alton Towers Hotel which was perfect to pop back to to warm up in between the fab rides.  We managed to cover the whole park in the 2 days we spent there, and new ride Thirteen has to be my new favourite.  Nemesis Sub Terra looked positively frightening so we still need to work our way up to that one.  Next time!

I’ve been busy back on ITV1’s Daybreak launching some festive competitions and features, and I’ve also been heavily involved in Childline, taking to the phones every week too for my counselling shift.  There is a huge campaign launching this month where we need YOU.  We need thousands of volunteers for a special project to help the young people in need in the UK.  I’ll be launching it on Daybreak with Esther Rantzen on Monday 19th November.

And with Childline keeping me busy, I can also announce my affiliation with Bafta.  I recently launched the Make and Create Storyboard competition in association with Childline and Bafta where the winning entry will get to actually have their idea made in to a short movie!

I’ll be judging that alongside some big film names later this month, and also talking about it at the upcoming Childrens’ Bafta Awards at London’s Hilton Park Lane.  I’ve very kindly been asked by Bafta to do a speech and present an award which is tres exciting! My wonderful stylist Charlotte and fab makeup artist Jo have been working out what look to go for…thanks to Darling who sent me these gorgeous dresses, I think it’s a toss up between the two.  What do you think?

And this year marks a decade of me treading the boards in panto…oh yes it is!!  This year I’ll be keeping it fairly local in Milton Keynes alongside Louis Spence, Kev Orkian and Deniece Pearson. I’m playing Cinders herself and having just received and read through my script, it’s an absolute corker of a show!!  So many funny bits and I even get to sing…a lot.  At last count I have 4 songs….eek, I better get practicing.  Do come and see us at the MK Theatre, we open Dec 7th til 6th Jan 2013 and I promise you’re in for a really festive fun show for all the family.  So many people say to me ‘ooh I’ve not been to a panto in years….’  well now’s your chance…consider this my invitation to you now. I will expect a heckle or two from the audience too.

Just before I go, I recently attended the release of Mad Men 5 on Blu Ray and DVD.  The launch was based around a Mad Men Cocktail Master Class at the Icon Cocktail Bar at Empire Casino in Leicester Square.  Wow, what an evening!  A terrific venue, sumptuous cocktails and fun to be had by all, all in the name of the stylish Mad Men.  A perfect way to spend a week night.  Thanks to Sophie and Charlotte for a very fun (and tipsy) evening!

Keep touching in to the site folks, I’ll be updating as often as I can and you can always find out what I’ve been doing via my weekly Digital Spy Column and twitter @annawilliamstv

Much love and thanks for all your support my friends

Anna x