BACKCHAT has the unenviable honour of attending many industry events at this time of year.
Some are good, some are bad but most are at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Mayfair.
To try and match the prestigious surroundings the hosts always try and get a top name to present the awards.
Most of the time they are indifferent, but one recent speech stood out for its surprising honesty and a liberal dose of wit.
OAG, Travel Weekly’s sister company, got hold of BBC presenter Steve Rider for its Airline of the Year awards.
Now Steve looks like a friendly, unassuming sort of a guy, but proved to be quite a comedian.
And what a good job he did. First he weighed into Mike Tyson (not an easy thing), who had been staying and training at the Grosvenor.
He made the usual taunts about Tyson having no neck, being an ear-biter and being surrounded by sycophants.
And he pledged the BBC would not be embarrassed by showing any of his fights – “because we don’t show any major sporting events”.
Cue uproar from the audience. Steve was cheered and got a huge round of applause. From then on, there was no stopping him.
Predictably, Singapore Airlines won most of the awards, leading to its executive Kay Wee Sim performing like a yo-yo as he walked up and back to the stage to pick up awards.
“Come and sit on the stage steps,” urged Steve to the embarrassed Sim. “Oh, here he comes again, the Frankie Dettori of the night,” quipped Steve. And finally: “There they are, Singapore Airlines establishing a new route tonight, from table to stage.” Who said the BBC was a staid old bunch?