Justin's Monday night project: to be snapped as many times as possible The booze flowed at Sky One's - sorry, Sky1's - autumn launch at Shoreditch Town Hall in east London last night as controller Richard Woolfe unveiled the satellite channel's new look. A phalanx of Sky stars were out in force including Noel Edmonds, Denise Van Outen and Justin Lee Collins. Good times were had by all. Alas Cilla Black, who will front a new dating show for the channel, didn't make it as she was on holiday, much to the disappointment of the assembled hacks. Van Outen also didn't hang around to chat after it was confirmed earlier this week that she is ditching her Capital Radio breakfast show gig. The do had a 1950s Americana theme - they're doing Hairspray: The School Musical, doncha know. Sky helpfully installed two photo booths where drunk revellers could have their pictures taken - which were then flashed up on big screens at the venue. Collins took full advantage of the free booze and could be seen appearing on the big screen in various poses with an assortment of different revellers at alarmingly regular intervals.
Atlas can take a joke - mercifully Monkey had a hairy moment after being cornered by huge Gladiator Atlas. The man mountain, who admitted he planned to get even bigger than he is now, remembered something cheeky Monkey had written about him at the launch of the show. It might have been this: "Atlas is definitely lining up to be the big head of the group (which is ironic, given that his head looks pretty small compared to his huge body)." Expecting a battering, Monkey was surprised he took it so well and this simian was able to leave the do with all limbs intact.
Gladiators! Unsteady! The Gladiators were on fine drinking form last night, although a couple let slip that they don't normally drink booze and only did so at Sky1 launches. "It's expected of you here," one said. That's the spirit!
Sky1 controller sweats it out On a warm night, the venue for the launch turned into a bit of a sauna, with even Woolfe admitting he was feeling the heat as he made his introductory speech. "I am about to expire up here," a sweaty Woolfe-meister told the crowd. "I won't be needing one of those gastric bands."
Richard's a Woolfe in sheep's clothing this year The presentation of the new season was concluded with the first ever performance by the young people taking part in the Van Outen-fronted Hairspray: The School Musical - did you see what they did there? The students had just a few short days to put together an energetic dance routine which they impressively pulled off. Woolfe has been known to put on a bit of a show himself at his launches - those who witnessed him jumping out of a box one year will never forget it - but this time he stood on the sidelines nursing two injured fingers from an unidentified incident. Monkey hopes the showman will return with a high-octane extravaganza for Sky's next season launch.
