Corrie favourite Alan was cheered on by family, friends and his new girlfriend at the all-star awards bash
Corrie’s Alan Halsall was named a Legend at the annual awards event (Image: Dave Nelson)
Coronation Street star Alan Halsall and TV star Vanessa Feltz were hailed ‘legends’ at a glittering annual awards night in Manchester.
They were two of the famous faces and business leaders honoured at the Variety Legends of Industry event, held at the Manchester Deansgate Hotel, where recipients also included Lioness star Jill Scott, pop icon Sonia and The Chase star Anne Hegerty.
Alan had the audience laughing as he headed onto stage to collect the award and said: “I feel very humble, but slightly amused, because I think I’ve called myself a legend for quite some time now, so for it now to be official, I don’t feel quite so much like David Brent when I call myself ‘legend’.
The Corrie stalwart added: “I know what you’re all thinking he doesn’t look old enough to be a legend of industry, my mum is anyway, but when I heeard about this award I felt very honoured and I thought wow is this just a polite way of saying that you’ve been around far too long and we;ve got to give you something because you’ve been in this industry for 30 years.
Get all the latest Corrie gossip and spoilers in our newsletter here
“I’ve had an incredible journey, it’s not just given me a career, it’s given me so many lifelong friends, colleagues, so many amazing memories, this industry has even given me my daughter which I’m incredibly grateful for. It’s been amazing to do the job I love for 30 years and now to be standing here collecting this award is incredibly humbling.”
Alan pictured with girlfriend Ellie Dolan and Variety’s Chief Barker, Dr Michael Josephson MBE(Image: UGC)
Alan, who plays Corrie’s Tyrone Dobbs, was supported at the awards by his family and friends, and new girlfriend Ellie Dolan. He paid emotional tribute to the sacrifices his parents made to help support his dream of TV stardom.
He said: “I’m a lad from Salford and my parents, my brother, my mum they’re here, they knew nothing about the television industry as you can imagine and I turned up and said ‘I want to be an actor’, selflessly they supported everything.
“They didn’t have a great deal, but they backed me with everything, so I very much appreciate my family for all the support. Acting on television is never a solo thing, throughout the years I’ve been so blessed with the people I’ve worked with, in front and behind the camera, I’ve worked with real legends in Jack and Vera, and I’m now working with a real Dame, Maureen Lipman.”
Vanessa Feltz wowed in an all-gold dress to accept her Legend award(Image: Dave Nelson)
TV presenter Vanessa Feltz also had the audience laughing as she accepted her award in a dazzling golden sequinned ballgown and joked that she would now “act like a legend for the rest of time”.
Accepting the award, cheered on by her daughters Allegra and Saskia, she said: “I suppose I’ve got to pretend that I feel very modest and undeserving of being named a legend but quite frankly I’ve just been waiting to be told that I’m a legend, and I’m going to live up to the title.
“Even if I pop out for a pound of adults I shall be dressed like this, like a Legend. I’m absolutely thrilled to bits.”
She continued to joke afterwards: “I don’t know why it’s taken everyone so long, but it’s totally gone to my head now. I’m going to have a special chair in the dining room and have my children throwing petals over me.”
All of the winners at the Manchester event (Image: Dave Nelson)
The annual Legends of Industry event, at the Manchester Deansgate Hotel, honoured and celebrated those who have achieved outstanding success in their chosen fields of business and industry whilst raising crucial funds for Variety, the Children’s Charity in the North West, to support disabled and disadvantaged children and young people.
The full list of winners this year were Jill Scott MBE (Football), Nigel Oddy (Retail), John Parrott MBE (Snooker), Vanessa Feltz (Broadcasting), Charlie Mullins OBE (Entrepreneurial Achievement), Alan Halsall (Television Acting ), Stan Boardman (Comedy), Bob Champion CBE (Horse Racing), Anne Hegerty (Professional Quizzing), Sue Holderness (Theatrical Arts) and Sonia (Recording Music).
Former England and Man City star Jill Scott said: “I want this award to represent women’s football, the growth of the game, maybe that young girl out there who has a dream, it does exist. I feel so lucky, I still have imposter syndrome when I walk into a room.”
Meanwhile, The Chase star Anne Hegerty gave her advice to other wannabe quizzers in her acceptance speech.
Anne Hegerty was one of the winners(Image: Dave Nelson)
She said: “I’m delighted to learn that I am a legend of industry because I didn’t know there WAS a quizzing industry. How do you become a professional quizzer? I don’t know, I just fell into it.
“But for anyone who wants to get into quizzing, or get their children into quizzing I would say absolutely go for it there are so many quiz leagues in the Greater Manchester area alone. I have played in the Withington Quiz League, the Tameside Quiz League and the Bolton Quiz League. If you have a curious mind, you like reading and finding things out, and find things stick with you, then it’s a pasttime that won’t necessarily make you rich but it’s enormously satisfying and it might even help you win awards!”
Joint Headline Sponsors Stocks 2015 Dr Michael Josephson MBE and the Geddes Family Trust, along with sponsors Close Brothers Invoice Finance, Davenham Asset Finance, eCapital Commercial Finance, KR8 Advisory, Opus Business Advisory Group, Russell Partnership Collection, Therme Manchester and WeDo Business Finance all helped to raise over £150,000 on the night.
Vanessa Feltz with her award(Image: Dave Nelson)
Back by popular demand, the amazing children of Knotty Ash and the Liverpool Signing Choir performed for the audience of over 450 guests, showing how children with disabilities use the beauty of Sign Language to express themselves as their voices are in their hands. Entertainment on the night was provided by multi-instrumentalist songwriter James Leslie, followed by X Factor star Lascel Woods, who had the audience on their feet.
Lyn Staunton, Development Director of Variety, the Children’s Charity, commented: “We are always humbled by the outstanding achievements of each recipient of our Legends of Industry Awards, who have all excelled themselves in their chosen fields. The event sells out months in advance, as the Legends of Industry Awards have become a much-anticipated highlight in the calendar.
“The event raises funds to provide positive experiences for disabled and disadvantaged children and young people. Variety provides practical help, including Variety Sunshine Coaches, Variety wheelchairs, and specialist equipment through its grant programmes, in addition to creating memorable childhood experiences through Variety Great Days Out.”
Part of a worldwide charity, Variety, the Children’s Charity, was formed in the UK in 1949. Since then, it has raised more than £300 million, to help children and young people throughout the country who are disabled or disadvantaged.
Join our Coronation Street WhatsApp group HERE
The Charity’s famous Variety Sunshine Coaches help children at special needs schools and other organisations to experience the wider world and engage with their local community.
