By Brendan McDaid
newsdesk@
belfasttelegraph.co.uk
05 September 2005
TROUBLED Bay City Roller Les McKeown took time out at the weekend from the court battle to clear his name of drug-dealing allegations, to attend the glitzy Big Buzz Irish Entertainment Awards in Londonderry at the weekend.
A host of A to Z-list celebs gathered at the Millennium Forum for the annual awards, hosted by BBC personalities Gerry Anderson and Christine Bleakley.
Organisers last night revealed that Big Brother Four winner, Portugese transexual
Nadia Almada, dramatically withdrew from the event at the last minute.
Among the celebrities and artists who did make it were ex-Hear'say star Mylene Klass, Big Brother 5's
Craig Coates and former Boyzone star Shane Lynch, who paid tribute to the public, separated from the nominees and confined to a balcony at the rear of the theatre.
Prolific singer-songwriter and musician Phil Coulter received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the Irish music industry.
Mr Coulter said he was delighted and honoured to receive the prize and paid tribute to the Big Buzz Magazine for encouraging and providing exposure for new Irish artists.
Gerry Anderson raised a laugh by introducing Mr Coulter's anthemic 'The Town I Loved So Well' as "a song made famous by Phil Coulter based on an original idea of the British Army".
Belfast pop/punk outfit Gimik lifted the gong for Best Act on the night, with stomping performances from the winners of the Battle of the Bands Blind Fury and the Beat Poets.
Stunning vocal performances were delivered by girlband Sweet Charity, Irish outfit Arcanadh, Dungiven's Cara Dillon and Nollaig Brolly and Belfast teenage singer Catherine Rutherford, who opened the show with a rendition of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'.
The Stables won best music bar, while best music club went to The Coach and Mr Gay UK Matt Roberts handed over the award for Best Irish Gay Venue to Pepe's in Derry.
Ulster DJ Joe Ferguson raised a few eyebrows by welcoming
"celebrities.... and Big Brother contestants" and asking Christine Bleakley on stage if she had fallen out with her boyfriend, to which she replied: "That's none of your business."
BB5's Orlaith MacAllister and Patrick Kielty were beaten to the Best Irish TV Personality Award by former Miss Northern Ireland Zoe Salmon, while Best Irish DJ went to Mark Wesley.
