DERMOT O’LEARY: All right, many A-listers right now are live on this very Red Carpet. Before I grab them, with us back this year he’s a man with movie star looks, roughly 50 per cent Tom Hanks, 50 per cent Bilbo Baggins. So harsh! Film expert James King. James, lovely to have you with us.
A. Good to see you again.
Q. Look at the calibre this year. The Baftas now, it’s on the map isn’t it?
A. Yeah, it’s such a big deal, it’s such a part of the award season. The thing is it’s a couple of weeks before the Academy Awards and before the Oscars and people see this as a bit of a — I want to use the word dry run but considering the weather that’s probably not the right phrase. What happens tonight could affect —
Q. It’s a proper fixture now?
A. Yeah, really is.
Q. Your predictions?
A. You’ve got to look at the film with the most nominations which is Lincoln, 10 nominations for that. I think the best chance it has is with Daniel Day-Lewis, Best Actor. What a performance from him as Abraham Lincoln. Another sublime Daniel Day-Lewis turn. He doesn’t make that many films.
Q. He’s so picky, isn’t he?
A. He’s very picky but when he chooses one it’s always a classic. He’s already won three Baftas but I think he’s going to get a fourth one tonight.
Q. Sure. Who else are you thinking about tonight?
A. Ben Affleck actually. Argo is his movie, of course he stars in it, directs it. George Clooney is the one who produces it. This is his third film as director and I think he’s really come of age with this.
Q. The thing is with that, though, the first two were very much projects and this is proper kind of mainstream …
A. Absolutely. This is not only getting the critical plaudits but people are going to see it because it’s really good fun. I mean it’s a tough, serious topic but it’s a really entertaining watch and I think Affleck will take Best Picture home.
Q. Lastly who do you think will win tonight? Who will be the big winners?
A. I don’t know if there’s going to be a clean sweep for anybody. You can’t count out Les Misérables.
Q. Tom Hooper just walked past. I should have said it then.
A. Yeah, a bit louder. Think about things like costume design and hair and make-up, surely it’s got to win things like that. Anne Hathaway of course, Best Supporting Actress, she’s not in the movie for very long but the minutes she’s in there she really makes an impact.
Q. Thank you James.
A. Pleasure.