
The 2010 Erotic Awards began at 7pm on Friday 29th April at Cable, London Bridge. Finalists arrived through a maze of tents in the Courtyard and congregated in the Exhibition Gallery to have a drink and learn if they had won. Winners were announced by the delectable Helen Croydon, our new Judge who is also Britain's top respectable “sex” journalist and works at ITN. Once the announcements had been made, everyone took their seats in the auditorium where the Golden Flying Penis Trophies and certificates were presented on stage. Helen did the talking, Sarah Berry, editor of Foreplay magazine gave out the certificates and Tuppy presented the trophies.
The winners were given the opportunity to speak and Anna Arrowsmith, aka Anna Span, then a LibDem candidate hoping to be elected, spoke eloquently in praise of the Erotic Awards. The Reverend David Gilmore, Pioneer of the Year was unable to attend because he was busy looking after the mourners at the anniversary of the nail bombing in Soho, but Chris Student came on stage on his behalf. Lionel Roth won Volunteer of the Year. Dr Antony Lempert talked briefly about the importance of his campaigning work, and Susan Quilliam, whose book The New Joy of Sex won Publication of the Year praised the Outsiders charity which the Ball funds. Sitting together in the auditorium, the finalists got a chance to get to know one another and network.
Then Mat Fraser came on stage in all his wonderful witty splendour and the show began. Amelia Carvallo's act was even more polished and moving than at the semi's. She got great feedback when she asked the audience to describe parts of her body which, being visually impaired, she has never seen. Ernesto Naked Poet charmed us with his rude poems, Major Suttle-Tease did a mind-blasting act on his own and Minky Mix stole the hearts of the judges, again. The audience exploded when Prangsta came on stage, with their accordion player and stylish gas masks. These five were picked as winners.
That was the end of the show for another year, and everybody piled out into the rest of the Night of the Senses to explore and enjoy themselves. Mouse and her friend Lisa who had modelled for Prangsta were allowed to keep their outfits for the entire night. Sex Worker of the Year, Pye did a sultry strip on stage for the Cabaret under her striptease name, Kiki, and Jo King, who had won Lifetime Achievement performed a deliciously naughty act. They were followed by our 2005 Striptease Artist of the Year Imadol, whose performance has only got better, if that is possible. Finally, the audience braced themselves for many-times winner, the one-and-only Mouse, who was carried onto the stage in a suitcase to perform her Goldilocks act, and eventually got her porridge.
Chris Davies MEP is taking his Flying Penis Trophy with him to the LibDem Annual Conference in September.