What a night!
SURPRISE celebrity compere Vernon Kay hosted our annual Slimmer Awards in Birmingham and what a night was had by those watching in person and the audience tuning in live from home!
TV star Vernon, who got to third place in last year’s ITV’s I’m A Celebrity, was kept as a closely guarded secret until the big night, which took place at The Eastside Rooms in the city centre.
And our survey said the former Family Fortunes presenter was a huge success with everyone attending and watching.
Vernon Kay was revealed to be the celebrity compere and introduced the audience to the shortlist of wonderful dieters and their supportive Consultants.
He said: “It’s a great privilege and honour to be here tonight. These are truly emotional stories and it’s amazing when people achieve their goals.
“Events like this are so inspiring and well done to everyone who has been shortlisted.”
It was the first face-to-face event The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan has held since before the pandemic. And it was also the first ever hybrid event staged in the company’s history.
The 1:1 Diet Managing Director, Chris McDermott, welcomed the shortlisted slimmers and their Consultants who were in the room and greeted the hundreds of guests watching from the comfort of their homes.
He said: “Whatever else happens in your life, you will always have the extraordinary journey each of you has travelled over the past 14 months, made even more special by the extraordinary circumstances we have all found ourselves in.
“Not many people have the guts to embark on the road that you have travelled or the perseverance to see that journey through to the end. But you did. And you won, sometimes against all the odds.
“You should be incredibly proud of what you have achieved! We certainly are of you.”
A judging panel featuring Susannah Schofield, OBE, Director-General of the Direct Selling Association, Tamarind Wilson-Flint, Director of The Lucre Group PR agency, and Mark Gilbert, Commercial Nutritionist for The 1:1 Diet had chosen the winners from hundreds of entries.
There were nine categories of awards and the audience was brought to tears and laughter as films showing the moving weight loss journeys of the shortlisted slimmers were played. One category, The 1:1 Diet Award, highlights the importance the Consultant plays in every dieter’s journey and that was a dual prize.
The dieters were brought on to the stage for a photograph with Vernon, Chris and Cliff Jones, Director of Sales for the UK and ROI.
Then, after the videos were played, the winner for each category was announced and invited back on to stage for an interview with Vernon.
They were then whisked offstage for a live interview with Babette Ogden, Senior Regional Sales Manager, and Matt Rogers, Regional Sales Manager, which was shown exclusively to the audience tuning in.
The evening ended with people dancing – and singing – the night away to the fantastic live band, Rockaoke.
This year’s The 1:1 Diet Slimmer Award winners 2021 are:
Woman of the Year – Rachael Walkingshaw-McGuinness
Man of the Year – Neil Maltman
Social Hero – Emily Nuttall
Family Champion – Kezi Smith
In it Together – Clare and Amanda O’Neil
Life Changer - Andrea Whitcombe
Maintainer – Suzi Smythe
Lockdown Slimdown – Ester Barbosa
The 1:1 Diet Award – Amy Bingham and Chloe Savage
Well done to each and every slimmer that entered the awards on their incredible weight loss journeys and congratulations to our new 2021 Slimmer Winners!