It's just a bit of fun for charity, darlings. At least that's what we keep saying, but no-one's listening! Each year the Handbags seem to get more and more glamorous. Hair do's and dresses and handbags and sequins and feathers... and that's obviously just the boys.

The night would not take place at all without James Ledward from Gscene Magazine who's baby the Handbags is, Lola Lasagne who pulls the show together with his very capable backstage crew, Arena's sound and light skills, Billies for the table decor, Terry and his security staff who - along with everyone else tonight - gave their time for nothing, the Metropole who donated the use of the room for the occasion, all the acts who took to the stage to entertain us and the NHS Trust LGBT Forum for sponsoring the awards themselves. And, while we're blowing trumpets I'd like to blow our own too... well, in particular, the trumpet of REALBrighton's James for slaving away over the (rather fabulous) screenshow and the online result tallying - both of which are pretty thankless tasks!

So, on with the show... and of course the presentation of those Handbags of gold... which are just a bit of fun after all...