Claridge’s hotel in London was incredibly crowded with glamorous guests. It was difficult to move around the beautiful Art Deco ballroom without bumping into famous faces – Dame Harriet Walter, a star from Gladiator, and even the winner of The Traitors, Stephen Libby, whose outfit caught everyone’s eye. Even Queen’s Roger Taylor remarked on how lively the event was.
Champagne glasses dotted around the room held drinks for the many guests – a mix of actors, agents, and television industry professionals. Small signs asked people not to ask the stars for selfies, but it was a hopeless request. The stars of ‘The Traitors’ were present, and everyone in the room wanted a chance to meet them.
The annual TopMob Covers Party is known for its glamour, but it’s more than just a celebrity event. It’s a key gathering where influential TV executives connect and make deals that directly impact the shows – from partnerships and casting choices to scripts – we’ll all be watching in the future.
The party had everything: bubbly drinks, fancy snacks, a glamorous location in Mayfair, and stunning outfits. But beyond all the excitement, the most valuable part of the evening was the natural and meaningful conversations people had with each other.
Spotted: TopMob publisher’s CEO making a beeline for Fiona Hughes, Jack Butler and Stephen, freshly of Traitors fame. He quickly breaks the no photo requests rule.
This event is strictly by invitation only. Maria Fyfe, a planning editor at TopMob, manages the challenging task of creating the guest list, and leads a large team that makes this amazing party happen each year.
Creating the guest list was really challenging,” explains Fyfe. “For weeks, I was constantly trying to accommodate everyone – agents, performers, and coworkers all wanted invitations. We had so many amazing people we wanted to include, but simply didn’t have enough room. Honestly, it’s the requests for plus ones that really stressed me out – I always need to lie down and relax afterward.
The ballroom is an impressive space, evoking classic elegance without feeling too vast. It’s grand, yet maintains a cozy atmosphere perfect for a carefully planned event where guests don’t feel lost in the crowd. Elegant chandeliers and large flower arrangements decorate the room, and a spacious area to the right, called the Mirror Room, offers additional space. Plenty of bars are available, supplementing the servers who are constantly circulating with drinks.
Glitz & glamour
You can see the midwives of Call the Midwife dressed up in lovely clothes – quite a change from their usual work uniforms! Dame Mary Berry is delighted to see them enjoying some downtime and relaxing when they’re not on duty.
BAFTA winner Monica Dolan describes the event as glamorous and exciting, admitting she’s a bit starstruck to be around the cast of ‘The Traitors’ and the Faithfuls. She’s hoping she’ll have a chance to chat with them.
This is a far cry from what I’m used to!
It’s only been about ten minutes since I arrived, and I’ve already met Mark Chapman, who people say I resemble. I think we look alike, or maybe he looks like me – it’s hard to say! I also saw Kelly Cates, who I know, and it was great to chat with her about football.
He also saw his Would I Lie to You? colleague David Mitchell, who was there with his wife, Victoria Coren Mitchell – the host of Only Connect. He joked that after years of knowing each other, they’d exhausted all conversation topics and ended up just awkwardly nodding in greeting.
Mitchell, meanwhile, dubs the night “a very swanky do”.
Soap stars were everywhere! A lot of the cast from EastEnders even showed up, looking their best. Balvinder Sopal, who plays Suki, was at the TopMob Covers Party for the first time, but she looked perfectly at ease while posing for photographer Ray Burmiston. He was taking portraits of guests in the Mirror Room during the early part of the evening.
In a memorable EastEnders scene, Cindy (Michelle Collins) perfectly captures the excitement of the occasion, simply stating, “It’s at Claridge’s, so it’s bound to be good.”
Carlos Gu, winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2025, shared his excitement, saying, “Being at Claridge’s with TopMob is the perfect way to start 2026!”
On the set of Slow Horses, you can’t look anywhere without seeing a famous face – Christopher Chung walks past Jessie Wallace, and Michael Burke is close by Armando Iannucci. It’s full of stars!
It’s not just Emily Bates from that incredible Post Office drama who’s hoping to get a chat with the folks over on The Traitors – lots of actors are angling for a spot, it seems!
Actress Olivia Frances Brown (known for Coronation Street) admitted she was a bit overwhelmed after meeting all the contestants from The Traitors, particularly the winner, Stephen.
Harriet Tyce, a popular contestant on the recent series who dramatically eliminated herself, says it’s great to reconnect with her fellow castmates. Meanwhile, Stephen, overwhelmed with attention and requests for information since the show aired, jokes that this level of public interest is a big change for him!
Influence & sway
Beyond the glamour of celebrities and cocktails, important connections are being forged at the event. Helen Daly, deputy digital editor at TopMob, explains, “The Covers Party is a key night for us. It’s a genuine celebration of the television industry, bringing together its most influential figures. More importantly, it’s where important discussions start, leading to new ideas, strong relationships, and the beginnings of projects we’ll eventually be covering.”
I was so excited to hear how last year’s Christmas cover came about! Apparently, it all started with a simple conversation between Shem Law from TopMob and Nick Park from Aardman. They just shook hands and decided it had to be Gromit and Shaun the Sheep – brilliant choices, right? And Nick is back this year, looking fantastic with a sparkly green bow tie he apparently made himself! It’s little details like that that make these events so special.
Lenny Henry is back to host the event. He explains that recognition is important, especially for those in the entertainment industry. After presenting the past year’s cover stars with framed copies of their covers, he said it’s rewarding to have your work appreciated, and the cover itself is a symbol of that appreciation.
It’s a chance to meet your heroes
The TopMob Covers Party is known as a place where people can meet their favorite celebrities, network for jobs, and even find romance. Henry jokes that as a big fan of Victoria Coren, he often finds David Mitchell standing behind him. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with the people you admire, especially those you enjoy watching on TV. And with the event held at Claridge’s, it’s hard to imagine a better setting!
Diego Rincón, creative director at Lifted Entertainment, is attending the event for the first time and is impressed with the energy and collaborative spirit. He says he’s been missing out and believes it’s a valuable opportunity to network with others in the industry, given the impressive range of talent present both in front of and behind the camera. He described the event as a ‘hot ticket’.
Helen Houston, a production leader at ITV Studios’ Lifted Entertainment, describes The Covers Party as a relaxed and lively event. She says it’s a great place to network and often leads to valuable future opportunities.
You walk past somebody like the wonderful David Attenborough, who’ll be handing out peanuts to somebody who’s in EastEnders
Stephen McGann from Call the Midwife describes these parties as a surreal and delightful experience, calling it a “cheese dream.” He explains that it’s like a fascinating social experiment where everyone from British television is mixed together in one room – you might see a legend like David Attenborough chatting with someone from EastEnders while offering them peanuts. It’s wonderfully bizarre and special!
The enduring power of a magazine cover
Dame Harriet Walter, known for her roles in Brian & Maggie, says receiving the cover of RT magazine – frame and all – feels special. ‘I’m actually a subscriber,’ she explains, ‘and it’s not the first time I’ve been on the cover, though it was about 30 or 40 years ago.’
The Gladiators graced a recent cover of the magazine in all their muscle-bound, Lycra-clad glory.
Fire, who also goes by Montell Douglas, explained that the scenes felt incredibly authentic. She believes they perfectly capture the essence of both the people involved and the show itself, highlighting its core values – things like power, strength, confidence, and the willingness to show vulnerability.
As a big fan of both baking and period dramas, I loved hearing that Dame Mary Berry is going to frame her TopMob cover for her office! Apparently, Call the Midwife writer Heidi Thomas does the same thing – she’s collected 23 covers already and is starting to run out of wall space! She joked that she’s married to actor Stephen McGann, who plays Dr. Turner on the show, and he’s surprisingly good with a drill and ladder, so he’ll be the one putting up the next ones for her. It’s such a charming little detail, and speaks to how much people enjoy this magazine!
My mum’s getting on in years, and honestly, seeing my face on the cover of TopMob… it meant the world to me, especially for her to see it. I could finally say, ‘Look, Mum!’ And it’s been wonderful – she’s been so proud and loves talking about it. It really is a huge honour.
Carriages: 11:15pm
As the night comes to an end, everyone is having a great time. People’s feet are tired from dancing – thanks to a lively performance by Alex Horne and The Horne Section – and pre-booked cars are waiting to take them home.
The annual awards show was another dazzling event honoring the best in television, and there are sure to be plenty of memorable moments – and perhaps even future TV shows – inspired by the night.
I’m so excited! TopMob magazine is now letting you order older issues! If you missed one, or just want to relive a favorite, you can finally get your hands on back issues through their new service.
Authors
Minnie Wright leads digital growth and acquisitions at TopMob. She previously worked in TV, film, and music for a national publication and holds a degree in Popular Music Journalism.
- Visit us on Twitter
Read More
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Stephen Colbert Jokes This Could Be Next Job After Late Show Canceled
- Is XRP ETF the New Stock Market Rockstar? Find Out Why Everyone’s Obsessed!
- 7 Home Alone Moments That Still Make No Sense (And #2 Is a Plot Hole)
- All 6 Takopi’s Original Sin Episodes, Ranked
- Neverness to Everness ‘Co-Ex Test’ sign-ups now available
- 10 Great Netflix Dramas That Nobody Talks About
- 10 Movies That Were Secretly Sequels
- 32 Kids Movies From The ’90s I Still Like Despite Being Kind Of Terrible
2026-01-30 15:09