Showbiz

EastEnders girls outlast Loose Women as they party until 3.40am after awards bash

Updated 14:38pm on 9 Sep 2008

They had started the evening looking so glamorous and demure, arriving at The Dorchester for the TV Quick and TV Choice Awards.

But by early today, following many hours of quaffing champagne - and probably whatever else was in close reach - the girls from EastEnders and Loose Women painted a very different picture.

Loose Women Coleen Nolan and Sherrie Newsome were in high spirits after winning the award for Best daytime show an stumbled out of the party in the early hours of the morning looking slightly worse-for-wear and clung to each as they were driven home.

Carol McGiffen

Party girl: Carol McGiffin lets her tongue loose on a male companion

Partying hard: Eastenders stars Rita Simons, Diane Parish and leaving the Little Italy bar in Soho at 3:40 am,

Their co-host Carol McGiffin - who is known for her wild antics at awards parties - lived up to her reputation by grabbing a male companion and licking his ear suggestively.

Meanwhile the EastEnders girls partied until well after 3.40am at a bar in Soho - after being refused entry to Soho House.

Maybe it was their victory in the category of best soap, beating rivals Coronation Street and Emmerdale, that sent Rita Simons, Belinda Owusu, Diane Parish and ex-EastEnder Louisa Lytton into an excitable spin. Loose Women

On the loose: Coleen Nolan and Sherrie Newsome of Loose Women leave the party looking slightly worse-for-wear

Jane McDonald

Woman on the loose: A bleary-eyed Jane McDonald struggles to get into her car

Stepping outside The Dorchester with her new best friend, Apprentice winner Lee McQueen, Rita seemed the worse for wear as she dropped her handbag.

At one point the 31-year-old's sozzled state was even more apparent when she grabbed hold of co-star Diane, 39, who plays Denise Wicks, and attempted to perform a number of risque moves in full view of shocked onlookers.

One told us: 'She was obviously in a good mood and determined to let her hair down. Outside the hotel she bent over in front of Diane and soon after turned around to wrap her legs around her.

Up West: EastEnder girls Louisa Lytton and Belinda Owusu

'But she didn't stop there. She then leant in for a kiss on the lips.'

Rita also admired a passing fan's pierced ear lobes, putting her finger inside the metal-ringed centimetre-wide hole.

But the night didn't end at The Dorchester - especially not for the EastEnders crowd, also celebrating best soap actor for Charlie Clements, who plays Bradley Branning.

Heading for home: A barefoot Kate Garraway and husband Derek Draper leaving the party

Enlarge

TV critic Sharon Marshall and actor John Barrowman lark around at the bash

Pucker up: The pair then shared a friendly kiss

Following the directions of Rita, who plays livewire Roxy Mitchell, they piled into a waiting car to continue the night - and made the mistake of attempting to enter private members club Soho House.

Within minutes, the girls were politely turned away and forced to sink more booze at the Little Italy bar in Soho.

They finally called it a night at 3.40am - we wouldn't want their heads today.

THE WINNERS

Best entertainment show: Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway

Best talent show: Strictly Come Dancing

Best new drama: Ashes To Ashes

Best daytime show: Loose Women

Best lifestyle show: Top Gear

Best-loved drama: Dr Who

Best reality show: The Apprentice

Best comedy: Benidorm

Best soap newcomer: Michelle Keegan