It was broadcast live to millions of viewers around the world, so it was no surprise that not everything quite went to plan at the Bafta British Academy Film Awards last night.
Actress Rosamund Pike was left flustered when she nearly announced an award winner before the nominees had even been read out.
Clearly struggling to read her autocue, the 32-year-old pre-empted her own mistake by joking how 'it would be a really irritating story if I read out the wrong name but I won't do that...'
Awards faux pas: Rosamund Pike, joined by fellow presenter Dominic Cooper, goes to open the winners envelope for Best Original Screenplay at the Bafta British Academy Film Awards last night
Halt! Host Jonathan Ross rushes over to seal the envelope shut after realising Pike hasn't even read out the nominees yet
As red-faced Cooper said: 'Can I get off the stage?', Pike conceded: 'I've embarrassed him now.'
Having saved the day, Ross joked: 'That's the fastest I've moved for years.'
After managing to compose herself, Pike continued: 'Ummm.... do you wanna hear who the nominees are for Best Original Screenplay?'
Oh dear: Fortunately, they all managed to see the funny side before composing themselves
Glamorous: Rosamund Pike brought glamour to the red carpet in a mustard gown
Seidler picked up just one of seven accolades for The King's Speech last night, including Best Film, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor.
Helena Bonham Carter also received a string of plaudits for her portrayal of the late Queen Mother. On accepting her Best Supporting Actress accolade, she said: ‘I am thrilled. I think I should thank the Royal Family as they have done wonders for my career.’
She dedicated the award to her partner, American film director Tim Burton, hailing him as a ‘genius’, and also all ‘supporting wives all over the world’.
It is understood she and producers received a note from the Queen telling them she was ‘moved’ by the film and the 44-year-old’s portrayal of her mother.
Best Actress went to Natalie Portman for her portrayal of the harrowing descent of a prima ballerina into psychosis in Black Swan, but the heavily pregnant star was unable to collect her award.
The King’s Speech, which cost £8million to make, was nominated for a record 14 Baftas but won seven, including outstanding British Film and Best Supporting Actor for Geoffrey Rush.
This makes it the joint second most successful film in the history of the film awards, behind Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid and joint with Slumdog Millionaire.
The film has been an unexpected international hit, while Firth has received critical acclaim for his portrayal of King George VI in the run-up to the abdication crisis and his struggle to master a speech impediment.
He plays a man thrust into power and desperately trying to cope with a crippling stammer by working with speech therapist Lionel Logue, played by Rush.
Firth, 50, who was also named Bafta’s Best Actor last year for A Single Man, is the first star to achieve the feat since Rod Steiger won back-to-back Baftas for The Pawnbroker in 1967 and In The Heat Of The Night in 1968.
Bafta winner: Helena Bonham Carter wins Best Supporting Actress and declared that she's so used to losing that it felt strange to win
Gracious winner: Helena also gave her co-star Colin Firth her praise, saying: 'King Colin you're deserving everything you're getting.'
The film’s writer David Seidel, who had a stutter when he was a child, won the award for Best Original Screenplay.
He told the star-packed audience at the Royal Opera House in London: ‘It is amazing that this little film with two men in a room has spoken to the world. Let me tell you that as a little boy who stuttered and stammered – to be heard is a wonderful thing.’
The film has already made £150million worldwide and is expected to become the most successful independent UK film yet.
But there was no award for its director, Tom Hooper. Instead the Best Directing honour went to David Fincher for The Social Network, about the creation of Facebook.
Emma Watson, looking stylish in a cream chiffon gown by Valentino, was among those with something to celebrate when the Harry Potter film franchise was honoured for its outstanding contribution to British cinema.
Stephen Fry, who presented the accolade, said: ‘The Harry Potter series has shown British film making in its best light.’
British director Christopher Nolan’s film Inception, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio, picked up awards for Best Sound, Best Production Design and Best Special Visual Effects.
Actor Tom Hardy won the Rising Star award, beating Gemma Arterton and Andrew Garfield, while Sir Christopher Lee was awarded the prestigious Bafta fellowship.
Miss Bonham Carter admitted her surprise during her Bafta acceptance speech last night, saying: 'I'm so used to losing it feels quite strange to win.
She went on to warn her children: 'It's not about the winning', and added, 'I think I should thank the Royal family frankly because they've done wonders for my career.'
Helena also gave her co-star Firth her praise, saying: 'King Colin you're deserving everything you're getting.'
Mr Firth also thanked his voice coach Neil Swain and Tom Hooper, saying: 'He has everything to do with me standing here. Also my majestic mum and dad and Livia who deals with everything from kings to dancing queens. Thanks you very much.'
The King's Speech had been nominated for a whopping 14 awards and Helena looked every bit the star as she picked up her gong in a black Vivienne Westwood gown.
After making headlines at the Golden Globes when she arrived in miss-matched shoes, the star made sure to not make the worst dressed list again during the Baftas.
She admitted that she had behaved like 'an ostrich' the day after the Golden Globes in Los Angeles because she was so embarrassed, and said she hoped the rumours the Queen approved of the film were true.
Royal progress: Colin Firth arrives at the Orange British Academy Film Awards 2011 with his wife Livia Giuggioli, who he thanked while accepting his award for Best Actor
Spot the difference: Sir Paul McCartney with daughter Mary and girlfriend Nancy Shevell arriving for the bash at London's Royal Opera House
'I just hope I did her justice according to her daughter.'
The King's Speech also won awards for Original Screenplay by David Seidler, Outstanding British Film and Best Score for French film composer Alexandre Desplat, which was presented by Sir Paul McCartney.
The former Beatle was there was with 41-year-old daughter Mary and girlfriend Nancy Shevell, 50. And for fans watching the stars stroll up the Bafta red carpet, it was a case of spot the difference.
Harry Potter winners: Emma Watson, JK Rowling and Rupert stood with their crew as they picked up the award for Best Contribution of British Cinema for the Harry Potter Films
Cause to celebrate: Firth joins the cast and crew of The King's Speech after their haul of accolades
Christopher Nolan's Inception also made a big impression at the Baftas though, and picked up awards for Best Sound and Special Visual Effects.
Meanwhile The Social Network won Best Editing, David Fincher won Best Director and writer Aaron Sorkin won Adapted Screenplay.
British actress Gemma Arterton looked stunning in a black velvet gown, but she didn't manage to nab the Rising Star Award, instead that award went to Tom Hardy.
Film legend: Sir Christopher Lee and his wife Birgit Kroencke after winning the Academy Fellowship
Triumph: Danish producer Soren Staermose (L) and Danish director Niels Arden Oplev (R) with their Baftas for Film Not In English Language award for their movie The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Earlier in the night JK Rowling admitted that Emma Watson is 'like my daughter' and said that 'being involved in these films has been one of the best experiences of my life.'
Natalie Portman wasn't able to pick up her award for Best Actress in Black Swan as she is heavily pregnant, but director Darren Aronofsky kindly accepted it for her.
British actor Sir Christopher Lee, 88, was also awarded a Bafta Fellowship award last night.
Mr and Mrs: Host Ross joined his wife Jane Goldman at the after-party at the Grosvenor House Hotel
