The Secret Life Of The Red Carpet

From The Independent:

The secret life of the red carpet

As Cannes reaches its climax with the Palme d'Or and the celebrities gather in London for the Baftas tonight, Kate Youde and Jack Dean investigate the real star of the show

An unknown from Cheshire will be the centre of attention tonight as some of the nation's most famous faces from the small screen gather for the TV Baftas. The unassuming star is likely to get walked on by the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch, Emilia Fox, Miranda Hart and Dominic West. But that is as it should be because, you see, the focus of camera lenses at the British Academy Television Awards will be a 45-metre strip of red carpet from the Plantation Rug Company in Stockport. As has become obligatory for awards ceremonies, actors will parade down the scarlet sward ahead of the event at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

Last week, Brad Pitt and Kristen Stewart were joined by the pop stars Kylie Minogue and Cheryl Cole on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, which ends this evening. And around the world, from awards ceremonies to film premieres, VIP arrivals, state visits and royal events, a rug of red (or occasionally some other colour) has become a must. Here, The Independent on Sunday weaves the story, alphabetically, of the red carpet.

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O is for orange

Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards think the future of red carpets is, well, orange. Both use orange carpets. While the organisers probably like standing out from the crowded award ceremony scene, fashion-conscious stars will quietly fret over trying to co-ordinate their outfits with the bright hue.

You can ready The Independent on Sunday's full article on the secret life of the red carpet here on the official The Independent website, Independent.co.uk.