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TV producer Ruth Boit takes you behind-the-scenes at celebrity parties & TV shoots, bringing you exclusive interviews plus all the backstage gossip. Where are they partying? What are they wearing? What are they eating? And, most importantly, what’s in the goodie bags?

The ice queen

By Ruth Boit on 24 Nov 2010 No comments

I made a vow to myself to stay away from ice rinks for the rest of my natural life. However, some mystical, universal force dictates that ice rinks and Ruth must always be combined with copious amounts of alcohol and it always ends in tears.

Two years ago, my DJ outfit - Desdemona Plays Pop - played a gig at Somerset House during Christmas (ice rink season). Late Skates & DJ Nights sounded like a whole lot of fun so I was proper excited about the gig.

But, get this, the problem with DJing at sophisticated venues is that instead of leaving three cans of lager and a limp, cheese sandwich backstage, which is the norm. Somerset House donate 'Tiffany-style' cup cakes and a selection of fine wines. (Warm lager I can resist, chilled, GOOD wine, however, is an altogether different beast. I won't pay for it you understand, as far as I am concerned it's a sin to spend more than £3.99 on wine. But if the wine is free then my palette suddenly comes over all posh.)

So, anyway, this is how it played out... after the gig I decided to take to the ice. Not taking into account the fact that I had drunk the lion's share of a bottle of Sancerre (get me!) I lasted all of 16 seconds. Skates on, take to ice with gusto, fall head over feet, crash land, inappropriate-for-skating short skirt rides up, humiliation, skates off. The hysterical laughter of my PR, my DJ partner and a couple of showbiz journalists - who had, quite sensibly, stayed in the bar (wearing cool Winter Warmer, street-style hats and fingerless gloves) - did nothing for my confidence, and I have never set foot on the ice since.

But, as luck would have it, I was confronted with an ice rink once again, at the launch of the Winter Wonderland centre in Hyde Park. What to do?

Maybe it was the crisp November air, or maybe it was the sight of all the celebs and their super-cute kids - dressed in mini versions of the Winter Warmer, street-style hats and fingerless gloves and/or mittens - skating like they had all been trained by Torvill and Dean. Whatever the reason, with a raging hangover, the following occured: skates on, flew onto the ice with gusto, stumbled, hit chin on ice, cracked a bone in my finger, humiliation, skates off. The End.

Btw, the place is amazing, and I would recommend going, just to soak up the atmosphere and get yourself into the Christmas spirit.

Sinitta was there with her two children. That woman seems to have aged approximately 3 days since her hey-day in the 80s, and even in her wellies she looked fabulous.

Arriving criminally hungover to an event that included ickle children was actually not a problem becuase John Terry was there - it's always a bonus when you're not the naughtiest person meeting Santa. Hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

So, the reason for my hangover... the night before I had gone along to the launch of a new range of cocktails at the Mandville Hotel in central London. I was as disciplined as anyone, with a a dedicated waitress who brings you cocktail after cocktail to review, could be. Admittedly, I didn't have to try them all... but I did. I was wise enough, however, to make notes, and I can confirm that my personal favourite was the 'Pina Passion. I'll definitely go back in for more - but in moderation, of course. Mandeville.co.uk.

Because I have an unhealthy, I've started so I'll finish, attitude to alcohol consumption I then toddled on to Chelsea for the launch of 86 - a restaurant/cocktail bar headed by top chef Mark Broadbent. 86 had laid on approximately 3000 waiters to ensure that the Champagne was as free flowing as the delicious food (mini burgers: my fave Can Ape ever! Actually, every person in the world's fave Can Ape so you have to fight if you want more than one. I had six, six!! The winner was me.). 86restaurant.co.uk

Now, as helpful as it is to have waiters mingling to top up your glass, the result is always, always disastrous due to the fact that you consume way more booze than you realise. So, Champagne and canapés enjoyed, decor admired, small talk over with and, if I say so myself, remarkably sober I headed on over to the launch of Winter Wonderland. I arrived at Winter Wonderland on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the launch was actually on the following day, Thursday. Drunk!