Stars set to descend on strike-free Baftas

Will the Bafta awards gain from the Hollywood writers’ strike and the ensuing chaos surrounding America’s movie award ceremonies? The British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards are normally overshadowed by the the Oscars; in bad years, big stars have failed to turn up to collect their awards, choosing to 'join' the audience by video from a poolside lounger in LA rather than brave a transatlantic flight and a rain-sodden red carpet for the real thing.

But with the screenwriters' strike threatening the 80th Academy Awards, the Baftas could finally take centre stage as the Hollywood A-list competes to present awards at next month’s ceremony in London. "The talent bookers’ telephones at Bafta have not stopped ringing," one film industry insider told the Times. "The agents are determined to make sure that their star gets a spot.”

George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley and Cate Blanchett - whose threats to stay away from the Golden Globes in support of the writers' led to the cancellation of the awards last Sunday - are among the stars set to turn up for the Baftas should they be nominated tomorrow morning, and to volunteer as prize-givers if they are not. In 2001 the Baftas were moved from April to February in an effort to reposition the British awards as one of the kingmakers for the Oscars. This year’s awards will be held at the Royal Opera House on February 10.