As the movie industry prepares for this year's Baftas, Jeananne Craig talks to the people behind the scenes to discover their most memorable moments

This week, the cream of Hollywood will be attending final dress fittings and working on their 'gracious loser' faces for the 70th British Academy Film Awards at London's Royal Albert Hall. Nominees at this year's glittering event include La La Land, with 11 nods, ultra-stylish crime thriller Nocturnal Animals with nine nods, and Ken Loach's I, Daniel Blake, which leads the British hopefuls with five nominations.

But for all the flurrying flashbulbs, cascading champagne and A-listers dripping in diamonds, there are people working hard to ensure things run as smoothly - or fabulously - as possible.

As you watch the action unfold from the comfort of your own sofa, spare a thought for the red carpet reporters. Hours before the celebrities start arriving, these journalists are herded into a press pen, which goes into 'lockdown' the closer it comes to showtime. "I've spent hours outside the Baftas with my legs crossed, desperately trying to ignore a call of nature in case I lose my pitch and miss Brad Pitt," says one showbiz reporter, who (perhaps understandably) doesn't wish to be named. Another journalist advocates layering up his long johns until he resembles "the Michelin Man", and standing on a newspaper because the ground is so frosty.

While it can often prove a slow start, the pressure's on when the biggest names of the night undoubtedly descend on to the red carpet at the same time. Then it's a case of every man and women for themselves, as space is jostled for, microphones are waved and hollering is not unheard of, while everyone fights to get the best lines from the starry line-up.

THE CHAIR

The awards, says Bafta chair Jane Lush, are "a brilliant occasion, when the film industry's most talented practitioners from both in front of and behind the camera are gathered in a fabulous celebration of the very best that cinema has to offer".

In 2013, former BBC executive Lush, who was appointed chair of the organisation last June, broke her leg a few days before the event. She admits she "debated the wisdom of attending while so incapacitated" before deciding to soldier on, but it turned out to be the right decision.

"Picture the sight of me struggling up the red carpet - ineptly - on crutches. Have I ever looked less glamorous?" she recalls. "Hobbling slowly along, I spotted George Clooney talking to some fans when, to my huge surprise, he walked over, put his arm around me and asked me how I was doing. Every cloud..."

THE PHOTOGRAPHER

Press Association chief entertainment photographer Ian West has been in the business for 30 years, during which time he's covered most of the Bafta Film Awards. "I've photographed many hundreds, perhaps thousands, of actors and actresses at this event, from Miss Piggy to Meryl Streep, Quentin Tarantino to Leonardo DiCaprio - and everybody in-between," he says.

But while the pictures West takes at the glitzy bash might ooze glamour, life on the other side of the lens isn't always so glittering. "Snow was forecast for the day of the Baftas a few years ago, so I put on two pairs of thermal socks and set off for work. It did indeed snow, but I was less concerned with that than I was with the incredible pain of my squashed up toes," he reveals. "As soon as the arrivals were finished, I hobbled to the backstage area to shoot the award winners with their Bafta masks. I yanked off my shoes and one of the pairs of socks, and hobbled around in my stockinged feet and full dinner suit for the next two hours."

For West, the only awards show bigger than the Baftas is the Oscars in Los Angeles, which he also jets out to cover. "Both have actors and actresses from across the globe, they are both beamed live into your homes via the television, and they both have after-parties," he says. "But I've never had snow at the Oscars."

THE HAIRDRESSER

Charles Worthington Brand Ambassador Ken O'Rourke and his team will be on hand to make sure the nominees are red carpet-ready for the event.

"My favourite Bafta Awards memory is when there was torrential rain all night, which left the red carpet full of soap suds," he says. "I found it incredibly funny, but also felt sorry for all the long beautiful designer gowns that some of the women were wearing, as there was no way to avoid it."

Another favourite moment was working on flame-haired actress Amy Adams' side chignon for the 2014 Baftas (she was nominated for best actress for American Hustle) - "a great example of taking an old Hollywood look inspired by Grace Kelly and making it new, current and relevant for today".

THE PARTY HOPPER

As news editor of Closer magazine, Katie Banks is primed to get the best gossip from the red carpet - and, perhaps more importantly, the post-ceremony parties. The best Bafta after-party Banks attended was at the Grosvenor House Hotel in 2013, which was "rammed full" of stars, including Helen Mirren, Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain.

"Ben Affleck had won Best Film for Argo and was in high spirits and walking around the room talking to everyone," she recalls. "He told me all about how much he loved family life as well as being a Hollywood star, and introduced me to his wife Jennifer Garner, who was patiently sitting next to him, despite the swarms of women trying to chat to Ben.

"The celebs are always really approachable, because everyone wants to just let their hair down and celebrate. There's always an amazing vibe at the after-party."

The EE British Academy Film Awards will air on BBC One on Sunday, February 12