Hopes of Britons high at Golden Globes

Los Angeles played host last night to the Golden Globes, the first major cinema and small screen awards ceremony of the year.

British hopefuls included York-born Judi Dench, shortlisted for best dramatic actress for Philomena, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, nominated for best dramatic actor for 12 Years a Slave.

Another UK contender was Idris Elba for his portrayal of the title role in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

Ejiofor and Elba also went head-to-head in a television acting category for their performances in Dancing on the Edge and Luther, respectively.

Titles in the running for the night’s best film prizes, meanwhile, included Gravity, Rush and American Hustle.

The award winners were decided by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Hosting duties at the ceremony were being handled by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

Cate Blanchett, Tom Hanks, Martin Scorsese and Aaron Paul had earlier celebrated their Golden Globe nominations over cucumber sandwiches and scones with cream.

The nominees were among the guests of honour at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) annual awards season tea party, which took place on Saturday at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles.

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch was another famous face at the classically British gathering.