How Marvellous Neil Baldwin stole #SJA2014 show - Sports Journalists' Association

Lou Macari, centre, and writer Peter Bowker, right, both upstaged at the SJA British Sports Awards by Neil Baldwin — Lou Macari, centre, and writer Peter Bowker, right, were both upstaged at the SJA British Sports Awards by Neil Baldwin

The show-stealing moment of last week’s British Sports Awards was surely the presentation of David Walker’s Chairman’s Award.

With all due respect to Rory McIlroy, Jo Pavey, the England women’s rugby team, world champion rowing crews, Dame Kelly Holmes, Sir Chris Hoy and the other 300 or so guests in the room, on this occasion they were thoroughly upstaged by a bloke dressed in a chicken suit.

For the award, presented to Lou Macari, writer Peter Bowker and former Stoke City kit man Neil Baldwin for the TV play Marvellous, saw “Nello” take the the stage in in the same costume he wore pitchside when he was first taken on at the Victoria Ground.

The BBC is due to re-show Marvellous on Christmas day. If you haven’t yet seen it, make sure that you watch it – many of those who have already viewed this outstanding piece of sports-based drama, hilarious and poignant at one, will probably take the opportunity to see it again.

“Real from the inside,” is the way Bowker describes what he tried to achieve in his writing of the piece, and no one who has seen it will suggest he did not succeed in his efforts.

Critics have described Marvellous as the best television programme of 2014.

This video from the presentation will give you some notion of what the world of Nello can be like.