History
Barbara Windsor won the first award in 1976, presented as a one-off accolade. Five years later it became an annual event with Felicity Kendal taking away the honours.
In 1986 the award was presented to a man for the first time (Michael Barrymore) and 1991 saw Marina Ogilvy, the daughter of Princess Alexandra, became the first royal recipient. From 1997 the awards have been presented annually to both sexes.
The event, staged at London's Dorchester Hotel in Park Lane, attracts major national and international press publicity valued at £4.5 million. The 2011 event, sponsored by Wizard Jeans, was held on 8 June with winners Carol Vorderman and Anton du Beke receiving the awards.
Coronation Street actress Shobna Gulati was the 2012 winner, alongside West End star John Barrowman. They both took a dunk in the rooftop fountains at London's Dorchester Hotel to provide a 'wet-look' for their jeans in front of a crowd of photographers and press.
Organiser Tony Edwards declared that female rears were starting to slim down as more women took to the gym, jogging, and keeping in trim in this Olympic year. "Shobna's well-toned rear is a fine example for others to follow."
The 2013 Rear of the Year awards will be presented in London in June and offer a sponsorship opportunity for an appropriate brand name.
Read more about this topic: Rear Of The Year
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