Movie Editor's Blog

No self-respecting award ceremony would want you to think it wasn’t the biggest, most exclusive gig in town  – so it has to look like a sold out star-fest to the adoring TV audiences at home. But it’s all just smoke and mirrors... and seat fillers.

[Related story: Argo wins big at 2013 Baftas]
[Related story: Red carpet fashions]

Our inside man Ed (circled) with Brad Pitt (Credit: BBC)
The practice of seat filling is the endearing elephant in the corner of awards shows. Everyone knows it goes on, you’re just not supposed to notice.

Say a star wins an award, presents part of the show or even pops to the toilet; they leave behind them an empty seat and a chink in the armour of celebrity. That’s where the humble seat filler comes in.

Teams of well dressed volunteers wait in the wings to temporarily fill any empty spots, so that when the camera turns round, you get a sea of smiling faces, not a spattering of lonely luvvies.

“You have to be pretty quick,” says Ed Toll, seat filler at the BAFTAs 2012 and this year too, “And if the seat’s in the

Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed plans for ‘Star Wars’ spin-off movies to be released between Episodes 7, 8 and 9.

In an interview with CNBC he said screenwriters Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are both writing scripts “derived from great" 'Star Wars' characters that are not part of the overall saga”.

[Related story:  ABC plotting 'Star Wars' TV series]
[Related story: Del Toro turns down 'Star Wars']

If Yoda is to be one of those ‘Star Wars’ characters, as has been rumoured, then who should be up for a starring role in some of the other films? Here’s our tongue-in-cheek suggestions...

Unlikely politician... Jar Jar Binks (Credit: LucasFilm)

Jar Jar Binks in ‘Yes Galactic Senator’

Jar Jar Binks is the ‘Forrest Gump’ of the ‘Star Wars’ universe, a buffoon who somehow ends up entwined in the most important historical events of his era. From exiled idiot, to general, to the senator who inadvertently ushers in the Emperor’s reign of terror.

But how was he manipulated by a snide galactic civil servant into proposing that Chancellor Palpatine

Ever wonder how long Bill Murray’s character was stuck in ‘Groundhog Day’ for? Well a film blog has worked it out for you: 33 years and 350 days.

[Related story: Bill Murray: 'No one recognises me']

Sonny & Cher... Phil was woken by his clock radio an apparently 12,395 times. (Credit: Rex)

Four days ago the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, celebrated Groundhog day – the annual event based around a prophetic rodent’s ability to foresee the early arrival of spring. The tradition was popularised by the 1993 film of the same name starring Bill Murray as sardonic TV weatherman Phil Connors, fated to repeat the same day in Punxsutawney over and over again.

Now, to celebrate 20 years of the iconic 1993 comedy, WhatCulture.com has worked just how long Phil Connors spent limbo. Amazingly, the torturous time equates to repeating the same day 12,395 times. Check out the blog here.

Murray's character falls into madness and depression before finding an escape in Rita. (Credit: Rex)

Director and fellow ‘Ghostbuster’ Harold Ramis originally stated that he thought Murray’s character had been stuck in Punxsutawney for ten years, however in 2009 he admitted the estimate was far too