Sparkly Tatler party

It is uncertain whether Guy Fawkes was a singleton. But this did not deter Tatler magazine from hosting its Little Black Book Party on Bonfire Night in honour of Britain's 200 most eligible dates.

Sparks flew across Tramp nightclub in Jermyn Street as Lord Freddie Windsor met pop singer Holly Valance. "I was very happy to be pictured with her," he said.

Oscar Humphries, 22-year-old son of Dame Edna comic Barry, turned up with his new 16-year-old friend Grace Pilkington. She is less than half the age of Jimmy Choo boss Tamara Mellon with whom he has reportedly broken up.

At least Miss Valance had the grace to turn up. It has become a tradition for the most eligible to be otherwise engaged on the evening of the party.

There was no sign of Hollywood actors Orlando Bloom or Keira Knightley who topped this year's list.

But there were models and supermodels galore (Jemma Kidd, Ines Sastre), plutocrats (Peter Soros), a smattering of Rothschilds (James and Alice), a couple of Spencer-Churchills, a brace of marquesses (Bristol and Worcester), members of the rockocracy (Kate Sumner, daughter of Sting, and Fifi Trixiebell, daughter of Bob Geldof), fashion muses (Lady Eloise Anson), fashion heiresses (Francesca Versace) and even a genuine Bright Young Thing, Fenella Woolgar, who was Lady Agatha Runcible in Stephen Fry's recent film.

Some of the 250 guests were glad not to be featured in the Black Book. Stylist Hannah Sandling said: "I would rather not be on the list because I am very down to earth and I would rather get on with my dustmen," she said.

Model Saffron Aldridge was in the mood for a date. "I ought to find myself a young one here tonight," she said. "I am 36 and have been around on the party circuit for 10 years."

If only she had snapped up Jacobi Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, who was number seven in the list of eligible men. The 20-year-old member of the Prince William set is another young blade with a penchant for older women. He revealed he had just split up with model Natasha Elms,who is 28.

Lady Victoria Hervey, 27, was feeling a little out of her depth. "I think it's a lot younger this year," she said.

As the evening drew to a close Freddie Windsor took to the dancefloor but there was no repeat performance of his snog with Sophie Dahl at last year's party. Instead he exchanged telephone numbers with the object of his affection who melted away into the night.

It was that sort of party. No fireworks but just a few bright (and not so bright) sparks.