Once upon a time, a Blue Carpet was rolled out and sprinkled liberally with magic dust, as the stars and their adorably costumed miniguests arrived for the world premiere of Nanny McPhee at London's Empire Cinema in Leicester Square.

Without having to wave his wand [read into this what you will, as is fairytale], a tanned and bearded Colin Firth enthusiastically greeted fans and turned their knees to jelly before and after the film. Sir Lotsoflocks had arrived from his current shoot in Slovakia—or faux 5th-century Britannia—with perennial co-star Thomas Sangster, who is rapidly gaining ground on Jim Carter. [Please, somebody, send Jim a script!]  Emma Thompson was overheard to say, "You've got a beard," to which the Luscious Legionnaire being hugged replied, "That's right, makes me folky and approachable." And huggable too.

The warty, snaggled-toothed nanny was not in evidence, except for her magic stick that was used to start the screening. She had been replaced by the glamorous Emma Thompson, who also wrote the screenplay. Fellow cast members Kelly Macdonald, Celia Imrie, Imelda Staunton, and Phyllida Law joined in the festivities.