It was like a night at the Oscars. Waterford Wedgwood shareholders were treated yesterday to interviews with Santo Versace, a glimpse of Naomi Campbell and not to be outdone local celebrity, Carrie Crowley. More than 100 shareholders crowded into a Dublin hotel to view a special satellite link-up with the group's annual general meeting in London. With the lights dimmed, shareholders watched as chairman, Dr Tony O'Reilly, came into focus from London. Bathed in the glow of flashing lights from the assembled photographers, he quickly calmed things down and opened the show.

Welcoming the Irish share holders, he assured them that he had a good view. "It's like a Catholic Church, you're all at the back with very few at the front," he told them.

The hour and a half extravaganza kicked off with the auditor's report. After his few minutes in the limelight, the Price Waterhouse accountant stepped clear of the podium. But he had hardly reached his seat before the chairman passed judgment on his company's fees. "I know why you're called Price Waterhouse," he chided, warning that he intended to take PW to task after the meeting.

It was Waterford Wedgwood's 50th a.g.m.. Last year, the company promised to try to facilitate its Irish shareholders by organising the electronic link-up. And while there were some serious technical hitches at the previous night's rehearsals, fortunately for all concerned, the satellite link-up only seemed to crackle yesterday when someone other than Dr O'Reilly was on camera.

The chairman told shareholders about the strength of the company's brands throughout the world. But they didn't just have to take his word for it, he said, introducing a presentation featuring Waterford's own Carrie Crowley. Shareholders were immediately whisked around the world, as Ms Crowley interviewed analysts and buyers in its key US, European and Japanese markets, who all spoke glowingly about the brands.

Santo Versace, brother of the late designer, Gianni, told of how much his brother had loved designing for the group's Rosenthal range. "It was his favourite gift to his friends."

The shareholders were truly wowed. When invited to ask questions, those gathered in London were speechless. While the Irish shareholders could not actively participate in the meeting under current company law, they were allowed to address questions to the board after the meeting, via satellite.

Not as shy as their London counterparts, five shareholders queued up to make their big screen debut.

One suggested the board might be wise to note the greater level of interest in the company's affairs shown by Irish shareholders compared with their London counterparts. "Maybe this should influence the location of next year's a.g.m.," he said.