
How to bring timeless British interior design trends into your home
The joy of British decorating is that it cannot be summed up in just one style. The various types of British home run the gamut from dinky stone cottage to rambling country pile; modern city penthouse to classic Victorian terrace via 1930s semi; and the styles in which they might be decorated are equally as eclectic. As Phaidon publishes a new interior design bible, we look at the British rooms featured within its pages, and the decorating styles they espouse.
Modern botanical
Ben Pentreath, the King's designer of choice, is known for creating timeless, layered rooms that are full of interest and detail, but never overwhelm. Floral prints are a recurring theme in his work: 'Floral patterns have enduring appeal because they so beautifully relate a room to the nature that abounds just beyond the windows or doors,' he says.
Here, at a cottage on the Cornish coast that he decorated for a family, he has brought in a blend of patterns and colours that feel both classical and fresh. In the guest bedroom, a Chesterfield sofa covered in a Robert Kime suzani print has been teamed with a willow-motif wallpaper and floral curtains by Morris & Co, whose designs he favours because 'the balance of scale, leaf, form, and repeat is essentially serene'. A dark wood antique side table completes the look.
Idea to steal: Counterbalance a floral or botanical scheme with a monochrome artwork: here, a set of William Kentridge engravings has been hung against the Morris wallpaper, striking a note of modern contrast.
Floral maximalism
It takes a certain confidence to mix several different floral prints successfully, as the textile designer Nathalie Farman-Farma has done at her family home, a Georgian townhouse in London. In the main bedroom, several different patterns have been used on the walls and the bed, yet the overall effect is calming, thanks to the designer's clever choices, and the symmetry of the pictures hung above the bed.
Idea to steal: When mixing prints, choose one to use as the starting point: here, colours from the floral fabric on the headboard have been picked out in the burgundy-and-white wallpaper, and the blue-and-white bedspread.
Matchy-matchy
In the dining room of the same house, Farman-Farma lined the walls and the windows in the same, punchy print – a toile by the French brand Braquenié – so that when the curtains are drawn in the evening, the room is enveloped in the pattern. She has hung mirrors and framed fabric samples on top of the wallpaper – again, symmetry comes into play with their arrangement – and antique bobbin chairs add a playful touch. The round dining table encourages conviviality and conversation, and makes the best use of space in the square-shaped room.
Idea to steal: Farman-Farma chose a rich, rusty red paint for the fire surrounding and the panelling on the lower part of the wall, which matches the colour of the largest flowers in the print on the wallpaper and curtains. Picking out one shade from a patterned wallpaper in this way, to use on skirting boards and window frames, helps to tie the decor of a room together.
Monochrome
Decorating in a monochrome palette needn't result in a bland, boring room, as long as you pay attention to texture. This living room in a London house was previously painted white, which made it feel 'cold, dark and slightly unloved', according to designer Clare Gaskin, who coated it in a deep navy blue. The fireplace, the panelling on the lower part of the wall and the cornice are painted in Dock Blue by Little Greene, and a matching seagrass wallcovering by Thibaut has been applied above the dado rail. 'The layering of textures played well with the natural and artificial light in the room,' she says. The colour has also been used on furniture and furnishings, including the footstool and cushions, to enhance the cosy feel of the room.
Idea to steal: Metallic accents, as in the drinks trolley, floor lamp and side table here, help to lift a dark and moody monochrome scheme. Deep-coloured walls are also an excellent foil for fresh greenery, which pops against the navy blue in this room.
Timeless with a twist
A smattering of antiques is essential to the work of designer Henriette von Stockhausen. 'Antiques tell a story, providing a lived-in look that many country houses achieve naturally as they're handed from one generation to the next,' she says. 'Here they help the room feel settled and lived-in, despite the fact that it's been newly created.'
The room in question is a bedroom in a Georgian country house in Wiltshire, and its decorative jumping-off point was the antique suzani covering the headboard of the bespoke four-poster bed. 'I pulled all the other colours, accents and general feeling for the room from there,' says von Stockhausen. Other key pieces include a Gustavian-style chest of drawers painted blue, a chinoiserie writing desk and an Italian-style armoire: the mix of antiques from different periods prevents the room from looking stuffy or overly traditional.
Idea to steal: While not every bedroom can accommodate a four-poster of this size, the cosseting effect of the deep blue interior of the canopy here could be recreated on a smaller scale with a simple mini canopy above the bed – see interior designer Beata Heuman's bedroom for inspiration.
Rustic farmhouse
When model and writer Saffron Aldridge found this early twentieth century Hebridean farmhouse, her aim was to revive it from its formerly ruinous state, without losing its original character. She teamed up with designer Scarlett Supple (the pair have since formed the design practice Aldridge & Supple) to work on the renovation, which involved rebuilding the fireplace wall in the sitting room. The sandstone used for the wall was left raw, giving it an aged look, heightened by the limewash walls and wooden floors. 'To soften these materials, we used a mixture of textiles, layering heavy weaves, wool and textured linens to create a cosy and warm feeling,' says Supple.
Key to the comfortable look is the mix of rough and smooth surfaces – for example, the contrast between the well-worn coffee table and the sleek, wool-covered sofa and leather armchair.
Idea to steal: In a high-ceilinged room, an oversized accessory works wonders: the table lamp on the side table acts as a stylish punctuation mark.
Tailored
Men's suiting was partly the inspiration for this home by interior designer Natalia Miyar – a very chic version of a modern bachelor pad. Her client's art collection also provided visual cues, for example in the palette, which is mainly cream, warmed by accents of soft brown and blue. The mix of textures adds richness: from the bouclé sofas, leather chairs and fumed-wood coffee table to the rugged vases and cosy wool throw. 'A space should appeal to all the senses,' she says. 'When each item has its own texture, it creates something tactile and one-of-a-kind when combined. Even the scent of natural materials can be evocative.'
Idea to steal: Most rooms can take a black accent or two, particularly one with off-white walls, as here. The black side tables, picture frames and candlesticks contrast with the softer colours and bring a little energy and edge.
Organic modern
One might think the modernist look is all straight lines and sharp corners, but not so in the library of this London apartment by architect Sally Mackereth. While the envelope of the room – its 1960s aluminium-framed windows and double-height bookshelves – introduces a clean-lined verticality, the organic forms of the furniture act as a pleasing counterpoint. The curved sofa is Verner Panton's Cloverleaf design from 1969, while the yellow sofa is the Relax model by Florence Knoll, from the 1950s; the animal-print cushions add a dash of playful pattern.
Idea to steal: The bookshelves here are a lesson in effective arrangement: books are displayed in different ways – some standing, some stacked – and interspersed with the odd lamp, picture or sculpture for visual interest.
Moody
An 'in the gloaming' vibe was the mood designer Faye Toogood wanted to create in this London bedroom. The polished-plaster walls and oak parquet floors are drenched in a palette of dusky hues that changes with the light, creating an atmosphere dedicated to promoting sleep. The bespoke tapestry above the bed, by craftsman Philip Sanderson, completes the textural palette.
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Scotsman
10 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Art reviews: Gray's School of Art Degree Show
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Gray's School of Art Degree Show, Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen ★★★★ Glasgow School of Art MFA Show, The Glue Factory, Glasgow ★★★★ Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Gray's School of Art Degree Show marks the beginning of a new chapter this year with all fine art disciplines being taught under a single banner (this is due to happen at Edinburgh College of Art next year). We will see, in time, what effect this has on the different disciplines. This year, painting predominates, as it does at the other schools, with a corresponding reduction in sculpture, installation and lens-based work. Installation view of the Gray's School of Art Degree Show 2025 | Contributed What is clear from the off is that Gray's students have thought long and hard not only about the kind of work they want to make but how to create an exhibition. They have also worked hard on the artist statements which accompany each show, in most cases providing information which improves one's appreciation of the work. Nearly half the 50-strong cohort are painters, and some are some outstanding. Nicole Mackintosh's figurative paintings capture moments in time - family celebrations, friends' birthday parties, moments which matter - but which we rarely take the time to value. Anna Swapp does something similar without the people, painting the rooms in her late grandmother's house with fond attention: the chair with its imprint of the sitter, the clothes hung on the back of a door. Ellie McAllan ponders a different family home, its wallpaper and objects, as well as Aberdeen itself. She combines painting and digital print, which can be tricky to pull off but she does it seamlessly. Mairi Blair's paintings are self portraits from different points in her life, exploring how ballet became important to her having battled childhood cancer. They are poignant and well executed. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sign up to our FREE Arts & Culture newsletter at Sophie Scott picks out details from Victorian and Georgian portraits - a gesture of a hand, a piece of jewellery - thinking about the subtle nuances of female experience. Marisa Parker is inspired by the women of Hollywood's golden age, and the uncomfortable territory between beauty and exploitation. Some of her paintings are on vintage furniture. Faith Woolsey paints people and still lifes, exploring how memory works by creating two slightly different versions of the same scene, or blurring certain parts of a composition. Yasmin Brown homes in on the smallest of details - a ribbon, a piece of masking tape - investing significance in the tiniest of things while hinting at larger meanings. Hollie Stitt paints on laser cut MDF, using irony and a touch of humour to challenge perceptions around addiction. Amie Paton takes on American politics, using collage, satire and the inspiration of street art to offer critique, defiance and even optimism. Emily McLatchie paints lovely abstract works using earth pigments. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Work by Claire Carey at the Gray's School of Art Degree Show 2025 | Contributed Several students are deeply concerned with the human impact on the environment. Lisa Caddell shows humanity's rabid consumption in the form of an open mouth, while depicting threatened species on beautiful tear-shaped ceramic discs. Leona Andrew's 'eco prints' look lovely hanging from tree branches, while Kiera Walsh's impressive and intricate textile mobile celebrates all species, down to the tiniest amoeba. Claire Maria Carey's film Always Threatened, Never Bitten succinctly explores toxic relationships by showing a young woman being lunged at by a barely restrained German Shepherd. Another three-screen work, Just Breathe, is equally powerful, exploring the shower as a private space to recover and regroup. Keira Cormack's work talks about brokenness - the audience walk over a film of smashed china - and about her distance from her Russian heritage. Matthew Urquhart is one of very few sculptors. He is interested in how we inhabit architecture and how it shapes who we become. The works in his show are theatrical and thought-provoking, making use of wide range of materials. Arabella Joy Sciallo seeks to make breath tangible through line drawings and hundreds of delicate ceramic pebbles. Visitors are invited to linger, listen to breathing exercises and balance them on top of one another to make their own towers. Work by Julita Hanlon at the Glasgow School of Art MFA Degree Show 2025 | Contributed Meanwhile, the graduates of Glasgow School of Art's international, interdisciplinary MFA course presented their show at the Glue Factory, which has evolved over the years from a grungy post-industrial space into a grungy post-industrial space with white cube galleries attached. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The MFA course is celebrated in contemporary art circles and draws students from around the world, some of whom are coming to art from different educational disciplines. Hwa-jin Seo is a literature graduate and a published novelist in Korea. She has developed a visual art practice in part inspired by her writing. Her impressive paintings have words woven through them and each is accompanied by a prose poem. Adia (Xinyi He) is an economics graduate from China. She uses tactile materials like tempera and plaster to create small, expressive semi-abstract paintings. American Matthew Kriske is a skilled painter in watercolour, capturing 'memories, real and imagined' presented in the style of polaroid photographs. His paintings are accompanied by a fragmented first person narrative playing on an analogue tape recorder. Sophia Arcontis works with photography, writing and electronic music, but it is the quality of her hand-written texts which really make her work stand out. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Isaac Willis has an intriguing painting language which draws on a range of source material from art history to cartoon characters. Sarah Palmer paints large stylised landscapes, apparently exploring what it means to look at landscape in a world saturated by web-based imagery. Han Chen Liu works with a mixture of oil paint and Chinese ink and is a superb painter of animals. Richard Domenico Ehlert is principally a printmaker. His work for the MFA show combines prints with dried flower petals; it's a reminder that it's okay for art to be beautiful. Douglas Rogerson works with printmaking and found materials. His weathered tones and textures fit in so well in the grungiest part of the Glue Factory that you have to look more than once to see them. William Armstrong is interested in the urban environment and has a practice of walking - more unusual in Canada, where he is from, than in Glasgow. He often paints on materials he finds, such as discarded road signs, framing the pedestrian as the interloper in environments of urban wasteground and character-free retail parks. Sophie Stewart's work explores the contemporary work environment. Her wheatpasted prints of back alleys and bins are olefactory too, with the addition of cigarette essence and beer. Nidhi Bodana, originally from India, is interested in unheard voices and has made an impressive installation from materials such as facial wipes and hair extensions, called Erased Layers: A Landscape of Hidden Stories, which is accompanied by a performance and text. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Katie Grenville's work celebrates crafts and traditions with painting, sculpture and a film featuring a haunting folk song. Julita Hanlon's thoughtful work about communication, being a stranger, and the meaning of home can be found throughout the space. The distance between these Masters students and the cohort of new graduates seems less of a chasm this year, not because of anything lacking in the MFA course, but because the best work in the graduate shows ranks high both in ambition and technical skill, not just in Glasgow but across the country.


Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Original EastEnders cast now from huge Hollywood role to tragically early death
EastEnders first hit our TV screens 40 years ago but what happened to the original Albert Square cast EastEnders might be the quintessential British soap, woven into the fabric of UK culture with its beloved characters, tangled family dramas, and decades of tradition known to generations of viewers. Since its explosive debut in 1985, the show has undergone dramatic transformations - both on screen and off. From cherished icons who have sadly passed, to cast members who found fame in Hollywood or left the spotlight entirely, here's a look at the original EastEnders cast and where they are now, 40 years later. Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) Central to many major plots, the landlord 'Dirty Den' is one of the most iconic characters in the history of British soaps. In real life, Leslie Grantham's life was full of controversy from before even joining the show. While serving the British army in West Germany in 1965, Grantham attempted to rob a taxi driver and ended up shooting him in the head. He was convicted of murder and spent 10 years in prison, and decided to pursue acting after being released. After his EastEnders days - which ended because of an internet sex scandal he became involved in - he appeared in two UK tours of a stage adaptation of Beyond Reasonable Doubt, starred in police drama series The Bill, and had a cameo in the 25th anniversary episode of EastEnders. Grantham passed away in 2018, aged 71, of lung cancer. Dot Cotton (June Brown) Few characters in British soap history are as recognisable - or as beloved - as Dot Cotton. Played by June Brown, Dot was introduced in 1985 as a laundrette worker with a complicated son and a deep sense of morality. June Brown stayed with the show, on and off, for 35 years. She made her final on-screen appearance in 2020, when Dot left Walford for Ireland. The BBC made clear the door was left open for her return, even leaving her dressing room untouched. But June died in April 2022, aged 95. Her impact was such that Dot's off-screen death was treated with reverence in a special episode later that year. Brown, who had been partially blind in her later years, was awarded an MBE in 2008 and a lifetime achievement award at the 2005 British Soap Awards. Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard) Pauline was the heart of Albert Square's longest-running family, the Fowlers. Pauline's storylines spanned domestic abuse, teenage pregnancy, and family tragedy - culminating in her dramatic death on Christmas Day 2006, after being struck with a frying pan and left to die in the snow. Wendy Richard, a veteran of Are You Being Served?, remained on EastEnders for over two decades. Her departure marked the end of an era. She was diagnosed with cancer shortly after leaving the show and died in 2009, aged 65. Richard had received an MBE in 2000 and remains one of the soap's most iconic faces. Angie Watts (Anita Dobson) The original Queen Vic landlady, Anita Dobson played Angie with raw emotional depth, especially during the infamous 1986 Christmas Day episode where Den handed Angie divorce papers. Dobson left in 1988, despite producers pleading for her to stay. Angie was later killed off-screen in 2002, having died from alcohol poisoning. Anita, now 75, went on to enjoy a successful career in theatre and TV, including Doctor Who and Call the Midwife. She married Queen guitarist Brian May in 2000 and remains one of the most respected actors to come out of the show. Arthur Fowler (Bill Treacher) Arthur Fowler was the everyman of EastEnders: kind, flawed, and a victim of life's pressures. Treacher asked to leave the show in 1995 after being warned that the stress of filming could be fatal. Arthur was written out in a powerful storyline that ended in his death from a brain haemorrhage. Bill went on to appear in George and the Dragon alongside Patrick Swayze and continued acting until the early 2000s. He died in 2022 at the age of 92. Nick Cotton (John Altman) The villain you loved to hate, with his sneering grin and leather jacket, Nick Cotton was EastEnders' first true bad boy. John Altman played Nick across multiple stints from 1985 to 2015. His final appearance saw Nick die of a heroin overdose in front of Dot - a grim end to one of the Square's most notorious characters. Altman, now 72, has appeared in The Real Marigold Hotel, indie films, and continues to work, including roles in horror and theatre. Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) Introduced as the adopted daughter of Den and Angie, Sharon was the glam of EastEnders throughout the '90s, involved in love triangles and betrayals. Letitia Dean left the show in 1995, returned in 2001, left again in 2006, and came back for good in 2012. Now 57, she remains a central figure in Walford, with major storylines as recently as 2024. Dean has remained fiercely private off-screen but is one of the few original characters still part of the current cast. Michelle Fowler (Susan Tully) Michelle made headlines from the moment she first appeared, thanks to the storyline involving her teenage pregnancy. Susan Tully played her until 1995, after which she stepped away from acting entirely. She re-emerged behind the camera, directing episodes of Silent Witness, Line of Duty, and The A Word. Now 57, she is considered one of the UK's most respected TV directors. When Michelle returned to the show in 2016, she was played by a new actress, Jenna Russell. Ethel Skinner (Gretchen Franklin) A gossip with a heart of gold, Ethel Skinner was a former music hall star who brought old-school charm to Walford. Her most moving storyline came in 2000, when, gravely ill, she asked her best friend Dot to help end her life - an episode that pushed the BBC into controversy territory. It was also Franklin's final performance. She died in 2005 aged 94, having reportedly insisted Ethel never be recast. Pete Beale (Peter Dean) Pete Beale was a rough-edged but well-meaning character, married to Pat, then Kathy, and clashing frequently with son Ian. Peter Dean played Pete until 1993, when the character was killed off-screen in a car crash during a dramatic twist by new producers. Dean later criticised the decision, saying he was 'devastated' not to film his exit. The actor made a few TV appearances afterwards - including The Real EastEnders - but mostly stepped back from the limelight, and is now in his early 80s. Lofty Holloway (Tom Watt) In a square full of loudmouths and schemers, Lofty Holloway was kind-hearted and socially awkward and painfully sincere. His exit in 1988 was equally low-key: a letter and a goodbye. Tom Watt made a surprise return for Lofty in 2019 during the funeral of Dr. Legg, but otherwise, he went on to become a football writer and ghost-wrote David Beckham's autobiography. Though rarely seen on screen these days, he's found success behind the scenes in sports broadcasting. Lou Beale (Anna Wing) The Beale matriarch was the first character to be created for EastEnders, and got killed off in 1988 - but not before making it clear to her nearest and dearest exactly what she thought of each of them. She even managed to come to a truce with nemesis Pat. After leaving EastEnders, Wing still worked on stage productions, had numerous television roles, and appeared alongside Orlando Bloom in The Calcium Kid. She also had roles in critically acclaimed films and earned an MBE in 2006. Wing died at the age of 98 from natural causes. Sue Osman (Sandy Ratcliff) One half of Walford's first married couple, Sue Osman was at the centre of one of EastEnders' earliest and most harrowing storylines - the sudden death of her baby from cot death. The powerful plot helped establish the show's reputation for tackling real-life issues head-on. Sue struggled with mental health in later episodes before being written out in 1989. Off-screen, actress Sandy Ratcliff battled addiction, but later retrained as a counsellor. She died in 2019, aged 70. Simon Wicks (Nick Berry) A teenage heartthrob, Simon Wicks quickly became one of EastEnders' most popular early characters. His love triangles, family feuds, and musical talents earned him a brief pop career – including a No. 1 hit with Every Loser Wins. After leaving the soap in 1990, Nick Berry found further fame in Heartbeat and later ran his own production company. Now 61, he's retired from acting and lives a quiet life away from the spotlight. Dr Legg (Leonard Fenton) One of Albert Square's quietest figures, Dr Legg was a comforting presence through the show's early years. Though he left full-time in 1997, he returned regularly for weddings, funerals, and major moments. His final appearance in 2019, when the character died of pancreatic cancer, gave long-time fans a moving farewell. Leonard Fenton died in 2022, aged 95. Mary Smith (Linda Davidson) Known as 'Mary the Punk,' she was one of the Square's most striking residents: a single mum with bright hair, attitude, and a complicated life. Mary's struggles with parenting and sex work pushed boundaries at the time, but her exit in 1988 came quietly. Linda Davidson left acting in the '90s to work behind the scenes at the BBC and later held executive roles at major digital companies, including the Jamie Oliver Group. Tony Carpenter (Oscar James) As one of the first Black characters on EastEnders, Tony Carpenter made TV history. A builder with a quick temper and a complicated family life, he stayed in Walford for just two years. A fter the soap, Oscar James appeared in everything from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to Shakespeare. Now 82, he's retired from acting. Ali Osman (Nejdet Salih) Taxi driver Ali Osman had a turbulent time in Walford, involving gambling problems, money struggles, and the heartbreak of losing his son Hassan. His relationship with Sue was central to the show's early drama. Ali left the Square in 1989, and actor Nejdet Salih made only a few small TV appearances afterward. He later had a role in the Pirates of the Caribbean films and still acts occasionally. Kelvin Carpenter (Paul J. Medford) One of the Square's smartest teens, Kelvin Carpenter balanced school, ambition, and working-class grit. He stood out as a rare positive portrayal of Black youth on '80s TV. Kelvin left in 1987 to go to university, and Paul J. Medford moved into stage roles before transitioning to a successful executive career. Since 2019, he's been a vice-president at Nickelodeon. Debbie Wilkins (Shirley Cheriton) Debbie Wilkins was the Square's arty, middle-class outsider - a university-educated character who stood out among her less academic neighbours. She left in 1987 after a short run and never returned. Actress Shirley Cheriton largely stepped back from the spotlight, but had a handful of roles on stage and TV, including the 2009 comedy FM. She's now 69. Andy O'Brien (Ross Davidson) A mild-mannered nurse, Andy O'Brien made EastEnders history by being the first character ever killed off - in a dramatic road accident in 1986. Actor Ross Davidson later starred in Brookside and Hollyoaks before passing away from brain cancer in 2006, aged 57. Saeed Jeffrey (Andrew Johnson) Saeed Jeffrey, Walford's shopkeeper, had a short and troubled time on the Square. His arranged marriage to Naima and cultural struggles caused controversy both in and outside the show, and he left after just ten months. Actor Andrew Johnson moved to the US, where he appeared in Murder, She Wrote and Inspector Morse, before stepping away from acting. Now 70, his last known screen role was in 2019.


Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Cynthia Erivo crowned best actress at BET Awards
Cynthia Erivo crowned best actress at BET Awards There were also awards for Doechii and Kendrick Lamar British singer and actress Cynthia Erivo was crowned best actress at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards (Image: Invision ) British singer and actress Cynthia Erivo was crowned best actress at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards in Los Angeles. Hosted by Kevin Hart, Monday's BET Awards celebrated the work of black people in music, entertainment, film, sports and philanthropy. The London-born star, who rose to worldwide prominence last year for her role in Wicked, was also nominated for the BET Her Award - which recognises empowering songs that focus on women - for her rendition of Defying Gravity. Grammy Award-winning rapper Doechii used her acceptance speech to sharply criticise US President Donald Trump's handling of protests in Los Angeles. Collecting the award for best female hip-hop artist, she accused the president of "creating fear and chaos" in his response to demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, which sparked days of protest across the city. "I do want to address what's happening right now, outside the building," she said. Article continues below "These are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities. In the name of law and order, Trump is using military forces to stop a protest, and I want you all to consider what kind of government it appears to be, when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us." Mr Trump announced plans to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to California to quell the protests, which began on Friday. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the move was "essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States". The decision drew sharp criticism from Democratic politicians, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, who called the move "purposefully inflammatory". London-based girl-group FLO missed out after picking up nominations for best group and the Bet Her award for their track In My Bag, featuring GloRilla. Fellow UK artists Bashy and Ezra Collective earned nominations for best international artist, while multi-genre artist Odeal and R&B singer kwn were shortlisted for best new international act. Kendrick Lamar, who led the pack with 10 nominations, took home awards for album of the year and best male hip-hop artist. He also won video of the year and video director of the year for his hit Not Like Us, as well as best collaboration for Luther, his track with SZA SZA won best female R&B/pop artist, while Chris Brown took home best male R&B/pop artist. Article continues below The evening featured a star-studded cast, including actor Jamie Foxx, with performances by Ashanti, Mariah Carey and GloRilla. Foxx, Carey, gospel star Kirk Franklin and Snoop Dogg were honoured with the ultimate icon award for their contributions to community, entertainment, and advocacy. Miles Canton, Luke James and Lucky Daye delivered an R&B tribute to Quincy Jones, who died in November.