Entertainment

John Boyega, Marcus Rashford and Michaela Coel among GQ winners

The GQ Men Of The Year Awards, in association with Hugo Boss, were shown on British GQ’s YouTube channel.
The GQ Men Of The Year Awards, in association with Hugo Boss, were shown on British GQ’s YouTube channel. The GQ Men Of The Year Awards, in association with Hugo Boss, were shown on British GQ’s YouTube channel.

Star Wars actor John Boyega, actress Michaela Coel and England footballer Marcus Rashford were among the stars honoured at this year’s GQ Men Of The Year awards.

Boyega was named winner of the icon award, with Chewing Gum star Coel named the creative icon winner and Rashford awarded the campaigner honour at the virtual ceremony.

GQ’s annual event, which celebrates men and women who have helped to shape the world’s cultural landscape in style, politics, entertainment and sport, was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic, and was hosted by Jack Whitehall.

Speaking from the London Coliseum, the comedian quipped: “Theatres, remember them?”

Manchester United star Rashford, 23, has won widespread praise and an MBE following his successful lobbying of the Government for the extension of free school meals.

A video showed him dressed in a tuxedo taking a cooking class at his old primary school, before accepting his award in a classroom.

Marcus Rashford (GQ/PA)

Boyega spoke of his own heroes, including his mother and fellow actor Daniel Kaluuya. He said the honour would drive him to inspire others.

I May Destroy You star Coel was seen watching celebratory video messages from musician FKA Twigs, fashion model Adwoa Aboah and poet Caleb Femi.

Speaking about her hit BBC One programme, which tackles the effects of sexual assault, she said: “I want to say thank you for this award. It’s been a lot. The show was a lot. It was a lot of pain. It was a lot of joy. I feel very honoured to receive this award.”

Michaela Coel (GQ/PA)

Normal People star Paul Mescal was named the breakthrough actor, with Captain Marvel actress Lashana Lynch the breakthrough actress.

Lynch will next be seen playing Double-0 agent Nomi in Daniel Craig’s final outing as superspy James Bond in the delayed No Time To Die.

At the awards, she featured in a sketch where she faced a lie detector test and was questioned over her knowledge about who had been cast as the next Bond.

Lashana Lynch (GQ/PA)

The GQ awards also honoured Patrick Hutchinson, a personal trainer who made headlines after he was photographed in London during a Black Lives Matter protest this year, helping an injured counter-protester to safety.

Mr Hutchinson was named the winner of the humanitarian award.

Captain Sir Tom Moore, who recently became GQ’s oldest cover star, was honoured with the inspiration gong.

The 100-year-old Second World War veteran has raised more than £32 million for the NHS by walking laps of his garden.

He was seen in a humorous sketch apparently performing backflips.

Captain Sir Tom Moore
Captain Sir Tom Moore Captain Sir Tom Moore (Jacob King/PA)

Author, artist and illustrator Charlie Mackesy, whose book The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse has been a bestseller, won the artist award.

Musicians Ozzy Osbourne and Shawn Mendes were presented with gongs too, with Osbourne given a lifetime achievement award while Mendes was named solo artist winner.

Black Sabbath frontman Osbourne revealed at the beginning of this year that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Good Morning Britain’s Piers Morgan was named the winner of the TV personality award, with designer Tommy Hilfiger honoured as the design legend.

Ahead of the ceremony, racing driver Lewis Hamilton was named game changer of the year.

The GQ Men Of The Year Awards, in association with Hugo Boss, were shown on British GQ’s YouTube channel.