BRITWEEK’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY GALA WAS HELD LAST SUNDAY MAY 1ST, 2016.
IT BROUGHT OUT SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST STARS AND CELEBRATED EVERYTHING BRITISH
By Karen Ostlund in Santa Monica
Red carpet photos by GettyImages
Red carpet photos by GettyImages
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| Left, Producer/tv personality Nigel Lythgoe with Britweek Founders Sharon Peirce and Bob Peirce |
Host Nigel Lythgoe and Ross King and the Britweek Board of Directors presented the BritWeek LA Gala at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica with celebrity appearances and performances.
Last Sunday May 1st, 2016, the 10th Anniversary of BritWeek LA opened to a packed house at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica featuring celebrity appearances including: Co-Founders of BritWeek Bob Peirce and Sharon Harroun Peirce, Celia Imrie (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Downtown Abbey, Absolutely Fabulous), Huw Collins (Pretty Little Liars), Kathryn Prescott (Finding Carter, Skins), Nigel Lythgoe, Darren McGrady (former Royal Chef to HRH Princess Diana), Harry Hamlin, British music industry legend Peter Asher, Fred Willard, Karina Smirnoff, Lotte Verbeek (Agent Carter, Outlander, The Last Witch Hunter), and many more.
The event also featured all-star performances from Alexander Jean comprised of Dancing with the Stars’ Mark Ballas and his fiancé BC Jean, Season 7 contestant of American Idol Carly Smithson, and "So You Think You Can Dance" winner Fik-Shun introduced by Nigel Lythgoe.
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| Left, Actor Fred Willard, Mary Willard and actor Alan Shearman |
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| BJ Jean and musician Mark Ballas from Alexander Jean |
Guests were treated to some of the most beloved sweets and treats from the UK, and were able to sample former
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| Royal Chef Darren McGrady |
McGrady's confections included his famous Butter Toffee Bread Pudding, a favorite of HRH Princess Diana, as well as his Chocolate Biscuit Cake which he has prepared for Princes Harry and William and chocolate birthday cake prepared for HRM Queen Elizabeth. Guests also indulged in other British food staples including fish and chips and meat pies provided by FIG Restaurant.
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| Actor Harry Hamlin |
"BritWeek's Tenth Anniversary was our best celebration to date, highlighting the great creative love affair between L.A. and the U.K.", said BritWeek Chairman Bob Peirce prior to the event taking place. " We are grateful for all of the celebrities, partners, media and guests that came out to celebrate with us at the Fairmont."
The event was sponsored by Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, BBC Worldwide Productions, Marks & Spencer, and BLUE FISH among other generous sponsors.
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| Musician Peter Asher performed |
BritWeek is a non-profit organization, started in Los Angeles in 2007 by Nigel Lythgoe and then Consul General Bob Peirce, to highlight the creative fusion between the United Kingdom, California and Miami. BritWeek’s mission is to create greater awareness of the many ways in which Britain and the US work closely together, and to further build this relationship to advance business, the arts and philanthropy in both of these thriving regions of the world.
BritWeek continues to be a landmark event bringing together the best entertainers of the UK and the US, while supporting noble causes. BritWeek in LA will conclude on May 8th.
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| Left, costume designer Julia Clancey and Lady Victoria Hervey |
For more information on BritWeek and upcoming events: http://www.britweek.org/
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| Christopher Guy and actress Angela Vitale |