From Kate Moss to Ed Sheeran: Dave Benett’s best pictures of 2022

Evening Standard photographer Dave Benett has snapped the most coveted parties and red carpets over the course of his four-decade long career.

With the capital back in full-swing post-Covid, Benett was in high demand to capture the year’s biggest showbiz events, and was ready give fans of the A-list a glimpse, or more like a lens, behind the glitziest soirees.

The Standard’s chief entertainment photographer has snapped a slew of celebrities, from Adele to Naomi Campbell, over the past 12 months as he covered events such as November’s Fashion Awards, the BRIT Awards in February, and March’s BAFTAs.

Here, we take a look back at his year in pictures – and the glamorous moments that made 2022 one to remember.

Hostess with the mostest Rebel Wilson got acquainted with her audience ahead of March’s EE British Academy Film Awards in a rather unusual way.

The Australian actor and comedian posed alongside cardboard cut-outs of the stars set to attend the biggest night in British film at London’s Royal Albert Hall for a tongue-in-cheek photocall.

Dressed in an one-shouldered gown, Wilson looked effortlessly glam ahead of the first BAFTA Awards to take place in-person since the organisations’s 2020 diversity review – and when the event came around no one was spared from Wilson’s numerous barbs during the 2022 ceremony.

One of her memorable quips from the evening was: “Whenever I want to make myself cry, I think how much The Rock was paid for ‘Jungle Cruise.’”

Idris Elba and Christian Louboutin looked as though they couldn’t have had any more fun than they tried as they partied at a launch event in Mayfair.

The pair were in high spirits as they celebrated their new shoe collection, Walk A Mile In My Shoes, with Idris’ wife Sabrina at exclusive venue, The Twenty Two, back in June.

All the proceeds from the collection goes to six grassroots organisations promoting education, the arts, and youth empowerment around the world.

Filmmaker Taika Waititi gave his leading ladies, Natalie Portman and Tessa Thompson, something to laugh about as he playfully posed on the red carpet for the UK Gala Screening of Thor: Love And Thunder.

Clad in a navy blue tux, the Oscar winner appeared to hellbent on distracting his film’s stars as they attempted to get candid shots at London’s Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, and playfully pointed at them.

It appears his cheeky tactics worked as Thompson looked tickled by the hilarity as Portman giggled at the cinematic event in July.

Jonathan Ross’s annual Halloween party was back and bigger than ever post-Covid, with the event swapping his family home in Hampstead for Camden’s House of KOKO.

With a guestlist filled with the who’s who of British TV, film, music and theatre, it was sure to be a bash for the decade after a two-year hiatus.

While Ross, 61, dressed up as a ghoulish gentleman skeleton, it was Alan Carr, Holby City’s David Ames and Paloma Faith who turned heads as they arrived to the spooktacular event dressed as The Shining twins, but triplets in this case.

The trio posed for a photo outside the star-studded soiree with BGT judge David Walliams who transformed into iconic Bond villain Jaws for the festivities.

Florence Pugh continued to steal the show as she arrived at the 25th British Independent Film Awards at Old Billingsgate in an ethereal Rodarte midi lace slip and a sweeping organza cape.

Twirling in tulle, the leading lady capped off a fantastic year of red carpets at the film event earlier this month where she was nominated for Best Lead Performance and Best Ensemble Performance for her recent Netflix period drama, The Wonder.

The 26-year-old had several style moments in 2022, notably at the Venice Film Festival where she donned a glittering Maison Valentino look and then a sheer Victoria Beckham look at the Governors Ball.

However, it was Miss Flo’s red carpet appearance in London that helped her bow out of 2022 in style. We’re raising an Aperol Spritz to you.