British acts have a bad night at the MTV Music Awards

A miserable showing for British acts at the annual MTV music awards last night, with only former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney and 1980s star Rick Astley receiving gongs. Otherwise everything went to American artists, with Britney Spears and rock band 30 Seconds To Mars scooping two prizes each.

Astley was named best act ever after an online campaign to orchestrate votes. Hip-hop star Kanye West won best urban, Pink took best song for So What and Katy Perry (pictured) picked up best newcomer. Perry also hosted the show, which was held in at Liverpool's Echo Arena, and also performed her number one hit I Kissed A Girl while slithering in a gigantic banana.

The only contemporay UK act to win anything was X Factor star Leona Lewis, who was named UK's favourite act, but this was a preliminary prize that meant she went forward to contend the award for Europe's favourite act. ·