There is nothing quite like the atmosphere at The Brit Awards.As you arrive to the O2 arena, a buzz lingers in the air as celebrities and guests arrive in their thousands to celebrate the best of British music. The stage is big, bright and all encompassing - surrounded by tables ready to host some of entertainment's biggest stars.
Comedian Mo Gilligan presented the show for the second year running. He kept the energy going whilst interacting with A-list guests on each table; From Stanley Tucci to Shania Twain. Also in the audience was Emily in Paris' Lucien Laviscountand Camille Razat to Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jessie J.
After winning four awards - this was definitely Harry Styles' night. Styles won in all four categories that he was nominated in: Song of the Year, the Pop/R&B award, Album of the Year and Artist of the Year – the latter of which fans had criticised for its all-male nominees. He opened the show dancing around the stage in a Gucci sequin red jacket singing feel-good track As It Was.
During his acceptance speech for Artist of the Year he said, 'I’m very aware of my privilege so this award is for Rina, Charli, Florence, Mabel and Becky.' Rina Sawayama, Charli XCX, Florence and the Machine, Mabel, and Becky Hill were all eligible to be nominated for Artist of the Year. However, none made the final cut.
The singer also thanked his family, singling out his mum who signed him up to The X Factor without his knowledge.The musician also thanked his former One Direction bandmates by name: Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik.'I wouldn’t be here without you, either,' he said.
Standout performances include Rising Star nominee Cat Burns who bared her heart on stage singing emotional ballad Go. The stripped-back pop track with minimal instrumentation and a hint of gospel sees Burns resigning herself to a relationship ending despite her efforts to save it. While Grammy award winner Lizzo took to the stage donned in pink feathers to belt hit's Special and It's About Damn Time. Her electrifying performance lights up the stage as guests jumped to their feet to dance to her catchy hits.
Sam Smithand Kim Petras defying performance of number one hit Unholy dazzled on stage. In true Mad Max style, the stage was littered with motorcycles and car parts. Black-clad, grease-stained backup dancers gyrated and pumped to the beat. Despite previous backlashover 'raunchy outfits', their show stopping production only hit back at the controversy against a backdrop of darkly-tinged, yet delightful grime.
But one must not underestimate Stormzy. There’s a quiet power to Stormzy’s intimate, gospel performance of Hide And Seek. As he raps and glides along the beat you can feel the emotion as he paints a picture about the one that got away.
Is it really The Brit Awards without a bit of controversy? After a successful Grammys earlier this month, Wet Leg accepted the awards for British Group and Best New Artist. Whilst accepting the award for British Group, the pair gave the mic over to their bassist Ellis Durand who made a brief but strongly-worded political statement. ITV rushed to censor the words, 'F*** the Tories.' Whilst Daisy May Cooper'sremarks about girl band the Sugababes was not censored out in time. Whilst presenting the award for Best Alternative or Rock Act, she said she saw the band and added, 'they weren’t doing coke – they were lovely,' leaving viewers at home and in attendance stunned. ITV failed to censor the joke in time - but bleeped out the aftermath.
Whilst The Brits remains a staple fixture for British arts and culture - they must do more to ensure women and non-binary artists are represented in all their glory. Last year, the Brits scrapped its male and female categories in a bid to make the awards as 'inclusive' as possible. The move had previously been called for by artists including Sam Smith and Will Young, who said gendered categories excluded non-binary musicians. Despite these efforts – women and non-binary artists still lost out. As a society we still live in a patriarchy that values male contributions to society above anyone else. More still needs to be done within the entertainment industry to ensure inclusivity and championing of talented artists across the board.
Brits 2023 Red Carpet
1 of 5Jodie Turner-Smith
Jodie Turner-Smith stuns in a silver dress and cape by couture designer Zuhair Murad, from his spring/summer 2023 range. The actress also wore a stunning pair of silver Jimmy Choo heels in the style Kaylee.
2 of 5Leigh-Anne Pinnock
Former Little Mix star Leigh-Anne dazzled on the carpt. She wore an open-front dress by Alberta Ferretti, which featured drape detailing and a thigh-high split. But her hair was the real show-stopper; her curly locks were masterfully shaped into a crown-like silhouette with face-framing curls.
3 of 5Vick Hope
Vick Hope's ensamble was the picture of elegance. This DE FICHIER dress paired with Jimmy Choo's Rosie heels was simply stunning.
4 of 5Lizzo
Queen Lizzo! We absolutely love how daring this outfit choice is. This statement-making Robert Wun design ensured attention was on her.
5 of 5Billie Piper
Billie Piper is all about the statement sleeves! Billie walked the carpet in the Roberto Cavalli bodysuit and paired it with Jimmy Choo's Max heels and Clemme clutch bag.
Here is a full list of winners:
Album of the year
Harry Styles – Harry’s House - WINNER
The 1975 – Being Funny In A Foreign Language
Fred again.. – Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022)
Stormzy – This Is What I Mean
Wet Leg – Wet Leg
Song of the year
Harry Styles – As It Was - WINNER
Aitch and Ashanti – Baby
Cat Burns – Go
Dave – Starlight
Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John – Merry Christmas
Eliza Rose and Interplanetary Criminal – BOTA (Baddest of Them All)
George Ezra – Green Green Grass
Lewis Capaldi – Forget Me
LF SYSTEM – Afraid To Feel
Sam Smith and Kim Petras – Unholy
Alternative rock act (public vote)
The 1975 - WINNER
Arctic Monkeys
Nova Twins
Tom Grennan
Wet Leg
International song of the year
Beyonce – Break My Soul - WINNER
Bebe Rexha and David Guetta – I’m Good (Blue)
Fireboy DML and Ed Sheeran – Peru
Cast of Disney’s Encanto – We Don’t Talk About Bruno
Gayle – abcdefu
Jack Harlow – First Class
Lizzo – About Damn Time
Lost Frequencies and Calum Scott – Where Are You Now
OneRepublic – I Ain’t Worried
Taylor Swift – Anti‐Hero
Group of the year
Wet Leg - WINNER
The 1975
Arctic Monkeys
Bad Boy Chiller Crew
Nova Twins
International group of the year
Fontaines DC - WINNER
Blackpink
Drake and 21 Savage
First Aid Kit
Gabriels
Artist of the year
Harry Styles - WINNER
Central Cee
Fred again..
George Ezra
Stormzy
Dance act (supported by KISS)
Becky Hill - WINNER
Bonobo
Calvin Harris
Eliza Rose
Fred again..
Best new artist
Wet Leg - WINNER
Kojey Radical
Mimi Webb
Rina Sawayama
Sam Ryder
Pop/R&B (supported by Capital)
Harry Styles - WINNER
Cat Burns
Charli XCX
Dua Lipa
Sam Smith
International artist of the year
Beyonce - WINNER
Lizzo
Burna Boy
Kendrick Lamar
Taylor Swift
Hip hop/rap/grime act (via TikTok public vote)
Aitch - WINNER
Central Cee
Dave
Loyle Carner
Stormzy
Rising star award (previously announced)
Flo – WINNER
Cat Burns
Nia Archives
Producer of the year
David Guetta - WINNER
Songwriter of the Year
Kid Harpoon - WINNER