Brits 2007

Then tonight's host Russell Brand makes his first appearance, hair looking rather restrained, to be honest. He's on a podium between the BRITs two stages - the Love Stage and the Hate Stage…
Lily's dad Keith Allen is the first guest presenter, dishing out the British Live Act Award to… wait for it… Muse! That's the second time they've won it!
Snow Patrol are on stage next, performing their massive hit Chasing Cars amongst a forest of floating light bulbs.
Russell introduces guest presenter Jarvis Cocker — in his first BRITs appearance since the infamous Jackson/Jesus/Mooning episode of 1996. He's here to present the British Breakthrough Act to Glaswegian indie Rockers the Fratellis , who look both happy and well refreshed.
Toni Collette is the next presenter, charged with handing out the Cosmopolitan version of the previous award. And this year's International Breakthrough Act is… Orson , who celebrate with a huge champagne fountain. Should be compulsory, that.

Amy Winehouse , a BRITs school graduate herself, is the evening's next performer, belting out Rehab like only she can. She sings in front of a 50s style backdrop, while her 50s style beehive ‘do adds another eight feet to her height…

Another great British female voice comes on stage next, Joss Stone, resplendent in swirly microdress and purple hair. More worryingly, she seems to have picked up a massive American accent — which she uses to announce the winner of the British Male award… James Morrison.

The Killers are on stage next, with a balls-out romp through When You Were Young . They're playing in a strange hollowed out cube thing, with a backdrop of speeding clouds and cascading lights. Might not sound much, but it looks a-mazing.

Radio 1's British Female Jo Whiley is on hand to announce the next award: British Female. It's Amy Winehouse , who's just “glad my mum and dad are here, to be honest.”

International Female is to be awarded by Kaiser Chief's Ricky Wilson, who has the honour of handing it to the maneater herself, Nelly Furtado. She's the most excited yet.

BRITs veterans (they've got one or two between them) Take That perform Patience, and get a scream just as loud as when they first appeared on the show, back in their boyband prime. They ain't lost it.

A massive treat for Buffy fans, as Giles — sorry — Stewart Head arrives to announce the winner of British Group to a pre-recorded video of Arctic Monkeys. In their defence, they are dressed as the lion, tin man, scarecrow and, of course, Dorothy, from the Wizard Of Oz. Smart.

Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz ' Shaun Pegg and Nick Frost arrive to give out the International Album award to tonight's performers, The Killers.

Quite a big band up next: Red Hot Chili Peppers do Dani California , wearing what look like stripey socks on their hands. Which, let's be grateful, is better than some of the places they've worn socks before… Socks or not, the Peppers rock.

International Group is handed out by Aerosmith's legend Steve Tyler and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. To who? The Killers, of course.

Corinne Bailey Rae is up next, warbling her mega-hit, Put Your Records On, accompanied by a couple skipping and a bunch of others doing slow motion aerobics. Then, suddenly, really quick aerobics. And it's a full on backing dancer party!

A BRITs first — this year's British Single statue has been voted for by BRITs viewers as the show's gone on . It's witchcraft, we tell ya. Alan Carr gives the interactive-texttastic award to… Take That for Patience.

Sean Bean presents the Mastercard British Album award to his fellow Sheffieldians, Arctic Monkeys. Well, to their video message. This time they're dressed as the Village People. And by God, if it doesn't suit ‘em, too.

Home stretch now, which means one thing, the Outstanding Contribution To Music award: Oasis
Noel's acceptance speech is short and sweet: “It's been a *bleep* pleasure.”
And then they're onstage, looking as cool as, well, Oasis, and smashing through Cigarettes And Alcohol , Meaning Of Soul and Morning Glory. They are, as you'd expect, outstanding.

SEE FULL LIST OF WINNERS>>

Archive........