The Brit Awards 2000 Were The Most Iconic (And Chaotic) Ever

They made this year's ceremony look about as wild as the Antiques Roadshow.
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HuffPost UK

 

Over the last four decades, the Brit Awards have gifted us countless pop culture moments, from stunning performances to unscheduled chaotic scenes.

But when it comes to Brits mayhem, one ceremony stands out head and shoulders above the others – and that just happens to be the first one of the new millennium.

In the year 2000, the awards show really brought it, making headlines for amazing performances, some awkward on-stage exchanges and yes, even a stage invasion.

On the 20th anniversary of the occasion, we’re taking a look back at the big night, and what made it one of the most iconic Brit Awards there has ever been...

Let’s start with the red carpet, where looks included this...

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Denise Van Outen
Michael Crabtree - PA Images via Getty Images

This... 

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Carol Vorderman
Richard Young/Shutterstock

And indeed this...

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Caprice
PA

Our favourite outfit on the night was probably Kylie Minogue’s, just a few months before she’d return to the top of the charts with Spinning Around 

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Kylie Minogue
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And while we’d love to say Norman Cook and Zoe Ball were the hottest couple on the red carpet... 

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Zoe Ball and her then-husband Norman Cook, aka. Fatboy Slim
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...That honour realistically has to go to these two

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Dale Winton and Kate Thornton
Michael Crabtree - PA Images via Getty Images

The whole night was hosted by Davina McCall, again just a few months before she’d begin the biggest presenting gig of her career, hosting Big Brother

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Davina McCall opens the 2000 Brit Awards
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The night opened with this live collaboration between Five (or should that be 5ive?) and Queen 

 

Ricky Martin also took to the stage as he celebrated a huge year (see if you can clock Carmit from the Pussycat Dolls as one of his backing dancers, too)

But the biggest performance of the night came from a certain Mrs Horner (née Halliwell) 

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Geri Halliwell puts on a show at the Brit Awards in 2000
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She made headlines when she emerged from between a giant pair of inflatable legs 

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Absolutely incredible stuff
JMEnternational via Getty Images

Meanwhile, her old Spice Girls bandmates ended up winning the Outstanding Contribution To Music title

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The second incarnation of the Spice Girls
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They marked the occasion with a special performance of their hits

 

(How unfortunate that Geri ended up stealing all of the headlines)

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What a performance
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Among the big winners on the night was Robbie Williams, who won Best British Single and Best British Video for She’s The One

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Robbie is still the artist with the most Brit Awards to his name
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His acceptance speech also saw him taking a pop at Liam Gallagher, which provided a huge talking point

 

But that wasn’t the only kerfuffle on stage, with Ronnie Wood getting into a scrap with stage invader Brandon Block, after his mates somehow convinced him that he’d won an award (we think alcohol might have been involved, but we can’t be sure)

 

Travis and Macy Gray were the other big winners of the night, each scooping two awards 

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Macy Gray was awarded International Female and International Breakthrough
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Elsewhere, Tom Jones was awarded Best British Male, beating Sting, David Bowie, Van Morrison and Ian Brown

 

While Best British Female went to Beth Orton (remember her?) over Gabrielle, Melanie C, Geri Halliwell and Beverley Knight

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Beth Orton accepts her award for Best British Female
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Other winners included Steps for British Live Act…

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Varying levels of formal wear among the five members of Steps
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...and Five for Best British Pop Act

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It was a big night for Five, who opened the show and later won Best British Pop Act
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Oh, and Will Smith performed, wearing this, of all things...

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Will Smith performing Will 2K at the Brits
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...which somehow then transitioned into this 

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Remember Will Smith's rap career?
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And if you want to know just how “turn of the millennium” the presenters on the night were, here’s the SM:tv team making a Wonky Donkey joke… 

 

...and Ali G presenting an award to Macy Gray

 

Before we go, shall we just have another watch of that Geri performance? 

 

Just excellent.

Brit Awards 2020 Red Carpet
Billie Eilish(01 of57)
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Nominated: Best International Female (credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Harry Styles(02 of57)
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Nominated: Best British Album, Best British Male (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Lizzo(03 of57)
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Nominated: Best International Female (credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
Lewis Capaldi(04 of57)
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Nominated: Best British Male, Album Of The Year, Best New Artist, Single Of The Year (credit:Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images)
Stormzy(05 of57)
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Nominated: Best British Male, Best British Single, Best British Album (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Anne-Marie(06 of57)
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(credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Mabel(07 of57)
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Nominated: Best British Female and Best British Single (credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Dave(08 of57)
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Nominated: Best British Album, Best British Male, New Artist, Best Single (credit:Joe Maher via Getty Images)
Celeste(09 of57)
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Winner: Rising Star (credit:PA)
Ashley Roberts(10 of57)
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(credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)
Laura Whitmore(11 of57)
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(credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Maya Jama(12 of57)
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Charli XCX(13 of57)
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Nominated: Best British Female (credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
Ellie Goulding(14 of57)
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Abbey Clancy(15 of57)
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Jack Whitehall(16 of57)
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Rag'n'Bone Man(17 of57)
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Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes, JB Gill and Oritse Williams of JLS(18 of57)
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(credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)
Fleur East(19 of57)
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(credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Nicola Roberts(20 of57)
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(credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Paloma Faith(21 of57)
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(credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Michael Kiwanuka(22 of57)
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Nominated: Best British Male (credit:Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images)
Burna Boy(23 of57)
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(credit:PA)
Mabel and Neneh Cherry(24 of57)
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(credit:Joe Maher via Getty Images)
Vick Hope(25 of57)
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AJ Tracey(26 of57)
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Nominated: Best Song (credit:Joe Maher via Getty Images)
Melanie C(27 of57)
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(credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Montana Brown(28 of57)
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(credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Martin Kemp and Roman Kemp(29 of57)
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(credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)
Michelle Keegan(30 of57)
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(credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
Mahalia(31 of57)
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AJ Odudu(32 of57)
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(credit:Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images)
Tom Walker(33 of57)
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(credit:Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images)
Jorja Smith(34 of57)
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(credit:Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images)
Ashnikko(35 of57)
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Grace Carter(36 of57)
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(credit:PA)
Sir Tom Jones(37 of57)
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(credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)
Freya Ridings(38 of57)
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Nominated: Best British Female (credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
Johnny Marr(39 of57)
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(credit:PA)
Tallia Storm(40 of57)
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Will Farquarson, Kyle Simmons, Dan Smith and Chris Wood of Bastille(41 of57)
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(credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
FKA Twigs(42 of57)
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(credit:Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images)
Emily Atack(43 of57)
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Hailee Steinfeld(44 of57)
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(credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
Niall Horan(45 of57)
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(credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Sam Fender(46 of57)
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Amber Davies(47 of57)
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Aitch(48 of57)
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Dermot Kennedy(49 of57)
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Dizzee Rascal(50 of57)
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Michael Ward(51 of57)
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Penny Lancaster and Rod Stewart(52 of57)
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Mollie King(53 of57)
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Alex Scott(54 of57)
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Kiefer Sutherland(55 of57)
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Annie Mac(56 of57)
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(credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Greg James(57 of57)
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