K E Y P O I N T S
- Jack Whitehall brought the laughs as he made his debut as Brits presenter
- Stormzy and Dua Lipa were the big winners on the night, each taking home two awards
- The coveted British Album Of The Year award went to Stormzy’s ‘Gang Signs & Prayer’
- The British grime star also closed the show with a politically-charged performance name-checking Grenfell tower, Theresa May, the Daily Mail and Daniel Kaluuya’s Baftas win
- However, it wasn’t quite the cake-walk we imagined for Ed Sheeran, taking home none of the four prizes he was nominated for, although he was named Global Success on the night
- Other performers included Liam Gallagher, Rita Ora, Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran, Rag’n’Bone Man and Jorja Smith
S N A P V E R D I C T
Once upon a time, the Brit Awards were synonymous with the wild behaviour of its attendees, with the biggest names in music gathering for a night to remember (if they could remember it at all, that is).
More recent ceremonies have provided a handful of memorable moments, but they’ve always felt a little more sanitised and safe compared to their predecessors, but this year’s ceremony felt reminiscent of the Brits’ glory days.
This was largely thanks to host Jack Whitehall, who pulled no punches with the celebrities in attendance, and also managed to ride the wave of chaos that a few of the night’s more shaky moments brought along with them, in ways we can’t imagine recent hosts Ant and Dec or Dermot O’Leary managing so effortlessly.
But it wasn’t just the irreverent commentary that made us nostalgic, but also some of the night’s unplanned moments. Whether it was the excruciating Liam Payne and Cheryl interview or Damon Albarn’s rambling acceptance speech, the chaos felt like the Brits of the 1990s and early 2000s, and it was a breath of fresh air compared to what we’ve been served in recent years.
The night undeniably belonged to Stormzy, though, who not only won the most awards, but delivered the performance sure to have everyone talking, lampooning Theresa May over her handling of the Grenfell tower disaster, as well as name-checking Daniel Kaluuya, the Daily Mail and Jourdan Dunn.
Those in charge this year have earned their afterparty. Same again, and more, in 2019, please.
B E S T L I N E S
“He's been invited on the condition he didn’t perform ‘Galway Girl’, it’s Ed Sheeran."”
- Jack Whitehall sets the tone from the off
“This country is a small, little thing. It’s part of a beautiful world but… uh… all I wanna say is don’t let it become isolated, don’t let ourselves become cut off, you know?"”
- Damon Albarn's speech certainly made an impression
“Yo, Theresa May, where’s that money for Grenfell? You just forgot about Grenfell.””
- Stormzy debuts a new rap during his show-stopping performances