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Raye leads the shortlists for this year’s Brit Awards with a record seven nominations – after leaving her label and taking a gamble as an independent artist.

The singer-songwriter is up for prizes including best new artist, artist of the year, and album of the year for her debut record, My 21st Century Blues, and also has two entries in the song of the year category.

It caps a stellar new beginning for the singer, who topped the charts at the start of 2023 and was also shortlisted for the prestigious Mercury Prize following a public dispute with her former label in 2021.

Dua Lipa. Pic: Brit Awards
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Dua Lipa, who is up for three awards, will perform once again at the ceremony. Pic: Brit Awards

Raye described it as a “miracle” after it was announced she has broken the Brit Awards record for the most nominations received by a single artist in any one year. The record was previously six and was jointly held by Robbie Williams (1999), Craig David (2001) and Gorillaz (2002).

“A year-and-a-half ago as far as the industry was concerned, I was down and out,” she said. “The ultimate goal was to find my way somehow to the Brit Awards.”

In a message to her fans, she added: “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Read more:
The 2024 nominations in full
‘A real wild journey’: Raye on the fight for her album

Central Cee. Pic: Brit Awards
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Central Cee has four nominations. Pic: Brit Awards

J Hus. Pic: Brit Awards
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J Hus is also nominated for four Brit Awards in 2024. Pic: Brit Awards

Central Cee and J Hus follow Raye with four nominations each, while Blur, Calvin Harris, Dave, Little Simz, Olivia Dean, Young Fathers and four-time winner Dua Lipa – the first star to be revealed as one of the performers on the night this year – are all up for three awards.

Blur’s The Ballad Of Darren, J Hus’s Beautiful And Brutal Yard, Little Simz’s No Thank You and Young Fathers’ Heavy Heavy compete with Raye for the album of the year award, while Little Simz and J Hus also join her on the shortlist for artist of the year.

What is the gender balance this year?

Olivia Dean. Pic: Brit Awards
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Olivia Dean is up for three awards, including artist of the year. Pic: Brit Awards

This year the best artist category has been doubled to 10 slots following a public outcry when all five nominations went to male artists in 2023.

More than half (55%) of this year’s nominations feature women – either as a solo artist or as part of female groups – rising to 57% when women in mixed-gender groups are included.

Dua Lipa also makes the shortlist for best artist, along with Central Cee, Dave, Fred Again.., Arlo Parks, Jessie Ware and Olivia Dean – and in the best group category, Blur and Chase & Status are up against Headie One & K-Trap, Jungle and Young Fathers.

Young Fathers. Pic: Brit Awards
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Young Fathers are in the running for three prizes, including group of the year. Pic: Brit Awards

Blur. Pic: Reuben Bastienne-Lewis/Brit Awards
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Blur are also nominated for three gongs. Pic: Reuben Bastienne-Lewis/Brit Awards

Many of these names appear again on the song of the year shortlist of 15 tracks – with Central Cee, like Raye, also making the list twice, and Lewis Capaldi‘s Wish You The Best, Ed Sheeran‘s Eyes Closed, and Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding’s Miracle among the hits recognised.

Up against Raye for best new artist are Mahalia, Olivia Dean, PinkPantheress and Yussef Dayes.

International stars up for awards

Billie Eilish poses on the pink carpet for the world premiere of the film "Barbie" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., July 9, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
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Billie Eilish’s What Was I Made For?, from the Barbie soundtrack, is up for international song of the year. Pic: Reuters/Mike Blake

In the international categories, Burna Boy, Kylie Minogue, Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift are among the solo stars in the running, while Foo Fighters, Paramore and Gabriel are included in the bands shortlisted for international group of the year.

Billie Eilish‘s What Was I Made For?, Tyla’s Water, Cyrus’s Flowers, Noah Kahan’s Stick Season and SZA’s Kill Bill are among the tracks up for international song of the year.

The number of genre categories – which are voted for by the public – has been expanded this year, with fans now able to choose their favourite alternative/rock act, pop act, RnB act, dance act, and hip-hop/grime/rap act.

Becky Hill, Charli XCX, Romy, Barry Can’t Swim, Casisdead, Mahalia, Jorja Smith and Cleo Sol are among the additional artists up for awards in these categories.

This year also sees the first Brit nomination for The Rolling Stones in more than a decade – for best alternative/rock act, thanks to their chart-topping comeback in October – with the band having been nominated four times previously in 1977, 1995, 1996 and 2013.

Indie-rock group The Last Dinner Party – Abigail Morris, Lizzie Mayland, Emily Roberts, Georgia Davies and Aurora Nishevci – have already been revealed as the winners of the rising star award, which recognises up-and-coming talent.

They follow in the footsteps of the likes of Adele, Florence & The Machine, Sam Smith, Sam Fender, Celeste and last year’s winners FLO, who all picked up the prize as they were getting started in their careers.

Meanwhile, the winners of the songwriter of the year and producer of the year awards will be revealed over the coming weeks, along with other show announcements, ahead of the ceremony at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday 2 March.

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Glastonbury 2025 line-up revealed

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Glastonbury 2025 line-up revealed

The 1975 and Olivia Rodrigo will be among the stars headlining Glastonbury Festival this year, it has been announced.

Glastonbury organisers have revealed the line-up for this summer’s event, taking place between 25 June and 29 June, after months of speculation.

The 1975 will take to the iconic Pyramid Stage on the Friday to headline, then Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young will perform on Saturday and Olivia Rodrigo on the Sunday.

Other big names performing include British pop sensation Charli XCX, rapper Loyle Carner electronic group The Prodigy.

The announcement comes after Sir Rod Stewart was booked for the Sunday teatime legend slot and Young was confirmed as a headliner earlier this year.

Young’s announcement in January came amid some confusion, as he had days before told fans he was pulling out of the festival because the BBC’s involvement was a “corporate turn-off”.

The Canadian singer-songwriter later said this decision was down to “an error in the information I received”.

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The 1975 will be headlining for the first time, having made their Glastonbury debut in 2014.

The Cheshire band, known for hits such as Somebody Else and Chocolate, have regularly made headlines due to the antics of frontman Matty Healy.

Glastonbury, which takes place at Worthy Farm in Somerset in the summer, has worked closely with the BBC – its exclusive broadcast partner – since 1997.

Neil Young performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival last May. Pic: Amy Harris/Invision/AP
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Neil Young performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival last May. Pic: Amy Harris/Invision/AP

Appetite for the esteemed festival saw standard tickets sell out in 35 minutes in November.

They cost £373.50 plus a £5 booking fee, up £18.50 from the price from the 2024 festival, and were sold exclusively through the See Tickets website.

The date for the resale – where tickets not fully paid for are put back up for purchase – is set for some time in spring.

The headliners last summer on the iconic Pyramid Stage were Dua Lipa, SZA and Coldplay, who made history as the first act to headline the festival five times.

2026 is likely to be a year off for Glastonbury, with the festival traditionally taking place four out of every five years, and the fifth year reserved for rehabilitation of the land.

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Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX BRIT Awards appearances spark hundreds of Ofcom complaints

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Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX BRIT Awards appearances spark hundreds of Ofcom complaints

Ofcom received 825 complaints over the Brit Awards, with the majority relating to Sabrina Carpenter’s raunchy performance and Charli XCX’s outfit, the media watchdog says.

US pop star Carpenter, 25, sported a red sparkly military-style blazer dress for her performance at the awards show on Saturday night, paired with stockings and suspenders for a rendition of Espresso.

The song was mixed with a Rule Britannia mash-up, as dancers in military parade dress followed her.

She then switched to a red sparkly bra and shorts for her next song, Bad Chem, which she performed alongside dancers in bras and shorts while sitting suggestively on a large bed.

Sabrina Carpenter opened proceedings. Pic: Reuters
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Sabrina Carpenter performing her second song. Pic: Reuters

Carpenter later received the global success award at the ceremony, and was also nominated in the international artist and international song of the year categories.

But much of the buzz on social media surrounded her performance, which took place before the 9pm watershed.

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Highlights from the 2025 BRIT Awards

Ofcom said some of the complaints were also aimed at British pop sensation Charli XCX, who dominated the night by winning five awards, including album of the year.

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Some viewers took issue with her outfit – a black see-through dress.

Read more:
Explore other celebrity looks at the BRIT Awards
Why is Noel Clarke suing The Guardian?

The singer addressed the concerns during her acceptance speech for artist of the year, saying: “I heard that ITV were complaining about my nipples. I feel like we’re in the era of ‘free the nipple’ though, right?”

Carpenter paid tribute to the UK in her acceptance speech, saying: “The Brits have given me this award, and this feels like such an insane honour in a very primarily tea-drinking country… you really understood my dry sense of humour because your sense of humour is so, so dry. So I love y’all more than you even understand.”

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Why is Noel Clarke suing The Guardian?

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Why is Noel Clarke suing The Guardian?

Actor Noel Clarke begins his High Court libel case against The Guardian’s publisher today.

Clarke, 49, is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over a series of articles it published about him in April 2021.

They were based on the claims of 20 women Clarke knew “in a professional capacity” who allege his behaviour towards them amounted to sexual misconduct.

Clarke, known for his roles in the Kidulthood trilogy and Dr Who, “vehemently” denies “any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing”.

What will the trial cover?

Clarke is suing GNM for libel, sometimes also referred to as defamation.

It’s a civil tort – not a criminal offence – defined as false written statements that have damaged the person’s reputation. This means Clarke can seek redress or damages but no one will face charges or prison.

Clarke claims the articles The Guardian published in 2021 altered public opinion of him, damaged his reputation, and lost him work.

He said after the allegations emerged: “In a 20-year career, I have put inclusivity and diversity at the forefront of my work and never had a complaint made against me.

“If anyone who has worked with me has ever felt uncomfortable or disrespected, I sincerely apologise. I vehemently deny any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing and intend to defend myself against these false allegations.”

The Guardian is defending the claim on the basis of truth and public interest.

At a premiere in London in 2013. Pic: PA
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At a premiere in London in 2013. Pic: PA

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It said in its statement: “Our reporting on Noel Clarke in 2021 was based on the accounts of 20 brave women. After we published our first article, more women came forward.

“At trial, 32 witnesses are set to testify against Mr Clarke under oath. We look forward to a judge hearing the evidence.”

The trial will only focus on liability – not the amount of damages to be paid if Clarke is successful.

The actor tried and failed to get the case struck out in January, with his legal team saying it had “overwhelming evidence” of “perversion of the course of justice”.

His lawyers told the High Court three of the journalists involved in the articles had “deliberately and permanently” deleted messages, which meant he could not get a fair trial.

Lawyers for GNM told the court there was “no adequate evidential basis” for Clarke’s application for a strike out and said it sought “to smear Guardian journalists and editors without any proper justification”.

The trial, which will be presided over by judge Mrs Justice Steyn, is expected to last between four and six weeks.

EDITORIAL USE ONLY File photo dated 20/07/15 of actor Noel Clarke. Police have confirmed that no criminal investigation will be launched after sexual offence allegations were made against actor Noel Clarke. Issue date: Sunday March 27, 2022.
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In July 2015. Pic: PA

What has happened since the articles were published?

A month before the articles about him were published in April 2021, Clarke received BAFTA’s outstanding contribution to British cinema award.

However, once the allegations against him emerged, he was suspended by the organisation and the prize rescinded.

His management and production company 42M&P told Sky News they were no longer representing him and Sky cancelled its TV show Bulletproof, starring Clarke and Top Boy actor Ashley Walters as the lead roles.

ITV also decided to pull the finale of another of his dramas, Viewpoint, following the Guardian articles.

The Met Police looked into the allegations against Clarke for any potential criminal wrongdoing, but in March 2022 announced they “did not meet the threshold for criminal investigation”.

Clarke filed the libel claim the following month and has attended several of the preliminary hearings in person.

He says he has faced a “trial by media” – and that the ordeal has left him suicidal and in need of professional help.

At the UK premiere of Kidulthood in London's Leicester Square in 2006. Pic: PA
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At the UK premiere of Kidulthood in London’s Leicester Square in 2006. Pic: PA

‘Rising star’

Clarke made his TV debut in a revived version of Auf Wiedersehen Pet in 2002.

Soon after he played Mickey Smith in Dr Who and Kwame in the six-part Channel 4 series Metrosexuality.

He wrote and starred in the film trilogy Kidulthood, Adulthood, and Brotherhood, which were based in west London, where he grew up, and explored the lives of a group of teenagers given time off school after a bullied classmate takes their own life.

It was a box office success and eventually saw Clarke given BAFTA’s rising star prize in 2009.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

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