Charli XCX has continued her Brat domination at the BRITs, winning five awards, including album of the year.
This year’s most nominated artist, she took the first prize of the night, best song, telling the crowd: “I’m really happy that a song about underwear now has a Brit award, very important stuff and I’m sure that that proves something about songwriting but I’m not quite sure what.”
The 32-year-old, whose real name is Charlotte Aitchison, went on to win best dance act and artist of the year, joking that there had been complaints about her sheer top, and adding “free the nipple”.
Taking the top prize of the night, best album, she said: “I used to tell myself awards weren’t important, and that was easy to do as until last year I wasn’t nominated for anything.
“I always felt like an outsider, particularly in the British music industry, it feels really nice to get recognition for this album. I’ve not changed anything… I guess culture caught up with us and wanted to be on this journey.”
She’d already picked up BRIT songwriter of the year award earlier this week.
Her success follows a Brat Summer, which saw her sixth album – featuring “slime green” artwork – go viral, influencing the US presidential campaign of Kamala Harris and making it into the Collins Dictionary as word of the year.
The biggest night in British music, the ceremony at London’s O2 arena was hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall, who was back for the fifth time.
Image: Sabrina Carpenter opened proceedings. Pic: Reuters
There were live performances by artists including Sabrina Carpenter, who opened proceedings, Myles Smith and Sam Fender.
Former Little Mix star JADE took her first solo award for best pop act, presented by girl band Sugababes.
She thanked her fans for their support, her parents for “for making me feel like it was a realistic goal to be a pop star ever since I was a little girl,” and her former bandmates who she said changed her life.
British singer-songwriter Myles Smith – whose single Stargazing became one of the UK’s biggest hits of 2024 – had previously been named as this year’s rising star.
His award was presented to him on the night by last year’s winners The Last Dinner Party.
Image: Myles Smith had urgent questions for those in authority. Pic: Reuters
The singer-songwriter – who said he was from what has been called “the worst town in Luton,” raised by a single mother – asked the government why they treated the British music industry “as an afterthought”.
He also asked big music venues what they were doing to help keep grassroots venues alive, as well as highlighting the importance of music managers supporting stars beyond their first hit.
British jazz quintet Ezra Collective took group of the year, paying tribute to the “great youth clubs, great schools, and great teachers” inspiring young people to take up music.
Alaos announced ahead of the ceremony, Sabrina Carpenter became the first international artist to receive the global success award after breaking records in the UK charts.
She held the top spot on the Official UK Charts for a combined 21 weeks in 2024, the first artist to do so in 71 years.
Her mega-hits Taste, Please Please Please and Espresso also held the top three spots simultaneously, making her the first female artist to do so.
A pre-recorded video by music legend Diana Ross led into her award, which was given to her by her close friend, Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown.
Image: Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown presented a prize. Pic: AP
Accepting her prize, Carpenter spoke about coming to the UK with her mother previously when no one knew who she was, and now coming back and “getting to headline the O2”.
She also spoke about her appreciation of British humour, saying “your humour is so, so dry,” and her admiration for the British love of caffeine, mainly via a nice cup of tea.
Chappell Roan took song of the year for Good Luck, Babe! as well as international artist of the year.
Stormzy thanked Jesus for his win in the hip-hop, grime, rap act category, saying he thought fellow nominee, Central Cee, was rap artist of the year.
Apologising for wearing his sunglasses on stage, which he said was because he’d “mashed up his eye playing padel” (a sporting mash-up of tennis, squash, and badminton), he read a short Biblical quote as he accepted his prize.
Image: Jack Whitehall flew close to the wind in places, roasting his A-list audience. Pic: PA
Raye took British R&B act. Last year she made BRITs history when she secured six awards, the most by an artist in a single year.
Irish post-punk band Fontaines DC took international group of the year for the second time.
British indie rock act The Last Dinner Party took best new artist after winning the BAFTA rising star award last year.
They called small independent venues the “lifeblood of the music industry”, adding, “we wouldn’t be here without them”.
Song of the year Charli XCX featuring Billie Eilish – Guess featuring billie Eilish Artemas – I Like The Way You Kiss Me The Beatles – Now And Then BL3SS x Camrin Watsin featuring bbyclose – Kisses Central Cee featuring Lil Baby – BAND4BAND Chase & Status / Stormzy – Backbone Coldplay – feelslikeimfallinginlove Dua Lipa – Training Season Ella Henderson (feat Rudimental) – Alibi JADE – Angel Of My Dreams Jordan Adetunji – KEHLANI KSI featuring Trippie Redd – Thick Of It Myles Smith – Stargazing Sam Ryder – You’re Christmas To Me Sonny Fodera / Jazzy / DOD – Somedays
Alternative rock act Sam Fender Beabadoobee The Cure Ezra Collective The Last Dinner Party
Pop act JADE Charli XCX Dua Lipa Lola Young Myles Smith
Dance act Charli XCX Becky Hill Chase & Status Fred again.. Nia Archives
Group of the year Ezra Collective Bring Me The Horizon Coldplay The Cure The Last Dinner Party
International song of the year Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe! Benson Boone – Beautiful Things Beyoncé – TEXAS HOLD ‘EM Billie Eilish – BIRDS OF A FEATHER Djo – End Of Beginning Eminem – Houdini Hozier – Too Sweet Jack Harlow – Lovin On Me Noah Kahan – Stick Season Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen – I Had Some Help Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy) Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone – Fortnight Teddy Swims – Lose Control Tommy Richman – MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Hip-hop/ grime/ rap act Stormzy Central Cee Dave Ghetts Little Simz
R&B act Raye Cleo Sol FLO Jorja Smith Michael Kiwanuka
International group of the year Fontaines DC Amyl And The Sniffers Confidence Man Future & Metro Boomin Linkin Park
Best new artist The Last Dinner Party English Teacher Ezra Collective Myles Smith Rachel Chinouriri
International artist of the year Chappell Roan Adrianne Lenker Asake Benson Boone Beyoncé Billie Eilish Kendrick Lamar Sabrina Carpenter Taylor Swift Tyler, The Creator
Artist of the year Charli XCX Beabadoobee Central Cee Dua Lipa Fred again.. Jamie xx Michael Kiwanuka Nia Archives Rachel Chinouriri Sam Fender
Album of the year Charli XCX – BRAT The Cure – Songs Of A Lost World Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching The Last Dinner Party – Prelude To Ecstasy
The Salt Path author Raynor Winn’s fourth book has been delayed by her publisher.
It comes amid claims that the author lied about her story in her hit first book. Winn previously described the claims as “highly misleading” and called suggestions that her husband had Moth made up his illness “utterly vile”.
In a statement, Penguin Michael Joseph, said it had delayed the publication of Winn’s latest book On Winter Hill – which had been set for release 23 October.
The publisher said the decision had been made in light of “recent events, in particular intrusive conjecture around Moth’s health”, which it said had caused “considerable distress” to the author and her family.
“It is our priority to support the author at this time,” the publisher said.
“With this in mind, Penguin Michael Joseph, together with the author, has made the decision to delay the publication of On Winter Hill from this October.”
A new release date will be announced in due course, the publisher added.
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Winn’s first book, released in 2018, detailed the journey she and husband took along the South West Coast Path – familiarly known as The Salt Path – after they lost their family farm and Moth received a terminal health diagnosis of Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD).
But a report in The Observer disputed key aspects of the 2018 “true” story – which was recently turned into a film starring Jason Isaacs and Gillian Anderson.
Image: Raynor and husband Moth (centre) with actors Jason Isaacs (L) and Gillian Anderson (R). Pic: Steve Tanner/Black Bear
Experts ‘sceptical of health claims’
As part of the article, published last weekend, The Observer claimed to have spoken to experts who were “sceptical” about elements of Moth’s terminal diagnosis, such as a “lack of acute symptoms and his apparent ability to reverse them”.
In the ensuing controversy, PSPA, a charity that supports people with CBD, cut ties with the couple.
The Observer article also claimed the portrayal of a failed investment in a friend’s business wasn’t true, but said the couple – whose names are Sally and Tim Walker – lost their home after Raynor Winn embezzled money from her employer and had to borrow to pay it back and avoid police action.
Image: Anderson played Winn in a movie about the couple’s journey. Pic: Steve Tanner/Black Bear
It also said that, rather than being homeless, the couple had owned a house in France since 2007.
Winn’s statement said the dispute with her employer wasn’t the reason the couple lost their home – but admitted she may have made “mistakes” while in the job.
“For me it was a pressured time,” she wrote. “It was also a time when mistakes were being made in the business. Any mistakes I made during the years in that office, I deeply regret, and I am truly sorry.”
She admitted being questioned by police but said she wasn’t charged.
The author also said accusations that Moth lied about having CBD/CBS were false and had “emotionally devastated” him.
“I have charted Moth’s condition with such a level of honesty, that this is the most unbearable of the allegations,” Winn wrote on her website.
Heaton Park, just north of Manchester City centre, is tonight hosting 80,000 fans who’ve come to see the Gallaghers’ homecoming.
“I would honestly say it’s a real cultural moment of the 21st century,” says Sam, who’s from Manchester and has come here with a group of friends – including one who has travelled from Australia for the gig.
Image: Oasis fans wear band T-shirts with the almost obligatory bucket hats. Pic: Reuters
This will be the fourth time Sam has seen Oasis play, although obviously not for many years, and he says he can’t wait for the moment the band comes on to the stage.
“The reaction from the fans, that’s going to be really special,” he says. “This band means so much to the North West.”
Like many people attending tonight’s concert, Sam is wearing a bucket hat.
Liam Gallagher’s iconic headgear has become a part of the band’s cultural legacy and they are certainly on display here, with street vendors popping up all around the park’s perimeter.
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Another fan, Dean, tells me he feels incredibly lucky to have got a ticket at all.
“I had seven devices out when the tickets were released and I didn’t get one,” he says. “And then about three days ago, a friend of mine messaged to say she couldn’t make it.
“So I made it. £120 with coach travel there and back – perfect.”
Image: Dom has flown from half a world away to be in Manchester tonight
Dom is another fan who has come from Australia for the gig.
“We’re frothing to be here, like so stoked,” he says, “The atmosphere is going to be electric.”
R&B singer Chris Brown has denied further charges following an alleged bottle attack in a London nightclub.
The 36-year-old pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) to music producer Abraham Diaw, during a hearing at Southwark Crown Court on Friday.
Brown also denied one count of having an offensive weapon – a bottle – in a public place.
Image: Chris Brown arriving at Southwark Crown Court on Friday. Pic: PA
The Grammy-winning US musician last month pleaded not guilty to a more serious charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent to Mr Diaw.
The attack allegedly happened at the Tape venue, a private members’ club in Hanover Square, Mayfair, on 19 February 2023.
The plea hearing is part of preparations for his five to seven-day trial, which is due to take place from 26 October 2026.
Brown’s co-defendant, US national Omololu Akinlolu, 39, on Friday pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting Mr Diaw occasioning him actual bodily harm.
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Akinlolu, a rapper who goes by the name Hoody Baby, has previously pleaded not guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.
Image: Brown’s co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu arrives at court. Pic: Reuters
The defendants sat side-by-side in the dock, looking straight ahead during the hearing in London.
Around 20 fans sat in the public gallery behind the dock for Friday’s hearing, with several gasping as Brown walked into the courtroom.
The Go Crazy singer was able to continue with his scheduled international tour after he was freed on conditional bail in May.
He had to pay a £5m security fee to the court as part of the bail agreement, which is a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court and may be forfeited if they breach bail conditions.
Mr Diaw was standing at the bar of the Tape nightclub when he was struck several times with a bottle, and then pursued to a separate area of the venue where he was punched and kicked repeatedly, Manchester Magistrates’ Court previously heard.
Brown was arrested at Manchester’s Lowry Hotel at 2am on 15 May by detectives from the Metropolitan Police.
He is said to have flown into Manchester Airport on a private jet in preparation for the UK tour dates.
Brown was released from HMP Forest Bank in Salford, Greater Manchester, on 21 May.
The singer, who rose to stardom as a teenager in 2005, won his first Grammy award for best R&B album in 2011 for F.A.M.E..
He earned his second in the same category for 11:11 (Deluxe) earlier this year.