Justin pinched Kylie's "pert bottom" to make the tabloids the next day. All so obvious and cynical a photo opportunity.

Was this meant to be the show that celebrates and promotes UK music to the rest of the globe? What an appalling state of affairs.

The performances (with the exception of Ms Dynamite & David Gray) were lack lustre to say the least. Obviously with a few knob-twiddlers in a studio its possible to make the weakest of voices sound ok. Stand up please Blue and Sugababes - live they just didnt cut it.

As for Justin and Kylie? Now I really liked 'Like I Love You' but poor Justin just couldnt pull it off live and Kylie, lets leave the rapping alone. A cynical bum grasp made the front pages but there was no artistic merit in this performance at all.

Pink & Avril Levigne at least had some energy even if they looked disinterested in the whole thing.

The Best Single nominees made me cringe. Unchained Melody for gods sake. Its a cover version and a crap one at that. Atomic Kitten?? Please! What happened to rewarding original/new material. Surely there must have been some good new UK material released last year? Where was it then?

Robbie for best UK male. Again? Too many of the awards went to the safest nominee. Badly Drawn Boy should have got this one and Missy not getting Best Intl Female was a travesty.

I think the UK has a lot of talented artists but this awards show more than any others previously just seemed to show up all the worst things about the UK music industry today.

Lets hope for a better 2003/4. I'd be interested to hear other views? Rant over.

British male solo artist: Robbie Williams
British female solo artist: Ms Dynamite
British album: Coldplay
British group: Coldplay
British single: Liberty X, Just A Little
British urban act: Ms Dynamite
British dance act: Sugababes
British breakthrough artist: Will Young
Pop act: Blue
International male solo artist: Eminem
International female solo artist: Pink
International album: Eminem, The Eminem Show
International group: Red Hot Chili Peppers
International breakthrough artist: Norah Jones
Outstanding contribution to music: Tom Jones


Ms Dynamite took to the Earl's Court stage with backing from George Michael, who did not attend but recorded a new version of the video for his 1987 hit instead.

Most of the song was rewritten, with Ms Dynamite's lyrics changing to:
"I don't wanna see children die no more/ So I gotta make a stand/ Can you hear my voice?/ Taking a life is only God's choice/I don't want blood on my hands."

George Michael's lyrics included the lines:
"There's got to be a better way," and "maybe we've got time to make it right".

George Michael - who is not nominated for any awards - insisted his no-show was not a snub to the ceremony.

"I love Ms Dynamite and am so happy she is performing Faith, which is such a hopeful song. But this is her night, not mine," George said.

Ms Dynamite also stole the show by implying she had just got married.
After the awards she told ITV News: "I don't see it as a political stance or statement. I see it as my personal feeling which is what I write songs about."

Asked if she had a message for Tony Blair she replied: "I think I said a lot at the rally. I think there was a big message there for him."

Coldplay's Chris Martin, who had earlier joked about how his band were the best in the world - "except for boy band Blue" - turned serious when he picked up the best British album award.

"Awards are basically a nonsense and we're all going to die if George Bush has his way, but thanks for these two awards anyway," he told the 5,000-strong crowd.

Frontman Chris Martin made a jokey attempt to spice up the ceremony when he accepted the band award from Kung Fu legend Jackie Chan.

He said: "We'd like to challenge anybody here to a fight - except Jackie Chan." Host Davina McCall thanked him for supplying "the first bit of controversy tonight".

Rapper Eminem did not attend the ceremony to pick up his two prizes, but accepted his best international album prize by video with an expletive-ridden speech, in which he said: "I don't even deserve these awards."

Singer Pink opened the show appearing out of a giant crown.

She later backed Ms Dynamite's performance of Faith, telling the BBC: "It was needed."

Canadian punk-pop performer Avril Lavigne also made the trip to London, performing her hit Sk8er Boi with the backing of 21 drummers.

Pop Idol winner Will Young took the British breakthrough artist prize, while Grammy favourite Norah Jones took the international equivalent.

Liberty X took the best British single prize for Just A Little, crowning a triumphant year for the group formed by "rejects" from reality show Popstars.

The award was presented by Robin Gibb, who said of his late brother Maurice, who died last month: "He was a great British musican and a great British singer and tonight I'm here in his honour."

Sugababes, who arrived at the awards ceremony in revealing outfits, won best dance act.

Other highlights of the show included Justin Timberlake and Kylie Minogue performing a raunchy dance routine, to a medley of his hit Cry Me A River and Blondie's Rapture.
Kylie made the night sizzle as she showed off her rapping skills in a duet with Justin Timberlake, who cheekily pinched her famously pert bottom.

Veteran star Tom Jones who was wearing a turquoisw suit picked up a lifetime achievement award, dedicating it to his late mother - who died two weeks ago - and father.
Tom Jones sang various songs including Kiss and Delilah.

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[This message was edited Thu Feb 20 16:28:14 PST 2003 by katt]