Awards season is glamorous, star-studded, and sometimes slightly bit bonkers, however the much-loved Brit Awards take the crown for essentially the most chaotic ceremony.
This weekend, the Brits see Olivia Dean and Lola Younger collectively lead the nominations, with different artists within the working for main awards additionally together with Sam Fender, Lily Allen and Fred Once more.
For the primary time the awards may also be held in Manchester – the primary time they’ve ever been staged exterior of London.
Whereas many are hoping the 2026 version will all go off with out a hitch, there’s each likelihood a memorable second may play out like previous years.
Brits night time by no means disappoints, as a result of who may overlook 2023 when Sam Smith turned the speak of the city of their latex inflatable go well with?
Wild outfit decisions don’t even contact the perimeters of the weird goings-on on the music awards, nevertheless, because the ceremony itself has confirmed audiences ought to anticipate the surprising.
Everybody remembers the place they have been when Madonna dramatically fell down a set of stairs or when Lewis Capaldi’s total speech acquired bleeped out for the published.
Dwell reveals are notoriously unpredictable. So, we’re revisiting essentially the most mind-boggling and stunning moments from the Brit Awards ever.
Disastrous broadcast in 1989
After the Brits have been first staged in 1977, simply over a decade later it was determined that they’d be broadcast reside for the primary time in 1989.
Tasked with internet hosting the occasion was Mick Fleetwood and mannequin Samantha Fox, nevertheless the pair struggled by means of the three-hour present, which was suffering from technical failures, lengthy silences, and what some dubbed cringeworthy presenting.
The hosts themselves struggled to learn from a defective autocue, company wandered on and off stage, the flawed artists have been introduced, and Authorities minister Kenneth Baker was loudly booed by the viewers. The present was thought-about such a failure that for the 18 years after, the Brits have been pre-recorded quite than aired reside.
Union Jack gown in 1997
It might now be thought-about some of the iconic outfits of all time, however in 1997 Spice Women star Geri Halliwell took an enormous danger after requested her sister to stitch a Union Jack tea towel onto the entrance of a Gucci gown.
Attributable to issues the flag could possibly be related to the far-right Nationwide Entrance, Geir had a CND (Marketing campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) peace image stitched onto the again of the gown.
Whereas the gown was largely positively acquired, some did query the usage of the flag on a ‘horny’ merchandise of clothes.
Madonna’s cape disaster
Who may overlook Madonna’s heartstopping tumble, which we’re positive even Madge would admit was slightly iconic.
Throughout her much-hyped efficiency in 2015, the night took a stunning flip when not even a minute into her opening music, she fell down the stage steps.
She was simply beginning to belt her tune Dwelling For Love when her lengthy cape acquired caught round her neck and he or she was yanked down the steps.
Skilled that the 66-year-old Materials Lady is, she merely picked herself up and continued singing, to the shock of everybody watching.
Naturally, countless memes about ‘if you happen to’ve had an accident at work’ plagued social media for weeks after.
Sam Smith’s controversial efficiency
In 2023 the Brits have been hit with over 100 Ofcom complaints after Sam Smith ended the present with a robust rendition of their music Unholy with Kim Petras.
Whereas many have been left in awe by the spectacle, which featured a crew of backing dancers, automobile props on stage and a passionate kiss between two dancers on the finish, others felt the necessity to choose it aside.
The backlash got here after they’d additionally carried out on the Grammys, which noticed them make historical past with their victory, with Kim turning into the primary trans girl to take house a Grammy, and Sam turning into the primary non-binary artist to take action. Nonetheless, their efficiency, which noticed them put on purple ensembles and satan’s horns was labelled ‘satanic’ by some.
CMAT displaying off her bum crack on the purple carpet
Though skin-baring outfits on the purple carpet are nothing new, in 2024 Irish singer CMAT – actual identify Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson – turned up in an extended, black robe with a totally open, feathery-lined again, which was so low it confirmed off lots of her naked bum.
Earlier than the ceremony CMAT, who’d been nominated within the worldwide artist of the 12 months class, gave followers a sneak peek of her outfit, writing: ‘I informed you I used to be good craic.’
However when it got here to displaying off her distinctive gown, CMAT’s bum was censored by ITV throughout the present’s reruns – with the singer later jokingly taking goal at ITV for ‘enhancing my bum crack out’ and declaring: ‘Give the folks what they deserve (my arse) or I’ll set the CMAT infants on you! Tis a #feud formally.’
James Corden interrupts Adele
Speeches being minimize quick are pretty frequent in awards reveals as recipients ramble on their because of everybody of their lives.
Nonetheless, Adele didn’t take issues mendacity down when James Corden minimize her off in 2012 as she launched Blur for the ultimate efficiency.
Her idol George Michael was proper there on stage together with her, having proven as much as the ceremony for the primary time in 17 years, so it’s not shocking Adele was upset about her huge second being spoiled.
Letting everybody know the way she felt, Adele flipped her center finger to the digital camera as James ushered her off stage.
He later mentioned he would have let her proceed, however producers have been frantically telling him to cease as a result of advert break restrictions.
Lewis Capaldi’s closely censored speech
Lewis Capaldi had viewers of the 2021 awards in stitches as virtually his total speech was censored by ITV as a result of profanity.
He offered the ultimate award for finest British album, which was given to 2024’s opening act Dua Lipa for Future Nostalgia, however determined to get slightly blue.
In true Lewis trend, he informed everybody to ‘shut up’, earlier than declaring: ‘Good day, motherf**kers!’
The remainder of the speech was a thriller to ITV viewers as your complete factor ended up being bleeped – till social media acquired concerned and revealed his actual feedback.
‘Pay attention, guys,’ he urged. ‘I’m f**king sweating. It’s like a swamp down there, I’m telling you. Sweaty b****ks.
‘It’s nice to be right here tonight, it’s simply nice to be out of the home, to be sincere. It’s been an excellent 12 months for albums, most of all as a result of I haven’t f**king launched one. It’s a complete honour to current the award for album – finest album. Let’s hope that this 12 months is even greater and higher than ever for British music!’ he mentioned.
‘And let’s additionally hope that Scotland win on the Euros,’ the Earlier than You Go hitmaker concluded, receiving an audible boo from the group.
Jarvis Cocker invades Michael Jackson’s stage
Unhappy actors, emotional backdrops, Michael Jackson belting out his shifting Earth Track on stage – what may go flawed?
This 1996 efficiency went down in historical past, not for the Dangerous singer’s vocals however as a result of Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker determined to storm the stage.
Because the music reached its crescendo, the frontman ran on and mooned the group earlier than wiggling his bum and speeding off.
He later declared it had been ‘a type of protest on the means Michael Jackson sees himself as some form of Christlike determine with the ability of therapeutic’.
Robbie Williams squares as much as Liam Gallagher
Fights and awkward encounters are the bread and butter of any drama-filled awards ceremony, and in 2000, a feud was kicked off that may final 20 years.
In an iconic speech, Robbie Williams determined to problem Oasis’ Liam Gallagher to a battle.
He mentioned: ‘100 grand of your cash and 100 grand of my cash, we’ll get within the ring, we’ll have a battle and you’ll all watch it on TV.’
Reigniting flames of a sparring session in 2019, Robbie added: ‘I feel final time within the noughties Liam needed to go all the way down to an deserted railway monitor or one thing.
‘I don’t wish to do this. It’s acquired to be f**king whistles and bells if it occurs… Liam and I might be a beautiful factor.’
‘I’m in good nick. I’ve been boxing and sparring. So let’s simply say I’d be more than pleased to get within the ring with him,’ he added to GQ Hype Journal on the time.
Sabrina Carpenter’s raunchy tribute to the UK sparks Ofcom complaints
Final 12 months pop star Sabrina Carpenter drew the ire of some Brits viewers after a raunchy efficiency.
The American singer took to the stage sporting a purple sparkly military-style blazer gown and walked down an aisle lit up with the Union flag as performers dressed as King’s guard troopers adopted behind, earlier than stripping down right into a purple sparkly lingerie set.
Throughout the broadcaster some threatened to ring watchdog Ofcom as a result of they felt the efficiency shouldn’t have been allowed earlier than the 9pm watershed – with it later being confirmed 825 complaints had been made.
Caroline Aherne’s cocaine gag
Showcasing her fast wit on the expense of the nominees, comic Caroline Aherne took a shot on the rumoured drug utilization backstage in 1997.
The late star, higher referred to as Mrs Merton, took to the stage and introduced: ‘Charlie, wherever you’re, are you able to make your self identified.’
She added: ‘They’re all asking for you backstage …’
‘Charlie’ is a standard nickname for cocaine, and the joke managed to slide previous censorship to air on ITV’s reside present, coming into the historical past books as the most effective and most stunning moments.
Joss Stone’s weird accent
Pop icon Joss Stone was born and raised in England, rising to fame in 2003 together with her hit album, The Soul Session.
In 2007, she was referred to as on stage to sing and communicate as she despatched like to Robbie Williams and referred to as out Russell Model, who hosted that 12 months.
Nonetheless, it was her unusual accent that garnered consideration, as she appeared to have adopted an American lilt, resulting in followers slating her.
She later hit again on the criticism and mentioned: ‘It’s probably not that huge a deal is it? I didn’t kill anybody, I wasn’t snorting cocaine and punching paparazzi…
‘I simply had slightly little bit of a twang – Jesus, relax!’
The Brit Awards 2026 air tonight on ITV and ITVX at 8.15pm.
A model of this text was first printed on March 2, 2024.
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