Ms Dynamite cemented her reputation as the queen of urban music last night when she added two Brit awards to an already crowded trophy cupboard.
Ms Dynamite, real name Niomi McLean-Daley, already has a Mercury and three Mobo Awards to her name. Yesterday she won best British Female and Best British Urban Act Award - the first of its kind in the Brits' 26-year history.
"Urban acts aren't just spotted in the streets or on pop shows. We work hard and we don't usually get this kind of recognition," she said as she received her award. The night became a forum for pop music's critics of war with Iraq: Ms Dynamite reiterated her anti-war stance through a re-worded performance of George Michael's Faith.
Coldplay - who continued their romance with the British music industry with awards for Best British Group and Best British Album for A Rush of Blood to the Head - echoed her sentiment. Lead singer Chris Martin said: "We're all going to die when George Bush has his way but it's nice to go out with a bang."
Eminem won both awards he was nominated for: Best International Male and Best International Album. However, Mike Skinner of The Streets, who like Ms Dynamite had been nominated for four awards, was left empty-handed, putting paid to the idea that the academy was trying to recognise more critically-acclaimed acts this year.
It will be of little consolation to Girls Aloud, winners of the recent Popstars: The Rivals series, whose tour was this week cancelled owing to poor ticket sales, but reality TV-manufactured acts still found their place in the ceremony.
Will Young received the Best British Breakthrough Award and Liberty X won Best British Single for Just A Little. Boy band Blue won Best Pop act and the Sugababes, Best British Dance Act. Robbie Williams became the awards' most decorated artist, receiving his 14th award as the Best British Male Solo artist. Jamiroquai, however, became the Brits' most snubbed act. This year was the 13th time they were passed over.
At the start of the awards presenter Davina McCall admitted she was "hoping for a little bit of bad behaviour". But, in this first alcohol-free Brits, she was to be disappointed. The £750 seats also made for a sober atmosphere.
For the first time the awards were televised on the same night. Organisers were nervous of repeat performances of drunken antics, such as DJ Brandon Block's storming of the stage in 2000 and Nigel Hunter, a member of Chumbawamba, pouring a bucket of ice over John Prescott's head in 1998. Both were arrested but released without charge.
Among this year's acts were a duet by Kylie Minogue and Justin Timberlake, who performed Blondie's Rapture together, and the 18-year-old Avril Lavigne, who has already sold over a million albums worldwide.
Tom Jones was recognised for Outstanding Contribution to the music business, and dedicated the award and his performance to his parents. His mother died this month.
Robin Gibb, who presented the Best British Single Award, also paid tribute to his brother: "My twin brother Maurice Gibb was a great British musician and a great British songwriter and I'm here in his honour."
Other presenters included Radio 1 DJs Sara Cox and Trevor Nelson, the actor Jackie Chan and the comedians Rob Brydon and Matt Lucas.
The winners' line-up
British breakthrough act Will Young
Best British female Ms Dynamite
Best British male Robbie Williams
Best British urban act Ms Dynamite
Best British group Coldplay
Best pop act Blue
Best British single Just a Little, Liberty X
Best British album Rush of Blood to the Head, Coldplay
Best British dance act Sugababes
Best international group Red Hot Chili Peppers
Best international album Eminem
Best international male Eminem
Best international female Pink
International breakthrough artist Norah Jones
Outstanding contribution Tom Jones
