30 Best Brit Award Moments Ever

We barely recognised this pair who presented the show in 1985 when we first saw the photo. Nine years after the very first Brit Awards, Noel Edmonds and Paul Young were drafted in as presenters, dressed in some interesting attire. Note the budget backdrop and hilarious hair!

One of the most notorious Brits moments since time began, it was car-crash viewing when Page Three model Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac fame were invited to host in 1989. Broadcasting live is difficult at the best of times, but for these two it was an unmitigated disaster. There were fluffed lines aplenty, guests wandering on to the stage at the wrong time and plenty of awkward moments. They forgot to play Michael Jackson’s taped acceptance speech and introduced Boy George as the Four Tops. Oh, dear.
 

The Kiss From a Rose singer well and truly stole the show in 1992, picking up gongs for Best British Album, Best Male and Best Video.

And the award for best opening performance goes to… Madonna. The queen of pop made her Brit Awards debut belting out Bedtime Stories at the show in 1995. Draped in a shimmering maxi with waist-length flowing locks, the star pulled out all the stops, treating the audience to a light show and trio of satin-clad male dancers.

The late singing superstar graced the stage for an epic performance of Earth Song in 1996, after being crowned Artist of a Generation. But Jarvis Cocker obviously didn’t agree with the accolade: The inebriated Pulp frontman stormed the stage half way though Jackson’s big number, baring his behind to the shocked Thriller hitmaker. The cameras just about had time to cut to the audience before he was dragged off by security.

A memorable Brit moment if ever there was one - who could forget Geri Halliwell performing with the Spice Girls in that infamous Union Jack dress? Although her barely-there frock set thousands of tongues wagging, she later auctioned it off for charity. At the time a friend reportedly told the BBC: ‘Geri is selling this stuff because the Spice Girls is very much part of her past. The sale underlines a new beginning for her.’

The 2000 Brits saw yet more drunken antics, when DJ Brandon Block unexpectedly stormed the stage, interrupting Ronnie Wood’s acceptance speech. And what would cause such behaviour? Block’s friends convinced him he had won an award, sending him unsteadily up to accept. The Rolling Stone was less than amused, throwing his drink over the DJ. Cringe. 

Geri Halliwell was back at the Brits in 2000, this time emerging on stage between the middle of a giant pair of legs. Geri’s energetic performance of It's Raining Men got everybody talking – not least because of the host of scantily clad male dancers who joined her on stage.

After a long-running feud between Robbie Williams and the Gallagher brothers, the inebriated star took the opportunity to challenge Liam to a fight at the 2001 awards. When collecting his Best British Male gong, the Robster asked a shocked audience, ‘So, anybody like to see me fight Liam? Would you pay to come and see it?’ Argh! ‘Liam, a hundred grand of your money and a hundred grand of my money. We'll get in a ring and we'll have a fight and you can all watch it on TV,’ he continued. And with that organisers hurried him off stage. Shame.

The Destiny’s Child girls were the stars of the show back in 2000, putting on a spectacular performance complete with scorching fire rings. The trio sported barely-there gold bikinis as they treated the audience to a rendition of Survivor.

Baby faced Charlotte Church attended the Brits in 2001. The Welsh warbler had already racked up four bestselling classical albums, and been nominated for a Brit. In 2006, the slightly more grown-up star was up for another gong, but this time for her pop album, Tissues and Issues.

Pint-sized Kylie well and truly stole the show in 2002, strutting her stuff in a teeny tiny white mini and thigh high silver boots. Our favourite fashionista arrived on stage in the centre of a giant Kylie Minogue record and went on to pick up awards for Best International Female and Best International Album.

Anyone remember Ali G? The hilarious Sacha Baron Cohen graced the stage with his Staines massiv’ in a garish get-up consisting mostly of gold lame. Performing his, erm… memorable hit Booyakasha, the star had the audience at the 2002 awards in stitches.

Mis-teeq performed at the Brits in 2002, but missed out on Best British Newcomer to baby faced boy band Blue. As for the outfits? Let's move on...

Frank Skinner and Zoe Ball presented the Brits in 2002. With super-long legs and skyscraper heels, Zoe towered over her fellow presenter, but he didn’t seem to mind too much. The friendly pair giggled their way through the awards during a very inoffensive show.

Super-sexy Justin Timberlake teamed up with pop diva Kylie Minogue for a steamy on-stage session in 2003 making it one to remember.

In 2004, show host Cat Deeley got the Awards off to a corking start, entering from the sidelines atop a giant bottle of Champagne. Dressed in a show-stopping top-hat-and-tails ensemble, complete with fishnets and thigh-high boots, the saucy star managed a further six costume changes during the night. 

What were the Sugababes thinking when they got dressed for the Brits in 2005?!

Terrible twosome Matt Lucas and David Walliams arrived on stage posing as Take That members Gary Barlow and Howard Donald at the awards in 2005. The audience howled with laughter as the pair descended the stairs in full fancy dress to present an award to Robbie Williams. Funnier than that was the look on Robbie’s face when he heard his former band mates' names. In the days before his Take That truce the star was obviously worried his past was coming back to haunt him!

We can’t help but cringe looking at Devonshire singer Joss Stone’s Awards ensemble in 2007.
Unfortunately the look was more Austin Powers than red carpet beauty, especially when combined with her huge red ’do. And if that wasn’t enough, her time on stage didn't go too well either. After cracking a cringe-worthy joke about host Russell Brand, Joss went on to confuse the audience with her new American accent. Oh, dear!

Organisers decided it was time for an overhaul in 2007, drafting in Russell Brand to inject a bit more excitement into the show. The controversial comedian took to the stage as host, but his unique brand of humour didn’t go down well with everyone. Russ was later slated for some of his more risqué jokes – broadcast before the 9pm watershed - after many viewers rang in with complaints. But the cheeky chappy managed to stay off the hook, as broadcast watchdog Ofcom declared his comments 'on the edge of acceptability.'

At the height of her fame in 2007, Amy Winehouse performed her biggest album hit to a packed Brits audience. Complete with customary towering beehive and an amazing jazz band, the pint-sized star reminded the audience and viewers at home just how talented she was.

Girls Aloud brightened up the Brits proceedings in 2008 with a plethora of vivid colours. But we’ve noticed someone missing. The usual fivesome became a foursome for the night, as band mate Nadine Coyle – who was dating handsome Jesse Metcalfe at the time - missed a flight back from LA and the entire ceremony.

No one could forget Lady Gaga's show-stopping performance at the 2009 awards. Never one to blend in with the crowds, the new darling of pop wore an outfit partly made of porcelain to strut her stuff on stage. She performed a medley of songs alongside the Pet Shop Boys and the Killers’ Brandon Flowers.

The return of Take That (minus Robbie) got everybody talking. They had been away for 10 years, and most of their fans had grown up, but still the Brit masses welcomed them back with open arms. The band first performed at the awards in 1996, and received a hero's welcome when they returned to grace the stage once again.

Hosted by a certain Ms Minogue and Gavin and Stacey duo James Corden and Matthew Horne, the 2009 Brits were an absolute hoot. The hilarious trio opened the show with a spoof of Kylie’s I Can’t Get You Out of My Head, with the TV funnymen joining in as dancers. And according to Kylie, the boys had no trouble with the steps. ‘I was actually pretty shocked by how good they were at dancing. They were move perfect,’ she raved.

Cheryl Cole channelled her emotions into her performance at the Brits in 2010, belting out a ruddy excellent rendition of hit Fight For This Love just days after allegations that her marriage to Ashley Cole was on the rocks.

Following the death of her close pal Alexander McQueen, Lady Gaga decided to drop her plans for big all-encompassing theatrics, and instead opted for a simple, paried-down performance in tribute to the late designer. No dancers, no daring entrances, no energetic routine. Just Gaga, being Gaga (with a giant electric guitar.) It might have been a more low-key version than what she had previously planned for her Brits moment in the spotlight, but Lady Gaga's performance of Telephone and Dancing in the Dark was nonetheless jaw-dropping.

Adele gave a spine-tingling, no frills performance of Someone Like You in 2011, cementing her place as one of the UK's most talented artists. We still get a little teary-eyed thinking about it now.