On 26th February 2001, the presenters Ant and Dec took over to present the BRIT Awards at Earls Court in London.
This post is part of a series about the history of the BRIT Awards. You can read about the 2000 ceremony here, and the 2002 ceremony in a couple of days’ time.
Best British Album
Presented by Samuel L. Jackson. Nominees:
- Coldplay – Parachutes
- Craig David – Born to Do it
- David Gray – Lost Songs
- Radiohead – Kid A
- Robbie Williams – Sing When You’re Winning
Winner: Coldplay
Best British Dance Act
Presented by Audley Harrison and Denise Lewis. Nominees:
- Artful Dodger
- Craig David
- Fatboy Slim
- Moloko
- Sonique
Winner: Fatboy Slim
Best British Female
Presented by Jamie Oliver and, for some reason, his wife. Nominees:
- Dido
- PJ Harvey
- Jamelia
- Sade
- Sonique
Winner: Sonique
Best British Group
Presented by Fay Ripley. Nominees:
- All Saints
- Coldplay
- Moloko
- Radiohead
- Toploader
Winner: Coldplay
Best British Male
Presented by Geri Halliwell. Nominees:
- Badly Drawn Boy
- Craig David
- Fatboy Slim
- David Gray
- Robbie Williams
Winner: Robbie Williams
Best British Newcomer
Voted for by listeners of BBC Radio 1. Again, the complex voting system of the previous year was reused:
Best Pop Newcomer:
- A1
- Atomic Kitten
- Richard Blackwood
- Lolly
- Point Break
Best Dance Newcomer:
- Artful Dodger
- Chicane
- Oxide and Neutrino
- Shaft
- Sonique
Best R&B / Urban Newcomer:
- Architechs
- MJ Cole
- Craig David
- DJ Luck and MC Neat
- Sweet Female Attitude
Best Indie / Rock Newcomer:
- Badly Drawn Boy
- Coldplay
- Death in Vegas
- Muse
- Toploader
Of these, the winner of each category and the most voted for act overall were carried through to the list of final nominees. The award was presented by Sarah Cox and Pete Tong. We continue.
- A1
- Artful Dodger
- Coldplay
- Craig David
- Toploader
Winner: A1
Best British Single
Voted for by listeners of independent radio. Presented by David Ginola and Joely Richardson. Nominees:
- All Saints – Pure Shores
- Coldplay – Yellow
- Craig David – 7 Days
- David Gray – Babylon
- Moloko – The Time is Now
- Sonique – It Feels So Good
- Spiller – Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)
- Sugababes – Overload
- Toploader – Dancing in the Moonlight
- Robbie Williams – Rock DJ
Winner: Robbie Williams
Best British Video
Voted for by viewers of VH-1. Presented by Jane Horrocks and Graham Norton. Nominees:
- All Saints – Pure Shores
- Coldplay – Yellow
- Craig David – 7 Days
- Jamelia – Money
- Moloko – The Time is Now
- Sonique – It Feels So Good
- Texas – In Demand
- Toploader – Dancing in the Moonlight
- Travis – Coming Around
- Robbie Williams – Rock DJ
Winner: Robbie Williams
Best International Female
Presented by Donny Osmond from The Osmonds and Helena Christensen. Nominees:
- Madonna
- Kylie Minogue
- Pink
- Jill Scott
- Britney Spears
Winner: Madonna
Best International Group
Presented by Kylie Minogue and Huey Morgan from Fun Lovin’ Criminals. Nominees:
- The Corrs
- Santana
- Savage Garden
- U2
- Westlife
Winner: U2
Best International Male
Presented by Elton John. Nominees:
- Eminem
- Wyclef Jean
- Ronan Keating
- Ricky Martin
- Sisqo
Winner: Eminem
Best International Newcomer
Presented by Hear’Say. Nominees:
- Kelis
- Lene Marlin
- Pink
- Jill Scott
- Westlife
Winner: Kelis
Best Pop Act
Voted for by readers of The Sun. Presented by Cat Deeley. Nominees:
- Ronan Keating
- S Club 7
- Britney Spears
- Steps
- Westlife
Winner: Westlife
Best Soundtrack / Cast Recording
In its infinite wisdom, Wikipedia gives an incorrect listing of nominees:
- Air – The Virgin Suicides
- Various Artists – American Beauty
- Various Artists – The Beach
- Various Artists – Billy Elliot
- Various Artists – Little Voice
My records from 2001 don’t have The Beach or Little Voice, whereas the BRITs website archive gives the correct listing as:
- Air – The Virgin Suicides
- Björk – Dancer in the Dark
- Various Artists – American Beauty
- Various Artists – The Beach
- Various Artists – Billy Elliot
- Various Artists – Shaft
Winner: American Beauty
Outstanding Contribution
Presented by Noel Gallagher from Oasis.
Winner: U2
Performances
- Coldplay – Trouble
- Craig David – Fill Me In
- Destiny’s Child – Independent Woman Part I
- Eminem – The Real Slim Shady
- Hear’Say – Pure and Simple
- Sonique – It Feels So Good
- Westlife – Uptown Girl
- Robbie Williams – Rock DJ
- U2 – One / Beautiful Day / Until the End of the World
Further Reading / Viewing
- 2001 on brits.co.uk
- 2001 on brits.co.uk (archived)
- 2001 BRIT Awards on Wikipedia
- Backstage with Emma Bunton from Spice Girls
- ITV advert for the awards ceremony
Edit, 6 Aug 2018 – removed U2 performance video which no longer works.
