The 2010 BRIT Awards were hosted by Peter Kay at Earls Court, in London, on Tuesday 16th February. Complicatedly, this was the thirtieth ceremony, although not the thirtieth anniversary, but this was celebrated by the special Brits Hits 30 award.
This post is part of a series about the history of the BRIT Awards. You can read about the 2009 ceremony here, and the 2011 ceremony next time.
MasterCard British Album
Presented by Tom Ford. Nominees:
- Lily Allen – It’s Not Me, It’s You
- Dizzee Rascal – Tongue ‘n’ Cheek
- Florence + The Machine – Lungs
- Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
- Paolo Nutini – Sunny Side Up
Winner: Florence + The Machine
British Single
Voted for by listeners of UK commercial radio and readers of The Sun, and presented by Alan Carr. Nominees:
- Lily Allen – The Fear
- Alexandra Burke feat. Flo Rida – Bad Boys
- Cheryl Cole – Fight for This Love
- Taio Cruz – Break Your Heart
- Alesha Dixon – Breathe Slow
- JLS – Beat Again
- La Roux – In for the Kill
- Pixie Lott – Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)
- Joe McElderry – The Climb
- Tinchy Stryder feat. N-Dubz – Number 1
Winner: JLS
British Male Solo Artist
Presented by Andy Serkis. Nominees:
- Dizzee Rascal
- Calvin Harris
- Mika
- Paolo Nutini
- Robbie Williams
Winner: Dizzee Rascal
British Female Solo Artist
Presented by Shirley Bassey. Nominees:
- Lily Allen
- Bat for Lashes
- Florence + The Machine
- Leona Lewis
- Pixie Lott
Winner: Lily Allen
British Group
Presented by Idris Elba. Nominees:
- Doves
- Friendly Fires
- JLS
- Kasabian
- Muse
Winner: Kasabian
British Breakthrough Act
Presented by Geri Halliwell. Nominees:
- Florence + The Machine
- Friendly Fires
- JLS
- La Roux
- Pixie Lott
Winner: JLS
International Male Solo Artist
Presented by Melanie Brown. Nominees:
- Michael Bublé
- Eminem
- Jay Z
- Bruce Springsteen
- Seasick Steve
Winner: Jay Z
International Female Solo Artist
Presented by Jonathan Ross. Nominees:
- Lady Gaga
- Ladyhawke
- Norah Jones
- Rihanna
- Shakira
Winner: Lady Gaga
International Breakthrough Act
Presented by Cat Deeley. Nominees:
- Animal Collective
- Empire of the Sun
- Lady Gaga
- Daniel Merriweather
- Taylor Swift
Winner: Lady Gaga
International Album
Presented by Mika. Nominees:
- Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
- The Black Eyed Peas – The E.N.D.
- Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream
- Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3
- Lady Gaga – The Fame
Winner: Lady Gaga
Critics Choice
Presented by Courtney Love. Nominees:
- Delphic
- Ellie Goulding
- Marina and the Diamonds
Winner: Ellie Goulding
Outstanding Contribution to Music
Winner: Robbie Williams
BRITs Hits 30 – Best Live Performance at the BRIT Awards
Voted for by viewers of GMTV, and presented by Samantha Fox. The year of each original performance is shown below. Nominees:
- Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive / How Deep Is Your Love (1997)
- Bros – I Owe You Nothing (1989)
- Coldplay – Clocks (2003)
- Eurythmics and Stevie Wonder – There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart) (1999)
- Girls Aloud – The Promise (2009)
- Michael Jackson – Earth Song (1996)
- Paul McCartney and Wings – Live and Let Die (2008)
- Kylie Minogue – Can’t Get You Out of My Head (2002)
- Pet Shop Boys – Go West (1994)
- Scissor Sisters – Take Your Mama (2005)
- Spice Girls – Wannabe / Who Do You Think You Are (1997)
- Take That – The Beatles Medley (1994)
- Kanye West – Gold Digger (2006)
- The Who – Who Are You (1977)
- Robbie Williams and Tom Jones – The Full Monty Medley (1998)
Winner: Spice Girls
BRITs Album of 30 Years
Voted for by listeners of BBC Radio 2, and presented by Noddy Holder from Slade. Nominees:
- Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head
- Phil Collins – No Jacket Required
- Dido – No Angel
- Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms
- Duffy – Rockferry
- Keane – Hopes and Fears
- Oasis – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
- Sade – Diamond Life
- Travis – The Man Who
- The Verve – Urban Hymns
Winner: Oasis
Performances
- Lily Allen – The Fear
- JLS – Beat Again
- Kasabian – Fire
- Lady Gaga – Telephone / Dance in the Dark
- Florence + The Machine / Dizzee Rascal – You Got the Dirtee Love
- Jay-Z / Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind
- Cheryl Cole – Fight for This Love
- Robbie Williams – Bodies / Let Me Entertain You / Feel / Supreme / Millennium / Come Undone / Morning Sun / You Know Me / No Regrets / Angels / Everything Changes / Rock DJ / Rudebox
Further Reading / Viewing
- 2010 on brits.co.uk
- 2010 BRIT Awards on Wikipedia
- Peter Kay makes a joke
- Fearne Cotton interviews Mel B, Geri Halliwell, Courtney Love, Ellie Goulding, Lily Allen, Jonathan Ross, JLS, Alan Carr, and Dizzee Rascal backstage
- Liam Gallagher interviewed backstage
- Ellie Goulding performing at the nominations launch
- BBC report on the winners and nominees
- Daily Mail report on the event
- The Guardian report on the event