BRITs 2020: Lewis Capaldi and Stormzy lead male-dominated award winners

Lewis Capaldi, Stormzy and Billie Eilish led the winners on Tuesday evening in a largely male dominated BRIT Awards shortlist. 

Lewis, 23, claimed two awards from four nominations, triumphing in the categories for New Artist and Song of the Year, while Stormzy picked up Best Male Solo Artist. 

Amid the sexism storm for the lack of female nominees at this year’s BRITs, rising superstar Billie Eilish, 18, received a nod in the International Female Solo Artist.  

Victory: Lewis Capaldi led the winners on Tuesday evening in a largely male dominated BRIT Awards shortlist

And after performing new James Bond soundtrack No Time To Die live for the first time, she claimed her first BRIT Award from former Spice Girl Mel C.  

Despite Billie’s success, only four nominations out of a possible 25 in the categories which are not gender-specific featured women. 

There were no female performers included in the shortlists for best group or album awards, although English singer Mabel, 23, was nominated for three awards and ultimately claimed one of the biggest of the night – Best British Female Artist. 

Front runner: Amid the sexism storm for the lack of female nominees at this year's BRITs, rising superstar Billie Eilish, 18, received a nod in the International Female Solo Artist

Front runner: Amid the sexism storm for the lack of female nominees at this year’s BRITs, rising superstar Billie Eilish, 18, received a nod in the International Female Solo Artist

Accolade: Stormzy appeared delighted as he picked up Best Male Solo Artist

Accolade: Stormzy appeared delighted as he picked up Best Male Solo Artist

Congrats: Lewis, 23, claimed two awards from four nominations, triumphing in the categories for New Artist and Song of the Year, while Stormzy picked up Best Male Solo Artist

Congrats: Lewis, 23, claimed two awards from four nominations, triumphing in the categories for New Artist and Song of the Year, while Stormzy picked up Best Male Solo Artist

Lewis, meanwhile, was the big winner at the BRITs 2020.

The hilariously humble Scottish star’s first speech was muted by ITV as the Grace hitmaker speedily said: ‘Thank you very f***ing much, see you in a bit. Goodnight.’ 

The latter nomination was awarded for hit single Someone You Loved, a track Capaldi insisted was written for his late grandmother – not former girlfriend and current Love Island star Paige Turley.  

He took aim at his ex-girlfriend, Paige while accepting his second accolade of the night as he reiterated that the song is actually about his late grandmother.

Achievement: Stormzy proudly posed with his trophy and acknowledged the sexism row in his acceptance speech

Achievement: Stormzy proudly posed with his trophy and acknowledged the sexism row in his acceptance speech

He said: ‘My name is Lewis. Thanks very f***ing much. Contrary to many people thinking it’s about my ex-girlfriend who you can now see every night on ‘Love island’, it’s actually about my grandmother who sadly passed away a few years ago.’

The singer – who had clearly hit the booze hard – then thanked his grandmother for ‘dying’, before apologising.

He said: ‘I hope to God ITV don’t contact her to be on a dating show.

Well done: English singer Mabel, 23, was nominated for three awards and ultimately claimed one of the biggest of the night - Best British Female Artist

Well done: English singer Mabel, 23, was nominated for three awards and ultimately claimed one of the biggest of the night – Best British Female Artist

‘It’s the best year of my life. Thanks to my mum and dad for making love and thanks to my grandmother for dying. Sorry. See you later.’

Meanwhile Stormzy, 26, picked up the award for Best Male Solo Artist in front of a star-studded audience that included ex-girlfriend Maya Jama. 

Accepting his award, the grime star was quick to reference the gender disparity at this year’s ceremony by thanking the team of ‘brilliant women’ who form his management team.       

Elsewhere Dave’s excellent Psychodrama beat stiff competition to win Best Album ahead of Stormzy’s new release Heavy Is The Head, Michael Kiwanuka’s self-titled LP Harry Styles’ Fine Line and Lewis Capaldi’s Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent.    

Rising star: Celeste, winner of the Rising Star award, poses in the winners room at The BRIT Awards 2020

Rising star: Celeste, winner of the Rising Star award, poses in the winners room at The BRIT Awards 2020

Amazing: Taking it global, innovative rapper Tyler, The Creator beat Bruce Springsteen, Burna Boy, Dermot Kennedy and Post Malone in the category for International Male Solo Artist

Amazing: Taking it global, innovative rapper Tyler, The Creator beat Bruce Springsteen, Burna Boy, Dermot Kennedy and Post Malone in the category for International Male Solo Artist

Meanwhile Oxford based band Foals won Best Group after a return to the spotlight with their conceptual, two-part Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost. 

The group beat Bastille, Bring Me The Horizon, Coldplay and D-Block Europe to the honour on Tuesday night. 

Taking it global, innovative rapper Tyler, The Creator beat Bruce Springsteen, Burna Boy, Dermot Kennedy and Post Malone in the category for International Male Solo Artist.   

Over the moon: Elsewhere Dave's excellent Psychodrama beat stiff competition to win Best Album

 Over the moon: Elsewhere Dave’s excellent Psychodrama beat stiff competition to win Best Album

The lack of nominations in for female artists comes despite a major overhaul of the Brits’ voting academy in 2017 to make it more gender balanced and diverse, with hundreds of new members invited to join the pool. 

The awards are voted for by around 1,500 people from across the UK music industry including journalists, record label employees and musicians.

The rising star winner was announced as Celeste late last year, while the producer of the year will be announced at a later date.

The international group and video categories were axed by organisers this year. 

Band: Oxford based band Foals won Best Group after a return to the spotlight with their conceptual, two-part Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost

Band: Oxford based band Foals won Best Group after a return to the spotlight with their conceptual, two-part Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost

BRIT Awards 2020: ALL THE WINNERS

British Male Solo Artist

Stormzy (WINNER) 

Harry Styles

Lewis Capaldi

Dave

Michael Kiwanuka 

 

British Female Solo Artist

Mabel (WINNER)

Freya Ridings

FKA Twigs

Charli XCX

Mahalia

 

Song Of The Year

Lewis Capaldi – Someone You Loved (WINNER)

Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber – I Don’t Care

Mabel – Don’t Call Me Up

Calvin Harris and Rag’n’Bone Man – Giant 

Dave featuring Burna Boy – Location

Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus – Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

AJ Tracey – Ladbroke Grove 

Tom Walker – Just You And I

Sam Smith and Normani – Dancing With A Stranger

Stormzy – Vossi Bop 

Group

Foals (WINNER)

Coldplay 

Bring Me The Horizon

D Block Europe

Bastille 

 

British Album Of The Year

Dave – Psychodrama (WINNER) 

Stormzy – Heavy Is The Head

Michael Kiwanuka – Kiwanuka

Lewis Capaldi – Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent 

Harry Styles – Fine Line

 

International Male Solo Artist

Tyler, The Creator (WINNER)

Bruce Springsteen

Burna Boy 

Dermot Kennedy

Post Malone

 

International Female Solo Artist

Billie Eilish (WINNER)

Ariana Grande 

Camila Cabello

Lana Del Rey

Lizzo

 

New Artist

Lewis Capaldi (WINNER)

Aitch 

Dave

Mabel

Sam Fender

 

 

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