Brit Awards 2015: the best and worst bits
From Madonna's tumble to a muted Kanye act, it was a night of falling stars and awkward moments
The 2015 Brit Awards saw Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran collect two gongs each, but Madonna, who took an unrehearsed stage dive while performing, stole the headlines.
It was a night of rising and falling stars at the O2 Arena in London, in which Ed Sheeran won British Male Solo Artist and British Album of the Year, and Sam Smith snapped up the Global Success Award and British Breakthrough Act.
We look at some of the hits and misses:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Madonna's tumble
In a show-stealing moment towards the end of the evening, Madonna took a dramatic fall down a flight of stairs during her performance of Living For Love. The 56-year-old pop songstress attributed the tumble to her elaborate matador-themed cape being tied too tightly, so that it failed to untie in time for her dancers to rip it away as she climbed the stairs of the stage. Taking it in her stride, Madonna dusted herself off, stood up and mounted the steps again without her cape. In The Guardian, Alexis Petridis commented that if the moment proved anything, "it was that the Brit Awards themselves are substantially less interesting than watching someone fall over".
Kanye's flaming mime act
Kanye West's headline performance was almost turned into a mime act when ITV muted half of his song All Day. The spectacular performance featured dozens of extras, several guest rappers and a couple of flamethrowers but, as the Daily Telegraph reports, "viewers at home were left wondering if their televisions were on the blink as the sound kept cutting out, with the song replaced by the murmur of guests' conversation in the O2". An 'Audio Muted' sign in the corner of the screen signalled that ITV bosses were ordering the sound to be turned off because the song repeatedly features the n-word.
Taylor Swift's UK triumph
Rolling Stone praised Taylor Swift's "brilliant opening performance seemingly channelling Cabaret" in her execution of Blank Space, and confirming "her current queen of pop status". Swift accepted her International Female Solo Artist win – her first-ever Brit Award, in typically gracious and enthusiastic Swift style, adding a shout out to Brit star Sheeran: "I wouldn't be up here if it wasn't for one of my best friends who took me to pubs and showed me how to make a nice cup of tea – I love you Ed Sheeran!"
Ant and Dec's disappearing act
Comedy duo Ant and Dec hosted the awards with mixed success. Metro's Tamara Hardingham-Gill called their performance "a bit on the cringe side" but gave the double act credit for the moment they revealed where they go during the ad breaks. The pair lifted up a tablecloth and climbed underneath a guest's table. Ant then took a bottle of champagne from the table before a female guest sitting there tried to grab it back.
Awkward jokes
In a night of awkward moments, a few jokes stood out for their cringe factor. While presenting the award for International Male Solo Artist prize, Cara Delevingne quipped that she would love to be "the meat" in the Ant and Dec sandwich at the ceremony, raising some titters from the audience. Jimmy Carr also had a moment with model Karlie Kloss on stage, when he joked about sneaking into Madonna's dressing room and finding "a lot of drugs". Carr added that she shouldn't worry because "it's all HRT stuff", leaving Kloss to shake her head.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Unpasteurised milk and the American right
Under the radar Former darling of health-conscious liberal foodies is now a 'conservative culture war signal': a sign of mistrust in experts
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Government shutdown looming? Blame the border
Talking Points Democrats and Republicans say funding for immigration enforcement is the budget battle's latest sticking point. That's about all they agree on.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Conservatives have not limited their attack on reproductive rights to the US'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
5 movies to watch in March, from 'Dune II' to 'Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour'
The week recommends A big-budget sci-fi, a record-breaking concert documentary and more
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold Published
-
Raye: the artist celebrating a record win at the Brits
Why Everyone's Talking About The rise of the south London singer-songwriter from Brit School dropout to 'all-conquering success'
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Super Bowl commercials are playing it safe this year
Talking Points But Taylor Swift is expected to bring more women and beauty brands to the big game
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Movies to watch in February, from 'Argylle' to 'Drive-Away Dolls'
The Week Recommends A spy thriller tied to a real-life mystery, a solo Coen brother feature and more
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
The celebrity winners of 2023
Why everyone's talking about Girl power's still got it as Taylor Swift, Barbie and Britney all come out on top
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why Vladimir Putin lost out to Taylor Swift as Time's Person of the Year
Talking Point Magazine commends the singer for being 'a source of light in a time of darkness'
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Movies to watch in December, from 'Wonka' to 'The Color Purple'
The Week Recommends A month for Beyoncé, Godzilla and Willy Wonka
By Brendan Morrow, The Week US Published