© Provided by Daily MailMailOnline logo
The 2021 BRIT Awards marked the long-awaited return of live music on Tuesday night as Dua Lipa called for the UK government to increase salaries for key workers in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
After scooping the award for British Female Solo Artist, the Physical hitmaker demanded that the audience give Prime Minister Boris Johnson 'a message' that frontline staff deserved a pay rise before dedicating her prize to Dame Elizabeth Anionwu.
The ceremony, which took place at London's O2 Arena with a limited audience as part of the government's Covid pilot scheme, also saw Little Mix make history as the first ever girl band to win Best British Group, with the trio paying tribute to former bandmate Jesy Nelson in their speech.
© Provided by Daily MailSpeaking out! The 2021 BRIT Awards marked the long-awaited return of live music on Tuesday night as Dua Lipa called for the UK government to increase salaries for key workers in the wake of the Covid pandemic
Dua certainly proved to be the star of the evening as she took to the stage with an opening medley of her hits, which began as she made her way to the O2 on the Underground at Charing Cross station.
The hitmaker delivered a medley of her hits Physical, Pretty Please, Hallucinate and Don't Start Now in a Union Jack inspired ensemble, after channelling Amy Winehouse with her eye-catching look on the red carpet.
It was a night to remember for Dua as she also took to the stage to accept the award for Female Solo Artist, and used the opportunity to share the prize with nurse Dame Elizabeth Anionwu.
She said: 'This is sick, wow thank you so much, it's such an honour to be here it's such an honour to be back on this stage, last time when I was up accepting this award in 2018 I wanted to see more women on these stages, and I'm so proud three years later to be part of this wave of women in music.
Stellar: The hitmaker scooped the award for British Female Solo Artist at the ceremony on Tuesday,
© Provided by Daily Mail 'To my family and friends for all their support I'm so grateful and I feel so so licky, I think this is such an incredible invite to give another part of your award to someone and I've chosen my favourite British female is Dame Elizabeth Anionwu
'She has spent her stellar nursing career fighting racial injustice she has spent so much time and is a strong advocate for protecting frontline workers, thank you.
'She has also sad that there is a massive disparity between love and respect for frontline workers, because we need to clap them but we need to pay them, so I think what we should do is give a massive round of applause and give Boris a message that we all support a pay rise for our frontline!'
© Provided by Daily Mail Elsewhere, after stunning in their elegant white ensembles, Little Mix took to the stage to accept their prize for Best British Group, with Leigh-Anne Pinnock beginning: 'We have been together for 10 years it's been the best years of our life, we've had so much fun we've made so many memories, we want to thank your incredible fans, Jesy.
'It's not easy being a female in the UK pop industry, we've seen the misogyny, dominance and lack of diversity, we're proud of how we're stuck together and we're using our voices more than ever.'
Jade added: 'This award isn't just for us, it's for Spice Girls, Sugababes, All Saints, Girls Aloud, all the incredible girls bands we love you.'
© Provided by Daily MailElated: Leigh-Anne Pinnock (far left) said: 'We have been together for 10 years it's been the best years of our life, we've had so much fun we've made so many memories, we want to thank your incredible fans, Jesy'
© Provided by Daily MailThrilled: Jade added: 'This award isn't just for us, it's for Spice Girls, Sugababes, All Saints, Girls Aloud, all the incredible girls bands we love you'
Comedian Jack Whitehall was once again tasked with hosting the awards, and as ever he didn't disappoint with a slew of jibes and tongue-in-cheek jokes.
These included a cheeky reference to singer Rita and her London party which breached lockdown rules back in November during a sea shanty with The Wellerman creator Nathan Evans, by singing: 'It's a Party Fit for Rita Ora.'
Video: Red carpet rolled out at the O2 Arena ahead of the Brit Awards 2021 (Daily Mail)
Red carpet rolled out at the O2 Arena ahead of the Brit Awards 2021
![UP NEXT]()
UP NEXT
Ahead of Coldplay's opening performance, host Jack received a grilling from the Line Of Duty duo Vicky McClure and Martin Compston about who would be kicking off the ceremony.
But despite channelling their AC-12 alter-agos, the funnyman failed to spill the beans, meaning the pair had to call in reinforcements - Handforth Parish Council's Jackie Weaver.
Despite Jack's insistence she 'didn't have the authority,' Jackie furiously terminated their video chat, before beginning the live awards show.
Coldplay then kicked off the show with an incredible pre-recorded performance on the River Thames of their single Higher Power from a barge in front of the O2.
Naughty! Comedian Jack Whitehall was once again tasked with hosting the awards, and as ever he didn't disappoint with a slew of jibes and tongue-in-cheek jokes including a swipe at Rita Ora
© Provided by Daily Mail Going on all out for the opening act, Coldplay opted for futuristic dancing holograms and sparkling fireworks for the showcase, which was filmed outside the O2 last month.
The performance included the use of jaw-dropping holograms, adding to the sci-fi theme after the band unveiled their new single last week by streaming it on board the Internation Space Station.
Up first was the award for British Breakthrough Artist, awarded to Arlo Parks, who gushed that 'dreams do come true' after thanking her loved ones for helping encourage her to reach the prestigious honour.
© Provided by Daily MailHomage: Dua channelled the Spice Girls with a Union Jack-inspired ensemble and suspenders as she took to the stage at the O2 arena for a medley of Physical, Pretty Please, Hallucinate and Don't Start Now
© Provided by Daily MailHomage: Dua channelled the Spice Girls with a Union Jack-inspired ensemble and suspenders as she took to the stage at the O2 arena for a medley of Physical, Pretty Please, Hallucinate and Don't Start Now
Male Solo Artist was given to J Hus, who was unable to attend to accept the award, while International Female Artist was presented to Billie Eilish, who lamented being unable to attend the occasion after her stellar performance of No Time To Die at last year's ceremony.
She said: 'I love you so much this is an honour, the BRITs were so magical for me last year, I can't wait to come back, thank you.'
The 2021 Brit Awards marked the first major indoor music event in over a year as bosses released 2,500 free tickets to key workers.
The Brit Awards took place in front of a live audience of 4,000 people at London's The O2 six days before the next phase of lockdown lifts.
The ceremony broadcast live on ITV, celebrated the return to live music and nominee Dua Lipa promised those attending that it would 'be a night to remember'.
The indoor ceremony and live show formed part of the Government's scientific Events Research Programme, and will use enhanced testing approaches to examine how events can take place without the need for social distancing after all restrictions are lifted on June 21.
How are the BRIT Awards going ahead during the Covid pandemic?
The 2021 BRIT Awards mark the first live music event in the UK since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The indoor ceremony and live show will form part of the Government's scientific Events Research Programme.
Enhanced testing approaches will examine how events can take place without the need for social distancing after all restrictions are lifted on June 21.
4,000 tickets were made available for the live ceremony, just one fifth of the venue's 20,000 capacity, with 2,500 of those being given to key workers.
The BRITs will play an important role in paving the way for the return of live music at scale as the UK emerges from the past year's restrictions.
Audience members will not be socially distanced or required to wear face coverings once seated inside the arena, though they will be required in communal areas such as the toilet or main concourse.
All attendees will be allowed to purchase alcohol and concessions once inside the O2 Arena.
Attendees will also be required to follow existing Government guidance when travelling to the venue and adhere to rules set out by the event organisers.
Among the rules, attendees must have proof of a negative lateral flow test result to enter the venue, and said test must be taken at an asymptomatic testing site within 36 hours of the ceremony.
Upon arrival at the venue, all attendess will be asked to take a PCR test, and will then take another test five days after the ceremony
It's hoped this will gather further evidence on the safety of indoor settings, reduced social distancing and the removal of non-pharmaceutical interventions like face coverings.
Working closely with the Government to adhere to safety guidelines, this means The BRITs, was the first live music show at The O2 in over a year, with 4,000 tickets being up for grabs- just one fifth of the venue's 20,000 capacity.
The BRITs will play an important role in paving the way for the return of live music at scale as the UK emerges from the past year's restrictions.
Audience members were not socially distanced or required to wear face coverings in the arena, but were required to follow existing Government guidance when travelling to the venue and adhere to rules set out by the event organisers.
Among the rules, attendees had to provide proof of a negative lateral flow test result to enter the venue.
As part of the wider scientific research on the trial events, attendees were also be asked to take a test after the event to gather further evidence on the safety of indoor settings, reduced social distancing and the removal of non-pharmaceutical interventions like face coverings.
The show awarded Taylor Swift - who made history as the first ever female to be given BRITs Global Icon Award at the ceremony.
The 11-time Grammy Award winner, 31, joined former winners Elton John, Robbie Williams and David Bowie in being given the award in recognition of her impact on music across the world and incredible repertoire and achievements to date.
In numbers provided by Official Charts Company, Taylor is the UK's biggest selling artist of the year to date in 2021 and has sold over 114m albums worldwide with total global audio + video streams reaching 78b.
Taylor is the only artist in history to have four consecutive albums - Speak Now, RED, 1989 and reputation - sell over one million copies in their week of release.
She is also the only artist to have nine albums each sell at least half a million copies in a single week, with Fearless, Speak Now, RED, 1989, reputation, Lover, folklore, evermore, Fearless (Taylor's Version).
Taylor was also nominated for a second BRIT award this year for International Female Solo Artist, her sixth BRIT nomination to date.
The Icon gong is the highest accolade given and is reserved for truly exceptional artists - following on from Elton, Robbie and David.
Nominations were unveiled in March, with Celeste, Dua Lipa, Joel Corry and Young T & Bugsey joining Arlo Parks in receiving three nominations each, and Jessie Ware, J Hus, Bicep, AJ Tracey up for two awards as with Headie One.
Read more