Harry Styles kicked off the 2023 BRIT Awards with a bang when he opened the show with a performance of his song As It Was.
The singer, 29, brought down the house at London’s 02 Arena on Saturday when he gave a stellar performance of his number one hit.
The star, who is up for four awards at this year’s ceremony, took the stage in a bright red blazer and black pants.
Host Mo Gilligan then took the stage and welcomed show-goers, saying, “For the first time, we’re on a Saturday night.” The tables are back in full force.
Aitch took home the top prize of the night, winning the Hip-Hop/Grime Act gong.
Opening: Harry Styles kicked off the 2023 BRIT Awards with a bang when he opened the show with a performance of his song As It Was
Winner: Aitch cursed live as he took home the top prize of the night, winning the Hip-Hop/Grime Act gong.
The rapper swore within seconds of taking the stage, saying, “I’m sucking myself because I thought I’d have time for a couple more drinks before I came here, but obviously not!”
He added: ‘I want to thank my fans for voting, thank you very much. It is possible no matter where you are from.
Beyonce took home the award for International Artist of the Year, beating out Kendrik Lamar, Lizzo and Taylor Swift.
The star was not present at the ceremony but recorded an acceptance speech saying: ‘Thank you so much for this incredible recognition.
‘I would like to thank all my fans in Britain for this award. The revival begins, see you on tour!’
Becky Hill won the Dance Act award for a second year and paid tribute to some of her fellow artists in her speech.
She said: ‘I want to thank the British committee for putting me on the short list of the dance act for another year.
“It is a great honor to be nominated alongside Eliza Rose and Raye, who are an inspiration to women and people of color in such an underrepresented scene.
Show: The singer, 29, brought down the house at London’s 02 Arena on Saturday when he gave a stellar performance of his number one hit
“Beyonce said it best in her Grammy speech, we all have the queer community to thank for the best genre in the world.”
Harry, Wet Leg and Sam Smith lead this year’s nominations as stars battle it out for coveted awards.
All three will perform on the night, with Lizzo, Becky Hill, Cat Burns and Stormzy also storming the stage.
However, music bosses came under fire when the list was announced last month.
Performance: The star, who is up for four awards at this year’s ceremony, took the stage in a bright red blazer and black pants
In a surprise snub, female artists were excluded from Entertainer of the Year, which last year introduced a gender-neutral overhaul by removing its male- and female-focused categories.
The first gender neutral award was presented to Adele last year, but in her acceptance speech she told the audience: “I love being a woman.”
Nominated for Artist of the Year are Central Cee, Fred Again, George Ezra, Harry Styles and Stormzy.
Harry, Stormzy and Fred Again, whose real name is Fred Gibson, are also up for album of the year, along with The 1975 and indie duo Wet Leg, who are the only female act in the category.
Charli XCX, whose fifth studio album Crash topped the charts, and Florence and the Machine, whose album Dance Fever earned the singer her fourth UK number one, were notably absent.
Now BRIT Awards bosses are in talks to bring back separate categories for best male and female artist next year, after no women made the shortlist for their new gender-neutral award.
The coveted Song of the Year with Mastercard category will see Aitch with Baby Ft Ashanti, Cat Burns with Go, Dave with Starlight and Ed Sheeran and Elton John with their holiday hit Merry Christmas.
Also nominated are Eliza Rose and Interplanetary Criminal with Baddest Of Them All, George Ezra with Green Green Grass and Harry Styles with As It Was.
Closing out the Song of the Year nominations are Lewis Capaldi with Forget Me, Lf System with Afraid To Feel, and Sam Smith and Kim Petras with Unholy.
Up for Group of the Year are The 1975, Arctic Monkeys, Bad Boy Chiller Crew, Nova Twins and Wet Leg, while International Group of the Year saw nominations for Black Pink, Drake And 21 Savage, First Aid Kit, Fontaines Dc and Gabriels.
Speaking after their four nods, Wet Leg said: ‘Someone hold our horses as we face this wild news, being nominated for a BRIT award is too hard to fathom, we could never have expected our little band to pull this off. ‘
Alt Rock nominees are The 1975, Arctic Monkeys, Nova Twins, Tom Grennan and Wet Leg.
Stormzy has earned another nomination in the Hip Hop/Grime/Rap category, competing against Aitch, Central Cee, Dave and Loyle Carner.
Becky Hill once again earned a nomination in the Dance Act category, having previously garnered the award last year.
She is nominated against Bonobo, Calvin Harris, Eliza Rose and Fred Again.
On the other hand, in the International Categories, Beyoncé reigns once again with two nominations, along with Taylor Swift and Lizzo.
For International Artist of the Year are Beyonce, Burna Boy, Kendrick Lamar, Lizzo and Taylor Swift.