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The Brits: Winners And Losers
Toby Cook , February 19th, 2009 08:21

Duffy three, Coldplay nil.

Pint sized Welsh warbler Duffy was the big winner at last night's Brit awards – where industry suit types, who have spent the last 12 months in a darkened room with their fingers in their ears, dish out awards to those artists currently en vogue, and some older ones perhaps less so.

With four nominations, the girl from the valleys scooped three gongs for Best Album, Best British Female and Best British Breakthrough. Rather less prolific however were jetsetting environmentalists Coldplay, who missed out in all four of the categories they were nominated in.

The undoubted highlight of the evening came with the Pet Shop Boys collecting, to much overdue praise, the Outstanding Contribution To Music Award.

The Killers frontman, Brandon Flowers presented the award amidst a barrage of superlatives, saying that the duo had introduced him to "a new world of beats and sophistication."

Following the award Messrs. Lowe and Tennant appeared on stage and ran through a greatest hits medly, with contributions from Lady GaGa (on 'What Have I Done To Deserve This?') and Flowers (on 'It's A Sin').

Elsewhere, Elbow were crowned Best British Group with Iron Maiden taking home the Best Live Group award. Kings Of Leon walked off with Best International Album and Best International Group gongs, whilst Kanye West and Katy Perry won Best International Male and Female respectively.

Watch: Pet Shop Boys medly, including suits well-refreshed dancing: