The BRITs 2008 - Backstage Diary

The winners have been decided, the awards have been engraved and bums are on seats. The BRITs 2008 are about to start.

Use this link to see a full list of the night's winners.

But what happened backstage?

Julie Cullen, 6Music's roving reporter, gave us minute-by-minute updates from behind-the-scenes.

Read on to get an exclusive insight into all the action...

18:22 - The Arctic Monkeys arrive on the red carpet. This is the first time they've come to the event despite being nominated three years in a row. They are dressed to impress but don't stop to talk to any of the awaiting press.

18:40 - Kate Nash is here! Though she is in a serious mood. She talks to Julie about how the Love Music Hate Racism Project. Check out Julie's full interviews on the Radio 2 show tonight - 21:00 - 23:30.

18:50 - James Blunt arrives looking for a "knees-up".

19:00 - Girls Aloud are here. Interestingly Cheryl Cole runs past the press without stopping for a chat. I wonder why?

19:14 - A very chilled Richard Hawley stops to talk to Julie. He doesn't think much of his chances of winning, and is here more to have a "pint with the Arctic Monkeys", than to take home a prize.

19:15 - No sign of Take That yet. Though Sir Ian McKellen has just turned up (?)

19:19 - KT Tunstall arrives in the Radio 2 backstage studio to talk to Simon Mayo. She looks amazing in a vintage Armani number. Will she take home another award tonight and get two BRITs bookends?

20:00 - The BRITs 2008 have officially started. With a collaboration between an extremely tall MIKA and a pink-mini dress clad Beth Ditto.

20:07 - Its time for your award. The Best British Live Act as voted for by Radio 2 listeners. Who did you pick...?

20:10 - It's Take That. They make an emotional acceptance speech and thank their fans. So, that's you then!

20:12 - It's collaboration central here at Earl's Court. Now it is the turn of American superstar Rhianna and UK's rising-stars the Klaxons.

Apologies...we lost you for a bit there. Now back to the action -

20:50 - Take That come into the studio hyper after their Best British Live Act win. We can't help noticing that little Mark had two inch heels on. Bless.

21:30 - Oh my goodness, it's only Kylie. She's got to be quick as she is giving Sir Paul his big lifetime achievement award. Simon has 1min to chat to her and that is it. He asks her whether she is cold, she is really shivering. No, it is just that she is so bowled over by winning Best International Female Artist (FYI, she really is as tiny as everyone says she is).

21:40 - Kylie's mate David Tennant is here with us. He looks rather prestine next to the Radio 2 team, who are melting in the porta-cabin the BRITs have given us backstage and have "started stripping down to our basics" as Simon puts it. After Dr Who next stop Hamlet in Stratford for David - ooer!

21: 45 - Kate Nash and her beaming, photo-snapping Mum skip into the Radio 2 studio. Kate was clutching a bottle of bubbly and she was over the moon that "little old me from Harrow" had been recognised.

22:16 - Best Breakthrough Act MIKA has "cluncked" into the studio. He too has champagne - where can the Radio 2 team get some!? He shares his love for fellow nominees Leona Lewis and Mark Ronson (the Radio 2 interview was apparently his favourite of the whole evening - well done us).

22:25 - Macca is outside talking to our friends at 6Music. Check out the gallery for a pic.


Full list of winners

Outstanding Contribution to Music
Sir Paul McCartney

British Album
Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare

British Single
Take That - Shine

British Group
Arctic Monkeys

International Album
Foo Fighters

British Female Solo Artist
Kate Nash

International Group
Foo Fighters

International Female Solo Artist
Kylie

British Male Solo Artist
Mark Ronson

International Male Solo Artist
Kayne West

British Breakthrough Act
Mika

Critics' Choice
Adele

British Live Act
Take That