Coldplay up for four MTV awards

Coldplay and Kylie Minogue have notched up four nominations apiece for this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards.

The British band have been shortlisted for best group, best rock, best UK & Ireland act and best album for A Rush Of Blood To The Head.

Meanwhile Kylie is up for best female, best dance, best pop and best album for the best-selling Fever.

They are among an unprecedented six artists to be nominated for four awards each – along with Eminem, Pink, Enrique Iglesias and Shakira.

The awards are being held in Barcelona and US rapper Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs was today unveiled as this year’s host.

Combs promised to bring his own inimitable charm to the event, which is now in its ninth year.

He said: “We’re going to have a big old party and there’s not going to be a dull moment. It doesn’t get any sexier than this: MTV, Barcelona and Diddy.”

He added: “So many times you see awards shows which leave you bored and unentertained. I want you to be able to feel the energy through your television sets.

“I’ve plans to make this the best one yet and we’re going to try things that have never been done before. We’re going to do it Diddy style.”

The star-studded show, to be held on November 14, will feature live performances from Coldplay, Enrique Iglesias and Robbie Williams.

Williams usually picks up a raft of nominations at the awards but this year he has just one – up for best male against Eminem, Enrique Iglesias, Lenny Kravitz and Nelly.

The artists in the running for best female are Britney Spears, Kylie, Pink, Shakira and Combs’ former girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez.

Asked who he wanted to win that category, a diplomatic Combs replied: “I’ll get back to you on that one.”

The battle for best band will be between Coldplay, Linkin Park, No Doubt, Red Hot Chili Peppers and U2.

Celebrity presenters at the awards, which are voted for by MTV viewers, include Bond stars Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry, Holly Valance and Sugababes.

The show will be staged in front of a 13,000-strong live audience and a potential TV audience of one billion.