Blunt and Kaiser Chiefs triumph at Brits

James Blunt and the Kaiser Chiefs triumphed at the Brit Awards tonight.

Kaiser Chiefs were the night’s biggest winners with a hat-trick of awards - the Leeds band were named Best British Group, Best British Rock Act and Best British Live Act.

Blunt, the former Army captain who was unheard of a year ago, beat the likes of Will Young and Robbie Williams to the title of Best British Male.

He also took the prize for Best Pop Act, despite competition from Madonna and Westlife.

The 28-year-old singer-songwriter is an unlikely pop star – educated at Harrow, he trained at Sandhurst before joining the Household Cavalry and serving in Kosovo.

His debut single, You’re Beautiful, catapulted him to fame last year.

But it failed to land the Brit for Best British Single – that honour went to Coldplay for Speed Of Sound.

Coldplay also won Best British Album for the multi-million seller X&Y.

The Brit Awards were held at London’s Earls Court Arena and hosted by Chris Evans.

Kaiser Chiefs opened proceedings with their hit I Predict A Riot.

Scottish singer KT Tunstall beat Charlotte Church and Kate Bush to the award for Best British Female.

Band-of-the-moment Arctic Monkeys won Best British Breakthrough Act but weren’t there to receive it – opting instead to play a gig in Portsmouth.

Madonna won Best International Female thanks to the success of her latest album Confessions On A Dance Floor.

US band Green Day took home awards for Best International Group and Best International Album for American Idiot.

Paul Weller was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Music award.

There were also wins for Lemar (Best British Urban Act), Kanye West (Best International Male) and Jack Johnson (Best International Breakthrough).

Oasis and the hotly-tipped Gorillaz left empty-handed.

The show included a performance by Prince, making his first appearance at the Brits since 1997.