BRITs hosts' most shocking moments – Peter Kay row to James Corden's huge Adele blunder

The BRIT Awards are upon us and excitement is at fever-pitch to see who will be the recipients of this year’s gongs.

As we prepare to pay homage to some of the UK’s most talented British musicians, it’s no secret that the long string of celebs to take on the coveted hosting gig have often stolen the headlines away from the award-winners with their cut-throat jokes and wild antics.

Let’s take a look back at the best, worst and most memorable BRIT Awards hosts – from Peter Kay calling Liam Gallagher a “k**b*ead” live on stage to Russell Brand alleging former Prime minister David Cameron smoked drugs as a schoolboy.

Jack Whitehall

The comedian and actor made it clear he was taking no prisoners when he presented the awards in 2021.

The savage comic immediately took a swipe at “unemployed” Piers Morgan after his Good Morning Britain exit before mercilessly mocking Rita Ora, Niall Horan and Little Mix.

Taking a swipe at former Good Morning Britain Presenter Piers in his opening speech, Jack told the 4,000-strong audience: “I cannot tell you how grateful we are to be here tonight for the first live event back in the 02 arena.

“This venue has been emptier than Piers Morgan’s diary.”

He joked: “To ensure a reduced capacity we billed this as a Niall Horan gig.”

Introducing pregnant Leigh-Anne and Perrie, he added: “These girls are so in sync they can even harmonise their pregnancies.” Rita Ora was also the subject of Jack’s jibes after the popstar flouted Covid lockdown rules when she threw herself a 30th birthday party.

James Corden

2012 brought perhaps the most controversial BRIT Awards moment to date when actor James Corden hit the headlines for interrupting megastar Adele mid-speech as she accepted her award for Best British Album.

The singer was clearly upset by this as she walked off stage after holding up her middle finger to the camera.

Speaking after the show on ITV2, the Gavin And Stacy star admitted: “I don’t understand quite why I was made to cut her short. Blur played for 11 minutes and she didn’t get chance to say thank you once.”

An ITV spokesman said at the time: “The BRITs is a live event. Unfortunately the programme was over running and we had to move on. We would like to apologise to Adele for the interruption.”

The Rolling in the Deep star said afterwards: “I was about to thank the British public for their support. They cut me off, sorry if I offended anyone but the suits offended me.”

Peter Kay

Loveable comedian Peter Kay made headlines in 2010 when he started a feud with Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher.

When Liam collected the award for Best Album of 30 Years for What’s The Story, Morning Glory, he thanked every former member of the group apart from Noel, before lobbing the microphone into the audience, which prompted the shocked comedian to label him a “k**b*ead”.

Liam responded to the slur on Twitter, blasting: “Listen up fat f***. As a real northerner I was brought up 2 say s**t 2 people’s faces not behind their back. Live forever LG”

Undeterred, funnyman Kay continued the feud when he congratulated Noel Gallagher on his BRIT Award but yet again called Liam a “k**b*ead”.

He said on his website: “So it was the BRITs last night and I was honoured to be asked to host the show especially with it being thirty years old.

“Congratulations to all the winners, including Noel Gallagher who sadly didn’t get a mention (and who thankfully isn’t a k**b*ead).”

Russell Brand

Russell Brand’s controversial hosting of the BRIT Awards in 2007 hit the headlines in after media regulator Ofcom received hundreds of complaints about the star.

The flamboyant presenter, 46, drew gasps from viewers when he made a series of risqué jokes about “intimate parts of the human body”, drugs, Iraq, the Queen and Robbie Williams.

Ofcom quoted Brand as saying: “What about the rumours David Cameron smoked drugs as a schoolboy? What worries me most is that he dressed up as a schoolboy to do it, the pervert.

“Though, perhaps let’s not condemn him regardless. Who among us didn’t smoke just a little bit of weed at school, just to take the edge off those irksome crack come-downs?”

ITV defended Brand, saying he was a popular comedian and presenter “known for his flamboyant persona”, adding that the reference to crack was “clearly ironic” and “did not seriously suggest that children take drugs at school”.

The BRITs was never ultimately investigated as a result of the comedian by Ofcom, though he hasn’t returned to host since.

The Osbournes

The BRIT awards were full of glitz and glamour and a series of curse words when Birmingham’s most famous family, The Osbournes, took over hosting duties in 2008.

Ozzy and Sharon, along with their children Kelly and Jack, took the reigns and it wasn’t long before complaints began to roll in.

Host Sharon shocked viewers when she verbally attacked comedian Vic Reeves, whom she accused of being drunk at the televised music awards bash.

As Reeves, 49, apparently struggled to announce the award for Best British Album, Osbourne, 55, turned to him and said: “Get on with it, you p***head … Shut up, you’re p***ed, p*ss off. P*ss off you b**ard… p*ss off!” It said: “

Having received numerous complaints, Ofcom ultimately announced: “While we understand that this language may have been offensive to some viewers, it was broadcast after the watershed and in a programme with a particular reputation.

“We believe that regular viewers would have been aware of the likelihood of this kind of material.

“Further, Ofcom research indicates that the examples of language quoted are generally considered quite mild.”

Frank Skinner and Zoe Ball

BRITs organisers will look back on the decision to invite Frank Skinner and Zoe Ball to co-host the Brits Awards in 2002 as a gamble that did not pay off.

From the moment Skinner first stepped onto the stage in a Union Jack shirt and tie and launched into a rambling 15-minute solo routine, the night was deemed uneventful, forgettable and embarrassing.

Many wondered whether he had forgotten that he had a co-host, as Skinner seemed to dominate the evening and often could not resist the chance to take a pop at the winners or those presenting the awards.

He told Formula One driver Eddie Irvine, who presented the prize for best international album to Kylie Minogue, that motor-racing “was not a proper sport”.

He also asked the audience to boo Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell as he appeared to announce that S Club 7 had won best British single.

Since hosting the awards ceremony Skinner has admitted that the experience was the worst gig he’s ever done.

Speaking about one moment that didn’t go down well, he added to Metro: “I introduced people who handed the awards out. Sophie Ellis-Bextor walked on stage and I said, ‘Why the wide face?’, which seemed to appall the audience.

“She didn’t take it well. Her mum told me off not long afterwards.”

He went on to add that that as he walked off stage, Kate Thornton stopped him and said, “Well done, Frank, would you do it again?” to which he replied, “F*** off” live on ITV. He added: “That’s how well it went.”

RuPaul and Elton John

The colourful duo delivered an iconic performance during their hosting stint at the BRIT Awards in 1994.

Making history as the first person of colour to host the awards, RuPaul and Sir Elton dazzled with their widely praised rendition of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart to mark the release of the song as the second single from Elton’s Duets album.

They even stoically reenacted Grant Wood’s American Gothic painting before bursting into some serious Dad disco dancing.

The pair’s hosting gig was deemed a huge success due to its flamboyant party atmosphere and fans have long been calling for the pair to co-host again the future.

RuPaul is now best known for producing, hosting, and judging the reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race. which is currently in its 14th season.

In 2018, it was announced that Elton John was retiring from touring and would soon embark on a three-year farewell tour. Biopic box office hit Rocketman about John’s life from his childhood to the 1980s was also released in his honour in 2019.

Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk