In the album charts, the Kaiser Chiefs’ new CD Yours Truly Angry Mob debuted at No 1, Take That’s Beautiful World jumped three to second place, while Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black was third after being knocked from the top slot.

The highest new entry was Treasure by New Zealand-born singer Hayley Westenra which debuted at No 9.

The 19-year-old has become the first classical artist to make the top 10 of the pop charts with three consecutive albums.

Take That seal comeback with Brits win - Feb 15 2007
Take That sealed their comeback with a win at the Brits - while their old bandmate Robbie Williams remained thousands of miles away in rehab. see photos

The reformed boy-band showed they had lost none of their magic by winning Best Single for comeback track Patience, voted for by the public.

Meanwhile, Robbie lost out on the Live Act award - but his presence was felt as the pop elite lined up to send him goodwill messages.

The Arctic Monkeys were the biggest British prize-winners with a double gong for British Album of the Year, for their debut Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, and British Group.

They didn’t attend the ceremony, but accepted their gongs with video messages while dressed as characters from The Wizard of Oz and the Village People.

Lily Allen won none of the three awards she was nominated for, despite her rapid rise from near-obscurity.

Loudmouth comedian Russell Brand added his usual joie de vivre to the event, which was live for the first time in years.

He provided some fizz to the evening, pointing to a giant padlock behind him, saying it was "Robbie Williams’ medicine cabinet".

He also joked of the David Cameron cannabis allegations: "Who among us didn’t smoke just a little bit of weed at school to take the edge off those crack comedowns?

"It’s the best anti-drugs message. Don’t take drugs or you’ll end up leader of the Tories."

Take That plea for Brits help - Jan 25 2007
Take That have appealed for their fans to help them win a prestigious Brit Award for their No 1 hit Patience.

The fab four are among 11 acts who have been shortlisted for the Best British Single category this year, which is voted for by viewers before and on the night.

In a plea on their website, www.takethattv.com, the band encouraged fans to vote for Patience to help them win a Brit.

The first round of voting closes on February 4 when the three artists with the lowest votes will be eliminated.

The final five artists will be revealed the following Sunday after the second round of voting and the winner will be chosen in a live text vote on the night of the Brits on Valentine’s Day.

Meanwhile the chart-toppers announced a video exclusive of their next single Shine on their website tonight at 11.05pm and shown again on C4 at 7am.

The second single from their hit album Beautiful World will be released on February 26.

No reunion for Robbie - April 04
Robbie Williams T has quashed rumours of a Take That reunion, which no doubt has left Mark Owen sobbing into his cornflakes...