Brit organisers "thrilled" ahead of Winehouse performance
Brit awards organisers are "thrilled" at staging Amy Winehouse's first public performance since entering rehab.
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Wednesday, 20, Feb 2008 02:38
The organisers of the Brit awards have professed their huge excitement at staging Amy Winehouse's first public performance since entering rehab.
The Back to Black star was forced to perform via a live satellite link-up for last week's Grammys ceremony - at which she won five awards - after US embassy officials refused her visa application.
But the singer's recovery from substance abuse problems has been judged to be progressing well enough to allow her to perform at tonight's ceremony at London's Earls Court.
Talking to Sky News, Brits chairman Ged Doherty said he was delighted that Winehouse would be singing alongside Mark Ronson on their hit cover version of the Zutons' Valerie.
"I heard her rehearse last night and she sounded absolutely great," he said.
"We are just thrilled to have her appearing at the ceremony. At times it has been a difficult year for Amy but what has never been in doubt is that she is a real talent.
"We think that her performance will be one of those Brit 'moments' and it's part of a really strong line-up."
Valerie is up for the best British single award, to be decided by a text message vote from viewers during the live show.
Other nominees in the category include Take That's Shine, Mika's Grace Kelly, Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis and Worried About Ray by the Hoosiers.
The British breakthrough act award - for which Bat For Lashes, Kate Nash, Klaxons, Leona Lewis and Mika have been nominated - has been decided by BBC Radio 1 audiences, while Radio 2 listeners have chosen between Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs, Klaxons, Muse and Take That to pick the best British live act winner.
Sir Paul McCartney is to close tonight's show - broadcast live on ITV1 from 20:00 GMT - with a medley of hits after receiving the outstanding contribution to music award.