The Brits has turned into a woke turn-off after irritating BOTH Ed Sheeran and Adele with its gender-neutral stance

IT is the biggest night in British music – and the celebrations were led by our two biggest superstars, Adele and Ed Sheeran.

But after changing The Brits’ tried and tested, winning formula, organisers achieved the astonishing trick of getting it wrong for both singers.

Tuesday night’s “woke” gender-neutral awards pulled in its lowest audience on ITV, with Adele even speaking out about the decision to scrap the Best Male and Best Female categories while receiving the new Artist of the Year gong.

In a speech muted by broadcast bosses, the superstar said: “I understand why this has changed, but I really love being a woman and a female artist.”

And as the evening progressed, a procession of industry bigwigs were keen to voice their own frustrations.

They pointed out that the new format “robbed” fellow superstar Ed Sheeran of the major prize, something sources say he was frustrated by.

In fact, such was the complexity, perhaps absurdity, of the new structure that Ed was left with the consolation prize of Songwriter of the Year, a gong not previously handed out.

It felt like a shoehorned makeweight to escape the embarrassment of one of our biggest talents performing twice on the night but not landing an award.

‘It’s so short-sighted’

On top of his hugely successful fifth studio album, Ed also wrote major hits for artists including Rita Ora, Anne-Marie, BTS and Maisie Peters alongside collaborations with Elton John, Ghetts and Taylor Swift.

As one insider put it: “It wasn’t broken before. All this change has done is rob Ed of one of the big prizes.

“He’s had an incredible year and was definitely equal to Adele in terms of his success.

“His album has generated hit after hit and he was undoubtedly the biggest male star of the last 12 months.

“What was wrong with rewarding him for it?

“Celebrating two big British names who have raised the bar around the world for pop music is no bad thing. It’s so short-sighted.”

Another source told how Ed was also frustrated by the new categories, adding: “Ed loves The Brits and he cares about this stuff.

“He had a great night and his two performances went down brilliantly, but the way things worked out with the awards was disappointing.

“It just felt like a needless kick.”

Bosses announced the ceremony would go gender neutral last November — prompting some sneering from the industry — after pressure from artists including non-binary singer Sam Smith and Will Young, who had called for the change.

It meant the long-standing categories of Best International Male and Best International Female were also replaced by a single prize.

And bosses brought in four new genre-based awards to fill out the show.

The switch would have seen some of the events’ biggest names of the past possibly missing out — with David Bowie, Paul Weller, Elton John, Annie Lennox and Kate Bush among the most famous recipients of the gender-specific categories.

Adele’s three wins at the bash — she also bagged Song of the Year and Album of the Year to go with her Artist of the Year — saw her edge to within a single gong of Robbie Williams’ record of 13 solo awards.

Collecting her Artist of the Year prize, the superstar, who attracted attention on the red carpet thanks to a huge diamond ring on her engagement finger, said: “I really wasn’t expecting this one at all.

“I want to say a massive congratulations to Little Simz, Dave, Ed, Sam (Fender), I’m so proud to be in your company.

‘Tonight just feels a bit flat and safe’

“I love being an artist. I can’t believe it’s my job. England, the UK, we have so many incredible young artists coming up.

“I understand why this has changed, but I really love being a woman and a female artist. I’m really proud of us.”

There had been concerns that removing gender-based awards would marginalise female performers, but onlookers at London’s O2 Arena were quick to point out that nine of the 14 solo artist winners on the night were women.

As TV ratings slumped by more than a million viewers from last year, also under scrutiny was new host Mo Gilligan, who had done little to promote his hosting stint in the run-up to the big night.

Following on from recent star presenters including Jack Whitehall and James Corden, his stint proved safe and steady but failed to cut through amid the big-name performances — and he shied away from controversial subjects or tongue-in-cheek jibes at the guests.

While Jack proved a huge hit by gently ribbing his celebrity pals, including memorable quips and skits with Harry Styles, Little Mix and Lizzo, Mo missed many of the obvious opportunities and made just one topical gag at the expense of under-fire Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

And dressing up as Liam Gallagher shortly before the ex-Oasis man performed fell flat.

TV viewers switched off in large numbers, while one guest in the room told me: “The Brits is supposed to be irreverent and daring — it should make you gasp.

“Tonight just feels a bit flat and safe.

“Nobody is tuning in for that. It makes you realise what a good job Jack and James did before.

“Between the new categories and the new host, it just seems as though the most important thing is not offending anyone at all costs.”

Also straining the production was a notable absence of big-name stars — many of whom decided against attending despite being nominated for prizes.

Harry Styles and Little Mix both failed to show up despite being up for gongs and being in the UK, while Coldplay, Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish all stayed in the US where they are touring and performing.

The Brits is supposed to be irreverent and daring — it should make you gasp. Tonight just feels a bit flat and safe. Nobody is tuning in for that.

A guest

As one show source put it: “You understand when people are away on tour, but for big names not to show up even when they’re only up the road — and nominated — is pretty astonishing.

“After Covid closures you’d like to think the big names would be absolutely desperate to come along and party.

‘It should be boozy, wild and raucous’

“But there weren’t even any official after-parties this year.

“The hardier stars made their own fun and threw private bashes like Tom Grennan and Sam Fender, but it needs to go back to basics.”

So here is my plea to organisers: Celebrate the best of what we have got. Let’s focus more on proudly showcasing our biggest stars and worry less about a vocal minority making a fuss over a problem that did not really exist.

The Brits should be edge-of-your seat stuff with a daring host not afraid to spark some controversy.

It should be boozy, wild and raucous.

A-listers should be encouraged to throw themselves headlong into a night of celebratory debauchery or boozed-up commiserations.

And more than anything else, we need as many opportunities as possible to see our biggest and brightest talents front and centre on stage — and collecting coveted gongs.

So let’s get back to basics next time. The stars and the viewers at home will all thank you for it.