So, it was the MTV Europe Awards in Lisbon last night, that annual celebration of European music. Well, I say European music. I primarily mean music from Britain and its colonies. And British music was very well represented this year, with five of the 12 non-country specific awards going to UK artists. So well done us (us meaning the British music business, and not CMU - we're not claiming credit for this one - well, not all the credit).
As previously reported, EMI artists Coldplay and Gorillaz topped the list in terms of nominations, both appearing on five short lists. That said, on the night Green Day, nominated in three categories, beat Gorillaz and equalled Coldplay by taking home two gongs - Best Rock Act and Best Album. Coldplay were awarded Best UK & Ireland Act and Best Song for 'Speed Of Sound'. Gorillaz were named Best Group.
Elsewhere in the proceedings, which opened with Madonna emerging from a giant disco ball to perform new single 'Hung Up', Robbie Williams was named Best Male, James Blunt Best New Act, Alicia Keys won Best R&B Act, Snoop Dogg took the Best Hip-hop Award and System of a Down were named Best Alternative Act.
The show was hosted by Sacha Baron Cohen in character as Kazakhstani TV presenter Borat Sagdiyev. He began the evening by telling his audience "welcome to the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest", before commenting on Madonna's opening routine: "The singer before me - who was he? It was very courageous of MTV to start the show with a genuine transvestite".
Madonna returned to the stage later to present Bob Geldof with MTV's Free Your Mind Humanitarian Award. Handing over the special prize she told Bob: "You drive me crazy, but tonight you are everyone's hero". On receiving the award Geldof said: "This means much more to me than many of the other things that are given to me."