Robbie Williams, Madonna and Coldplay all took international gongs at yesterday's Echo Music Awards, the German music industry's big awards bash in Berlin. Neither Robbie nor Madge nor Chris M were on hand to pick up their awards, but Mr Williams sent a recorded message thanking his German fans and saying how much he was looking forward to this summer's World Cup which, of course, is taking place in Germany.
Bob Geldof also won an award at the event - it was a Special Prize, because apparently the former Boomtown Rat's been doing some charity work of late. Geldof also looked forward to a forthcoming German event in his acceptance speech, telling the awards audience: "When the representatives of industrialised nations meet next year at the G8 conference in Germany, it will be your turn".