So, it was the Ivor Novello Awards ceremony in London yesterday afternoon. One of the winners was Amy Winehouse, for the lengthily titled Best Song Musically And Lyrically prize. However, she arrived late for the ceremony and was unable to collect the award, instead sending her father, Mitch.
Accepting the award, Mitch Winehouse said: "I don't know what I'm doing up here. Amy couldn't make it, but she is getting better and sends you all her love. She's asked me to thank the Ivors for being the first to recognise her talent. She wants to thank her manager Ray. If there's a Victoria Cross in music then he should get it!"
When she did eventually arrive, she told the BBC, "I'm very well. I'm very excited and very flattered [to win the award". She also reprimanded her father for saying that she was "getting better". Mitch added: "She's always late. She was fashionably late", and apologised for forgetting to thank his daughter's husband Blake Fielder Civil (whose Christian name Amy wore on a heart in her hair) in his acceptance speech, saying: "He's doing really well and Amy is being very supportive".
Radiohead were also unable to attend, but they sent a video, instead of their fathers, to accept the Album Award. They thanked their publisher for "taking a leap of faith with the download".
Phil Collins was one artist who did make it along to the ceremony, as was Robert Plant, who presented Collins with the International Achievement award, calling him "one of the top five UK drummers we've ever had". Phil gave thanks to the Cadbury's gorilla, who was recently seen playing 'In The Air Tonight' in an advert, saying: "It hasn't gone unnoticed that he's better looking and more talented then me, so I'm going to offer him the Genesis gig".
Here is the full list of winners:
Best Song Musically & Lyrically: Amy Winehouse – Love Is A Losing Game
Best Contemporary Song: Cherry Ghost – People Help The People
Best Original Film Score: Dario Marianelli – Atonement
Best Television Soundtrack: Martin Phipps – Oliver Twist
Prs Most Performed Work: Take That – Shine
Best Selling British Song: Beyonce & Shakira – Beautiful Liar
Album Award: Radiohead – In Rainbows
Outstanding Song Collection: Gabrielle
Ivors Classical Music Award: Jonathan Dove
Ivors Inspiration Award: Jazzie B
International Achievement: Phil Collins
PRS Outstanding Contribution To British Music: Chris Difford And Glenn Tilbrook
Songwriter Of The Year: Mika
Lifetime Achievement: David Gilmour
The Special International Award: Diane Warren