Jade Thirlwall thrilled fans on Saturday night as she scored her first BRIT Award as a solo artist at the 2025 ceremony, held at London’s O2 Arena.
The former Little Mix star, 32, won for Best Pop Act, and quickly went viral for her chaotic acceptance speech, which saw her struggling to climb the stairs to the stage and hiding her speech in the front of her dress.
The award was presented by Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhán Donaghy of the Sugababes, with Jade winning over Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, Lola Young and Myles Smith.
As her name was read out, the singer gasped in shock and excitedly made her way to the stage, but was hampered by the huge train and skirt of her denim wedding dress.
She struggled to climb the stairs onto the stage and needed a helping hand from the Sugababes after becoming stuck.
Beginning her acceptance speech, Jade proceeded to reach into her dress and pull out a folded piece of paper from her cleavage.
Jade Thirlwall thrilled fans on Saturday night as she scored her first BRIT Award as a solo artist at the 2025 ceremony, held at London’s O2 Arena.
The former Little Mix star, 32, won for Best Pop Act, and quickly went viral for her chaotic acceptance speech, which saw her struggling to climb the stairs to the stage and hiding her speech in the front of her dress
As her name was read out, the singer gasped in shock and excitedly made her way to the stage, but was hampered by the huge train and skirt of her denim wedding dress
She explained: ‘Oh my God! This is my first solo BRIT Award! I can’t cry because I’ve got to sing later, but I did do a little piece of paper in case I won the award. I know it’s cringe but I knew I’d forget people. I’m flustered.’
She went on to thank her fans and loved ones for helping her get so far, saying: ‘I need to thank the fans because that’s why I’ve won.
‘Thank you for supporting me and relentlessly forcing everyone around you to vote for me, I really appreciate it.
‘I want to thank my fabulous team around me, because it really does take a determined village to make a good pop act.
‘My partner Jordan, my mum, dad, my brother and all my family and friends for always believing in me.
‘Thank you for making me thing it was a realistic goal to be a pop star ever since I was a little girl.’
Jade then paid a sweet tribute to her former Little Mix bandmates, Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, saying they ‘changed her life’.
Becoming emotional, she gushed: ‘And finally my Little Mix sisters, I love you so much. I wouldn’t have this award without them. They changed my life and I am so grateful.’
She struggled to climb the stairs onto the stage and needed a helping hand from the Sugababes after becoming stuck
Beginning her acceptance speech, Jade proceeded to reach into her dress and pull out a folded piece of paper from her cleavage
Jade then paid a sweet tribute to her former Little Mix bandmates, Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, saying they ‘changed her life’
BRIT Awards 2025: Winners at a glance
Artist of the year: Charli XCX
Album of the year: Charli XCX – Brat
Song of the year: Charli XCX featuring Billie Eilish – Guess
Best dance act: Charli XCX
Songwriter of the Year: Charli XCX
Best alternative/rock act: Sam Fender
Best hip-hop/grime/rap act: Stormzy
Best pop act: Jade
Best R&B act: Raye
Global Success Award: Sabrina Carpenter
Group of the year: Ezra Collective
Best new artist: The Last Dinner Party
International artist of the year: Chappell Roan
International group of the year: Fontaines D.C.
International song of the year: Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!
Rising star: Myles Smith
Producer of the Year: AG Cook
Advertisement
She once again had to rely on the Sugababes to make her way down for the stage and prepare for her electrifying performance of Angel of My Dreams later in the night.
While fans were delighted by Jade’s win and her shout out to Perrie and Leigh-Anne, many viewers couldn’t help but poke fun at her struggle to get up on the stage, taking to X to compare it to Michael Jackson’s iconic Thriller dance.
They wrote: ‘the way jade is climbing the stairs has killed me’; ‘Jade winning her first solo Brit then fighting for her life to get up those stairs I LOVE HER’.
‘Jade did not factor in stairs when she chose her outfit for tonight.’; ‘the tiny running with that massive dress omg’; ‘Jade crawling up the stairs to get the award was so her too’.
‘Jade hobbling up the stairs has to be a meme’; ‘Not Jade getting her first solo brit and getting stuck on the stairs’; ‘JADE HOBBLING UP THOSE STAIRS LMAOOO’.
‘Oh god JADEs becoming a meme for walking to the stairs like she s**t herself oh dear help’; ‘Me and my duvet heading back to my room after a successful midnight snack’.
As well as her win for Pop Act, Jade is also nominated for her debut hit Angel of My Dreams for the Song Of The Year award.
She revealed it was when she wrote the popular track that she finally established her individual sound.
While fans were delighted by Jade’s win and her shout out to Perrie and Leigh-Anne, many viewers couldn’t help but poke fun at her struggle to get up on the stage, taking to X to compare it to Michael Jackson’s iconic Thriller dance
Speaking as the nominations were announced, Jade said: ‘Obviously as a band we were nominated a few times and that’s amazing but when it’s for your own music and my own personal experiences, it does hit different, it feels extra special.
‘When I first started this solo journey, I was writing a lot of music to exist outside of the group and figure out who I am on my own but the minute I wrote Angel Of My Dreams, that was when I knew I had arrived and this is my sound, this is me.’
The 2025 BRIT Awards ceremony is hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall, marking his fifth time at the helm of the event, after having previously presented the show in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
The star-studded event will take place once again at London’s O2 Arena with the trophy this year designed by the talented Gabriel Moses.
The night will feature mᴀssive performances from Ezra Collective and special guest Jorja Smith.
They have joined an exciting lineup of already announced acts including Jade Thirlwall, Sabrina Carpenter, Sam Fender, Lola Young, Teddy Swims, and The Last Dinner Party.
Charli XCX will no longer be performing at the ceremony despite months of negotiations.
According to a close source, the decision comes as she shifted her focus toward preparing for the Grammy Awards, which took place earlier this month.
The ceremony is hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall marking his fifth time at the helm of the awards, after having previously hosted it in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021
The night will feature mᴀssive performances from Ezra Collective (pictured) and special guest Jorja Smith
They will join already announced Jade, Sabrina Carpenter, Sam Fender, Lola Young, Teddy Swims and The Last Dinner Party to perform at the ceremony (pictured Jorja)
BRITs Rising Star winner Myles Smith will also perform at the annual music event
The pop singer leads the 2025 BRIT Awards nominations with five nods, closely followed by Dua Lipa who has been recognised in four categories.
It was recently announced that Charli will receive the coveted Songwriter Of The Year prize.
The star, 32, made history when her No1 album Brat became a cultural phenomenon last summer along with the colour slime green as millions of fans showed their support by posting clips of Charli’s Apple Dance on TikTok.
And now her Brat summer lives on as Charli has received nominations in five prestigious categories including Song Of The Year for Guess ft. Billie Eilish, Artist Of The Year, Dance Act, Pop Act, and the sought-after Album Of The Year.
Dua, 29, who is already the recipient of seven BRITs, has been awarded another four nods as she goes head-to-head against Charli for Song Of The Year with hit Training Season, Artist Of The Year, Pop Act, and Album Of The Year with Radical Optimism.
US superstar Taylor Swift, 35, will battle it out with Billie Eilish in the International Artist Of The Year category, which also features Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappell Roan, as well as for the International Song Of The Year accolade.
The winners of five genre awards – Alternative/Rock Act, Dance Act, Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act, Pop Act, R&B Act – will be determined by a public vote exclusively through WhatsApp for the first time ever.
The jazz quintet Ezra Collective, who won the Mercury prize in 2023, landed four nominations for Best New Artist, Group Of The Year, Alternative Rock Act and Album Of The Year for their body of work Dance, No One’s Watching.
Charli xcx will receive the coveted Songwriter Of The Year prize (pictured performing at Glastonbury Festival 2022)
The pop singer leads the 2025 BRIT Awards nominations with five nods, closely followed by Dua Lipa (pictured) who has been recognised in four categories
Their biggest compeтιтion comes from The Last Dinner Party who are also up for Best New Artist, Group Of The Year, Alternative Rock Act and Album Of The Year.
Thanks to globally successful artists Central Cee, Stormzy, and Dave, British rap is also well represented at this year’s BRIT Awards.
Central Cee has earned nods in the Song Of The Year category as well as Artist Of The Year, and Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act, while Stormzy has been nominated for the latter.
Another top contender is Myles Smith, who has three nominations in addition to the Rising Star award he was announced as winner last month.
His hit Stargazing, which has amᴀssed over 600 million streams, is up for Song Of The Year, with the hitmaker saying March’s ceremony will be the first BRIT Awards he’s ever attended.
He said: ‘Last year I was watching it on TV and to be there this year is something I am so looking forward to. It’s slap bang in the middle of my tour so my head is everywhere right now but I’m going to figure it out.’
The Beatles have landed a shock nomination after last receiving recognition at the BRITs 42 years ago.
They have been nominated for Song Of The Year with track Now and Then, written by the late John Lennon, 45 years ago.
It was digitally remastered in 2023, reached the No1 spot on the UK Singles Chart and broke several records including the longest gap between a band’s first and last number one.
The BRIT Awards 2025: Winners
Song Of The Year
Artemas – I like the way you kiss me
The Beatles – Now and Then
Bl3ss & Camrin Watson Feat Bbyclose – Kisses
Central Cee ft. Lil Baby – BAND4BAND
Charli XCX – Guess ft. Billie Eilish – WINNER
Chase & Status ft. Stormzy – Backbone
Coldplay – Feels Like I’m Falling In Love
Dua Lipa – Training Season
Ella Henderson ft. Rudimental – Alibi
Jade Thirlwall – Angel Of My Dreams
Jordan Adetunji – KEHLANI
KSI ft. Trippie Redd – Thick Of It
Myles Smith – Stargazing
Sam Ryder – You’re Christmas to Me
Sonny Fodera, Jazzy, D.O.D – Somedays
Best New Artist
English Teacher
Ezra Collective
The Last Dinner Party – WINNER
Myles Smith
Rachel Chinouriri
Artist Of The Year
Beabadoobee
Central Cee
Charli XCX – WINNER
Dua Lipa
Fred again..
Jamie xx
Michael Kiwanuka
Nia Archives
Rachel Chinouriri
Sam Fender
Group Of The Year
Bring Me the Horizon
Coldplay
The Cure
Ezra Collective – WINNER
The Last Dinner Party
International Group Of The Year
Amyl and the Sniffers
Confidence Man
Fontaines D.C. – WINNERS
Future, Metro Boomin
Linkin Park
Dance Act promoted by Kiss
Becky Hill
Charli XCX – WINNER
Chase & Status
Fred again..
Nia Archives
Pop Act promoted by Capital
Charli XCX
Dua Lipa
Jade Thirlwall – WINNER
Lola Young
Myles Smith
Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act promoted by Capital Xtra
Central Cee
Dave
Ghetts
Little Simz
Stormzy – WINNER
R&B Act promoted by Kiss
Cleo Sol
Flo
Jorja Smith
Michael Kiwanuka
Raye – WINNER
Alternate Rock Act promoted by Absolute Radio
Beabadoobee
The Cure
Ezra Collective
The Last Dinner Party
Sam Fender – WINNER
International Artist Of The Year
Adrianne Lenker
Asake
Benson Boone
Beyoncé
Billie Eilish
Chappell Roan – WINNER
Kendrick Lamar
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Tyler, The Creator
International Song Of The Year
Benson Boone – Beautiful Things
Beyoncé – Texas Hold ‘Em
Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe! – WINNER
Djo – End of Beginning
Eminem – Houdini
Hozier – Too Sweet
Jack Harlow – Lovin On Me
Noah Kahan – Stick Season
Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen – I Had Some Help
Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy)
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – Fortnight
Teddy Swims – Lose Control
Tommy Richman – Million Dollar Baby
Mastercard Album Of The Year
Charli XCX – Brat – WINNER
The Cure – Songs of a Lost World
Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism
Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching
The Last Dinner Party – Prelude To Ecstasy
