Brand tells top joke at BRIT Awards

Reuters

TOP BRIT: Russell Brand's joke about Amy Winehouse has been picked as the best quip ever at the BRIT Awards.

Relevant offers

Music

Del Rey 'doesn't deserve haters' Grammy spotlight shines on Adele O'Connor tempted to bare too much The Great NZ Love Song Entertainment Quiz 10/2 Roxette's Auckland concert cancelled The Exponents join class of '81 Axed musicians to protest at Grammys The Myele Manzanza story Lady Gaga returns to NZ

Russell Brand has topped a poll of the funniest jokes told at the BRIT Awards.

The comedian, who hosted the prestigious ceremony in 2007, was recognised for his one-liner making fun of singer Amy Winehouse's issues with drugs and alcohol. The star has battled problems with illegal substances, and at the time often appeared to be under the influence of alcohol on nights out.

When introducing Amy, Brand said: "Amy Winehouse - her surname's beginning to sound like a description of her liver."

The quip was voted the best since the BRITs began in 1977 in a poll conducted by MySpace Music. Robbie Williams challenging Oasis singer Liam Gallagher to a fist fight in 2000 came second, while Liam's "Ginger B*****ks" insult to the 1996 show's red-headed host Chris Evans took third place.

Liam and his brother Noel Gallagher appear on the list three times, with Noel's cutting remark about Michael Hutchence being a "has-been" in 1996 coming in at number six on the list.

Will Francis, editor of MySpace UK, says the music awards ceremony is known for its funny one-liners. He claims more people tune in to hear jokes than see who wins awards.

"The BRITs are a national institution and millions of us tune in every year, not just to see who wins and who loses but to see who trips up on stage and who gives the wittiest speeches - the best of which linger in the memory long after the ceremony is over," he said.

The 2010 BRIT Awards will take place at London's Earls Court next Tuesday.

The top 10 most amusing lines said onstage at the BRIT Awards since 1977:

1. Russell Brand (2007): "Amy Winehouse - her surname's beginning to sound like a description of her liver."

2. Robbie Williams (2000): "Liam Gallagher, a hundred grand of your money and a hundred grand of my money? We'll get in a ring and we'll have a fight and you can all watch it on TV, what d'you think about that?"

3. Liam Gallagher (1996): "Anyone tough enough to take us off the stage can come up now. It will take more than Ginger B*****ks to throw us off (speaking about red-headed host Chris Evans)."

4. Justin Timberlake (2004): "This is only my first record so you guys stick with me, we've got depression and drug addiction to go through."

5. Bjork (1998): "I am a grateful grapefruit."

6. Noel Gallagher, to award presenter Michael Hutchence (1996): "Why is a has-been presenting to the gonna-bes?"

7. Melanie C to Liam Gallagher (1997): "Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough."

8. Bob Geldof, presenting an award to Michael Jackson (1996): "When he sings, it is with the voice of angels. When his feet move, you can see God dancing."

9. Kerry Katona (2004): "You all look so clean and smell lovely... I just farted."

10. Sir Elton John (1995): "It's very nice to get this award at this time of life, going through the male menopause - or even the female menopause."