BRIT Awards is blasted by furious viewers who say they are 'lost for words' over in memoriam segment led by Tim Burgess

This year's BRIT Awards paid a touching tribute to music legends lost over the past year during Saturday's ceremony.

Host Jack Whitehall introduced Tim Burgess to the stage who started off the In memoriam segment with a tribute speech to English bassist Mani.

Gary 'Mani' Mounfield died in November last year aged 63, leaving the music industry in mourning.

The Charlatans rocker told the arena: 'Hi everyone, I'm here tonight to pay tribute to my good friend. Mani changed music and inspired generations ahead of him. These songs he recorded will be his legacy. 

'He was truly one of the phenomenal ones. I'd like you to think about Mani for a moment and we can cherish the thought that we got to experience our time and his time together. Let's take a few moments to remember Mani.' 

After Tim's touching speech, a VT package then played with some of the other music legends lost in the last year, including Ozzy Osbourne.

Other names which appeared on screen included Nicky Ryan, Roberta Flack, Thommy Price, Gilson Lavis and Chris Dreja.

However, for viewers watching at home, they were left less than impressed at what was supposed to be a touching moment and flooded social media with comments.

One said: 'What a touching tribute with some people's names in bigger font while others are tiny and barely stay on screen more than half a second';

'Possibly the worst tribute segment I've seen at the Brits. Also is that all they're doing for Ozzy Osbourne?! He got way more at the Grammy's! Very poor';

'Is this In Memoriam section of the #BRITs a f***ing competition? Do we get points if we can read that quickly?'; 

'This is the worst tribute ever. a load of random names on a screen with about 5 clips shown through out ahahahahahhahaa wtffffff';

'Ouch that tribute to Mani was …. er lost for words He really deserved better';

'Nice tribute to Mani by Tim Burgess, before a shockingly long list of names cycle past for a sombre In Memoriam section. Sometimes it seems like the great first era of pop is fading before our very eyes. Congrats to the #BRITs for bringing this home so sensitively'.

Another blasted: 'What the f*** kind of tribute was that'.

Meanwhile, the late Ozzy Osbourne will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award later in the ceremony.

The frontman of Black Sabbath, who passed away in July last year, will be celebrated for his inimitable impact and influence on music worldwide.

The awards will be closed out by an all-star rock tribute performance which will be led by Robbie Williams, who was asked to be a part of the show personally by Ozzy's wife Sharon as a long-standing fan of the music, and friend of the Osbourne family.

Curated by Sharon herself, it will feature a special arrangement of No More Tears - the title track from Ozzy's multi-million selling 1991 album of the same name.

The segment will boast a phenomenal line up of British and international musical talent, featuring musicians that played as part of Ozzy's band over the years.

Robbie will be joined on stage by Ozzy's lead guitarist Zakk Wylde as well as Adam Wakeman, Robert Trujillo and Tommy Clufetos.

The 46th edition of the BRIT Awards launch at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena for the first time tonight.

Since removing gendered categories, such as Best Male and Best Female, the ceremony has faced backlash for the low number of female artists nominated, particularly in 2023 when the Artist Of The Year shortlist was entirely male. 

But 2026 will ring in the changes, with 70 percent of this year's nominations being female or non-binary.

Comedian Jack Whitehall returns to present the ceremony for the sixth time, having previously hosted the event in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2025.

He stepped away in 2022 when Mo Gilligan took over for two ceremonies, and Maya Jama, Roman Kemp, and Clara Amfo co-hosted the event together in 2024.

It will be his first time presenting in Manchester, and Whitehall, 38, credits the city as shaping his early comedy career after he studied at The University Of Manchester. 

In a recent clip shared to social media titled Ode to Manchester, the TV personality showed off everything from the Curry Mile to Coronation Street. 

He said: 'I am so excited to be coming back for this very special BRIT Awards in Manchester, a place that is so important to me. 

'The city I started my comedy career in, it feels like a real full circle moment returning to host this historic night at the Co-op Live, a venue that is only a stone's throw away from the comedy club I did my first 10 minute set in all those years ago.'

He added: 'Hopefully I get a few more laughs than I did that night. I cannot wait.'