Geri voted London's favourite female

Pa
Thursday 20 April 2000 00:00 BST
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Geri Halliwell pipped her former Spice Girls colleague Mel C to a top pop award today - while Robbie Williams walked away with a hat-trick of titles.

They were triumphant at the star-studded Capital London Awards where teenage pop sensation Britney Spears put in an appearance to collect her award as favourite international female.

The US star - shortly to release a new single Oops! ... I Did It Again - is on a flying visit to the UK during which she will also record pop shows including BBC1's Top Of The Pops.

Williams, who is never short of prizes at any awards show, walked away with the title of favourite international male while his chart-topper She's The One was named favourite single and video.

Halliwell - who launched her solo career a year ago after splitting from the Spice Girls in May 1998 - was named favourite female. Her rival and former bandmate Mel C, recently at number one with Never Be The Same Again, was also on the shortlist.

The pair were head to head in the nominations for best female at the Brits last month but the result was inconclusive - they both lost out to Beth Orton.

The honours, chosen by the station's listeners, were presented at a ceremony in London's Royal Lancaster Hotel hosted by Chris Tarrant.

Ronan Keating was celebrating a double at the awards show. The Irish star - who released a solo single When You Say Nothing At All - took the title of favourite international male while his group Boyzone took the favourite concert award. He and the band had been up for five awards.

London-based Canadian rocker Bryan Adams, whose career has been revamped after linking up with dance act Chicane for the chart-topper Don't Give Up, won an award for outstanding contribution to music.

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And Tom Jones, who won his first Brit last month as best male artist, was given a lifetime achievement honour.

The 59-year-old musical powerhouse saw his ever-evolving career rejuvenated last year after teaming up with contemporary stars including Cerys Matthews and the Stereophonics for his cover versions album Reload.

The ceremony, to aid the charity Help A London Child, also rewarded 18-year-old Craig David who picked up an award as London's favourite newcomer.

Williams continued his tradition of enigmatic acceptance speeches at today's awards.

Picking up his prize for best video the singer mocked other stars' habit of producing a list of record company figures and friends to thank.

Williams also joked about his fight challenge to Liam Gallagher at the Brits.

He said: "Due to popular demand I won't be asking anyone to fight me today. When I do they chicken out."

Pop superstar Britney Spears showed off a just-got-out-of-bed scrunch hairstyle as she attended the wards today.

Accepting her award for favourite international female she told guests: "I was just so excited about coming to London, I didn't expect to win an award."

Ceremony host Chris Tarrant had to hold up a handwritten note of thank-you's for the star to read from as she struggled with the microphone.

Williams was later in fighting mood again, albeit jokingly when comedian Harry Enfield threw down a mock challenge on behalf of DJ Norman Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim.

The DJ was unable to pick up his favourite dance act title so Enfield did the honours and told guests he had a message from the star.

"Robbie Williams, would you like a fight? And he asked me to fight him," Enfield said.

Williams headed to the stage and the pair pretended to have a punch up with Enfield quickly falling to the floor.

Geri Halliwell was overjoyed to take her title for favourite female.

The star, wearing a long brown suede skirt and black sweater, told guests: "I'm absolutely speechless. I didn't know I had won this. I'm really gobsmacked - this is my first award as a solo artist so thank you so much."

The star released his first solo single Fill Me In just two weeks ago, going straight to the top of the charts, although he had previously charted as the voice for Artful Dodger's number two hit Re-Rewind.

The winners: London's favourite international male - Ronan Keating. London's favourite international female - Britney Spears. London's favourite album - Gabrielle. London's favourite single - Robbie Williams (She's The One). London's favourite soundtrack song - All Saints (Pure Shores). London's favourite UK newcomer - Craig David. London's favourite international newcomer - Westlife. London's favourite group - Texas. London's favourite international group - The Corrs. London's favourite video - Robbie Williams (She's The One). London's favourite concert - Boyzone London's favourite dance act - Fatboy Slim. London's favourite female - Geri Halliwell. London's favourite male - Robbie Williams. Outstanding contribution to music - Bryan Adams. Lifetime achievement award - Tom Jones.

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