JAMES BLUNT - BLUNT AND MARTIN ATTACK CRITICS

Singer/songwriter JAMES BLUNT answered his critics last night (15FEB06) with two Brit Award wins, and found his soppy ballads being defended by COLDPLAY frontman CHRIS MARTIN.

Despite Blunt's debut album BACK TO BEDLAM being the biggest selling British album of 2005, the YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL singer has come into criticism from his chart peers, such as CHARLOTTE CHURCH and PAUL WELLER, over his easy-listening sound.

Accepting the British Male Solo Artist award at the London ceremony, Blunt said, "I've been accused so many times of singing like a girl that it is amazing to be best male. Maybe I should try singing like a man."

Meanwhile, Martin, whose band picked up British Album for X+Y and British Single for SPEED OF SOUND, leaped to the defence of Blunt, saying Britain should be proud of his phenomenal achievements.

Martin says, "Stop giving James Blunt a hard time, he's British. Be proud, he's British. We should really get behind him."