Gorillaz lead Brit Awards race

Gorillaz: Have proved a crossover success

Animated pop band Gorillaz - the latest project of Blur singer Damon Albarn - have topped the nominations for the biggest UK music awards of the year, the Brits.

Gorillaz are up for six awards, while Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue are named in four categories.

The acts with the most nominations

Gorillaz - 6

Robbie Williams - 4

Kylie Minogue - 4

Dido - 3

Craig David - 3

Travis - 3

So Solid Crew - 3

The Strokes - 3

Another cartoon character, Bob the Builder, has gained his first nomination, while two albums named in the best British album category were also nominated last year.

One notable absence from this year's list of contenders is Irish band U2, who won two awards last year including lifetime achievement award. They were recently named front-runners for this year's Grammy Awards.

U2: Notable by their absence

This year, Gorillaz' nominations include best British group, best album and best British newcomer.

The band members are all cartoon characters, but the people behind the music include Albarn and hip-hop producer Dan "The Automator" Nakamura.

They will face competition from Radiohead, Stereophonics, Travis and Jamiroquai to be named best British group, one of the most coveted categories.

They are up against Radiohead and Travis again, as well as Dido and Craig David, in the best British album category.

But Craig David's album Born To Do It and Radiohead's critically acclaimed Kid A, which are on this year's list, were also nominated and beaten last year.

Robbie: His crooning did not win nominations

They are in the running twice because the same album can be nominated for two years in a row.

The time periods during which a CD must be released to be eligible span 15 months.

Robbie Williams's attempt at Frank Sinatra-style crooning, Swing When You're Winning, has not been nominated - but he has nominations for best British male solo artist, best British single and two of his releases feature in the best British video category.

Other contenders on the best British male solo artist list are Sir Elton John, Craig David, Ian Brown and Aphex Twin.

In the female category, Dido - who had the biggest-selling album of 2001 in the UK - faces Mercury Prize-winner PJ Harvey, Geri Halliwell, Sade and Sophie Ellis Bextor.

Dido was among the stars who were expected to turn up to the launch of this year's awards at London's Abbey Road studios, where the nominations were announced, on Monday.

Best-sellers

The launch was televised for the first time, and saw performances from contenders in the best British newcomer category, Elbow and Mis-Teeq.

The winners will not be decided just by judges.

Fans will be able to vote for the best British newcomer, best British video and Best Pop Act.

Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue is up against Westlife, Blue, S Club 7 and Hear'Say in the Best Pop Act category, and has also been nominated for Best International Female Solo Artist and Best International Album - a new category.

Sting will pick up a Lifetime Achievement Award

New York rockers The Strokes have three nominations in the five international categories.

Former Police frontman Sting's Lifetime Achievement Award has already been announced.

Former Take That singer Robbie Williams topped last year's awards, which were dominated by controversy over Eminem's performance and Craig David being left out - despite six nominations.

The prize-giving ceremony takes place on 20 February and will be broadcast on ITV1 the following day.

Do you agree with the Brits nominations - have the judges picked the best of British talent?