Brits highlight public's favourites despite lack of surprise winners. (News).

Record-buyers and the music industry proved themselves to be in almost total agreement at this year's Brits, as 2001's biggest sellers grabbed most of the night's prizes.

In a roll of honour lacking surprises, but perfectly reflecting the previous 12 months, most of the awards went to the top seller in each category. Hence the year's number-one-selling album No Angel by Dido was named best British album, the biggest-selling male artist of 2001 Robbie Williams took best British male honours and Westlife were best pop act after selling more albums in their genre than anyone else last year.

RCA:Arista's Dido and Parlophone's Kylie Minogue made it an excellent night for UK-signed female soloists by becoming the Earl's Court event's two double winners. Dido was named best British female after collecting the top British album prize in which she saluted her brother, musical partner and "best friend" Rollo. "I'm a bit overwhelmed," she said on stage. "I had a lot of fun making this record about five years ago, so it's amazing to be picking this up tonight."

Minogue gave not only the most-acclaimed performance of the night but her very first Brit awards after 14 years of hits, winning international female and the inaugural best international album prize for Fever.

"We've had a fantastic night," says Parlophone managing director Keith Wozencroft. "I'm over the moon Kylie has won a couple of Brits for the first time. She deserves it."

The Aussie's wins made up half of EMI Recorded Music's unbeatable haul of four on the night, having last year jointly headed the corporate haul with Universal. EMI:Chrysalis's Robbie Williams's best British male win was his third in the category in four years, while Blue gave Virgin's Innocent label a first Brits win by taking the Radio One-voted best British newcomer prize. However, Parlophone's Gorillaz' became this year's Craig David with six nominations but no awards.

Westlife added to BMG's two Dido awards by taking the pop prize, voted through The Sun's Bizarre and BT Cellnet text messages, for a second successive year. BMG music division president Ged Doherty says, "We are absolutely delighted with the Brit Awards Dido and Westlife received. I'm thrilled for them and this proves what a fantastic job the whole company have done in helping our artists take home these awards. This marks the beginning of what will be the biggest year in BMG UK's history."