Olivia Dean wins big at Brits as Palestine and Peter Mandelson mentions censored

Olivia Dean won big at the 2026 Brit Awards, scooping four gongs, as a joke about Lord Peter Mandelson and a shout of “free Palestine” were censored.

Broadcast on ITV and STV, numerous instances of swearing were also edited out, just a week after controversy at the Bafta Awards saw the BBC broadcast a racial slur made by a member of the audience with Tourette syndrome.

One of the notable comments that was removed saw presenter Jack Whitehall make a joke about Lord Mandelson potentially being in attendance at Manchester’s Co-Op Arena.

He said the Brit Awards was “absolutely swarming with celebrities”.

Lola Young with the Breakthrough Artist of the Year award PA Media

“I think I saw Calvin Harris over there, who else have we got? Oh my God, it’s Andy Burnham, yes, legend, the only party he’s allowed into these days.

“And Lisa Nandy, this must be the politicians’ table, I wonder who else is here. I think that I saw Peter Mandelson on the guest list.”

Geese drummer Max Bassin collected the New York band’s award for best international group but was censored when he said: “What’s up the Brits? I just want to say: free Palestine, f*** Ice, RIP Mani, let’s go Geese. Thank you.”

Rosalia with the International Artist of the Year award during the Brit Awards 2026 PA Media

Later, Scottish singer Jacob Alon was seen holding up a Palestinian keffiyeh in the crowd during Sharon Osbourne’s acceptance speech for her husband Ozzy Osbourne’s lifetime achievement award.

Alon, who was previously announced as the winner of the Brit Critics Choice Award 2026, sang “free Palestine” during their performance of Fairy In a Bottle at the 2025 Mercury Music Prize.

Sharon Osbourne has been publicly supportive of Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Soulful pop star Dean took home awards for artist of the year, album of the year, pop act, and song of the year for Rein Me In, alongside Sam Fender, whose album People Watching the song features on.