Young dedicated the Brit Award to two friends

He also triumphed over The Streets, Liberty X and The Coral to pick up the Brit Award for Best Breakthrough Artist voted for by Radio 1 listeners.

The accolade saw the 24-year-old from Berkshire being acknowledged as a credible artist by the music industry.

In February 2002, he beat fellow pop star Gareth Gates to win the TV talent show Pop Idol.

Dedicated award

His double A-side debut single, Evergreen/Anything Is Possible became the fastest-selling single of all time, selling over a million copies in its first week.

A delighted Young said: "I don't know what to say, I was too busy clapping for Ms Dynamite."

He dedicated the award to two friends, James and Sarah, who he said were ill.

Young's close friend and rival, Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates, had two nominations in the best British single category - where four of the five nominations were for artists created through TV talent shows.

Alcohol restrictions

Liberty X picked up the prize for Just A Little, leaving Gates empty-handed.

The awards, hosted by Davina McCall, were kicked off by US star Pink who sang a medley of her two hits, Get The Party Started and Just Like A Pill.

There were several changes to the ceremony at London's Earl Court - including a new seating plan and alcohol available backstage rather than throughout the ceremony.

Organisers also opted for theatre-style rows of seating instead of having guests sitting at tables as in recent years.