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A musician who grew up in Kent was one of the winners at this week’s Brit Awards, billed as the British music industry’s biggest night.
Charlie Andrew, who went to Bethany School in Curtisden Green, Goudhurst, picked up British Producer of the Year, beating three other competitors including Mark Ronson who has worked with stars as big as Adele, Amy Winehouse and Paul McCartney, and was responsible for the UK’s biggest selling song of last year – Uptown Funk.
Charlie, 35, who grew up in Hawkhurst, went along to the celebrity-studded ceremony at London’s O2 last night despite being in one of the categories to be given the prize ahead of the event.
He tweeted a picture of himself and wife Kirsty Mangan en route to the Brits saying: “Can’t wait. It’s going to be a big night!”
On Friday, February 5, Charlie, tweeted another photo of the couple, this time with him clutching his Brit Award in his right hand and holding an MPG (Music Producers Guild) Award, which he also won this year, in his left.
He has worked with Madness, and Alt-J, an English indie rock band.
He told the Kent Messenger today: “It was a real honour to be shortlisted for the Brit alongside such legendary names as Mark Ronson, Mike Crossey and Tom Dalgety.
“I never dreamt I’d actually win and I’m not sure it’ll ever quite sink in.”
Charlie, who now lives in London with Kirsty and their three-month-old daughter Olive, already has a Barclaycard Mercury Prize and organises the award-winning In the Woods festival near Staplehurst.
The awards were hosted by comedy duo Ant and Dec and other winners were Adele, who picked up prizes for British Female Solo Artist, British Single, British Album of the Year and Global Success, and James Bay, who scooped British Male Solo Artist.
Jack Garratt won the Critics' Choice Award and Catfish and the Bottlemen picked up British Breakthrough Act, voted for by the public.
Charlie will return to his former school for An Audience with Brit Award-winning Charlie Andrew from 6.30pm on Thursday, April 21.
Tickets are free but guests must register for a place on the school's website.