Brit Awards 2012 – All the winners, losers and gossip

After recovering from career-saving surgery and winning six Grammys, Adele probably thought it couldn’t get any better this year.

But the 23-year-old was the star of BRIT Awards tonight, taking home Album of the Year and Best Female Artist, saying: ‘Nothing beats coming home with six Grammys and then coming to the Brits and winning album of the year.

‘I’m so proud to be flying the British flag for all of you.’

She dominated the glitzy show, along with newcomer Ed Sheeran, who won Best Male Artist and British Breakthrough Act.

Ed (21) said he wanted to thank ‘My family, who are here tonight, my friends, my fans, every single promoter that’s ever booked me, every single radio DJ that’s ever played me and my label. I’m really bad at this. Thank you.’

Coldplay opened the show with their song Charlie Brown, with frontman Chris Martin giving an energetic performance, bouncing around with his guitar, amid a spectacular light show.

Tribute was also paid to late singer Whitney Houston, with a short clip looking at some of her past performances.

Florence Welch performed after Adele’s award, singing her song No Light, No Light, with dozens of back-up dancers.

The petite American singer joked about his award: ‘This is almost taller than me.’ He added: ‘I always wanted to visit here and the fact i get to come over here and sing and be a part of this big show is amazing.’

Performing for the first time at the Brits was Olly Murs, with his song Heart Skips A Beat.

The former X factor contestant appeared out of a massive Union Jack in the shape of a heart., before joining a group of female dancers in red leotards and capes.

The Critics Choice award went to Emeli Sande.

Bizarrely, she never went on stage to collect the award. James interviewed last year’s winner Jessie J at her table, asking if she had any tips for Emeli, before asking about her upcoming show, The Voice.

Newcomer Ed Sheeran then performed a stunning acoustic version of his hit Lego House, sitting on a chair playing his guitar.

Then, in a move that will have excited their millions of teenage fans, One Direction took home their first Brit Award after winning best British single for What Makes You Beautiful.

Each member had a turn with the microphone, thanking a number of people, including Simon Cowell, their label Syco, and their fans.

Harry Styles, 18, said: ‘Everything that we do is for you, so this is yours.’

James Cordon joked: ‘Go and ring your mums, tell them you’ll be late tonight.’

Formula One driver Jenson Button presented International Female Artist which – unsurprisingly – went to superstar Rihanna.

The newly-blonde singer – wearing a plunging gold sequin dress – beat Beyonce, Bjork, Feist and Lady Gaga.

She said: ‘I got a Peter Blake Brit all right.

‘Thanks to all the radio DJs, the music video channels, music channels… all my fans who continue to support me, this is for you. At times when i feel misunderstood, my fans remind me that its OK to be myself, so thank you for that.’

Former Oasis member Noel Gallagher performed with his band High Flying Birds before the show paid tribute to Amy Winehouse, who died in July last year at her home in Camden.

Clips were showed of the brunette star, with a voice over from her talking about her career.

British Male Artist was presented by Plan B, who bizarrely rambled: as you can see I’ve put on a lot of weight, sorry about that.’

It went to Ed Sheeran – his second award of the night.

Best British Group went to Coldplay for the third time – the first in 2001 and the second in 2003.

Chris Martin said: ‘It’s very humble, we’ve been doing the Brits since before most of you were born and it was terrible then and its amazing now… thank you very much.’

Adele then performed a stunning rendition of her hit Rolling In The Deep, showing her vocal cord surgery in the U.S. last year had worked a treat.

Nicole Scherzinger and Spanish footballer Cesc Fabregas presented British Breakthrough Act which went to Ed Sheeran, after he beat Anna Calvi, Emeli Sande, Jessie J, The Vaccines.

He told the audience: ‘I have to thank the fans because they voted for this.
‘I missed to thank my manager, and that’s Stuart Camp. He’s the one who took me from a spotty chubby ginger teenager.’

Actor Ray Winstone presented the Outstanding Contribution To Music award which went to Blur.
It was their fifth award over the years, and frontman Damon Albarn proceeded to thank an array of people in the longest speech of the night.

Reading from speech notes, he said: ‘Thank you very much last time we were here was 17 years ago and what happened that night seemed to have a really profound effect on our lives so thank you very much for that honour.

‘I really want to dedicate this award to a very special person. he took us as four completely broke young men and kind of helped us in so many ones. he was a friend, he was a business manager. Can the camera go on Chris Morrison.’

George Michael presented the most-anticipated award of the night, Album of the Year, which of course went to Adele.

She beat Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Florence & The Machine and PJ Harvey.