Brits 2022: Six biggest talking points, from Anne-Marie’s fall to Adele’s triumph
Ceremony attended by stars including Adele, Ed Sheeran, Liam Gallagher and Maya Jama took place at the O2 Arena
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Your support makes all the difference.The annual Brit Awards ceremony took place at the O2 Arena in London tonight (Tuesday 8 February).
Some of the biggest names in music attended, including Ed Sheeran and Adele, who scooped prizes for Songwriter of the Year and Artist of the Year, respectively.
Mo Gilligan served as this year’s host, taking over from Jack Whitehall who presented the awards for the past four consecutive years.
There was drama early on in the night, as pop singer Anne-Marie took a tumble during the first moments of her performance.
Here are the biggest talking points from the night:
It didn’t get off to a great start for the “Alarm” singer. Just seconds into her performance of “Don’t Play”, she lost her footing walking down some stairs and twisted awkwardly to the floor to the gasp of the crowd. She never let it phase her and carried on singing throughout the floor and the crowd roared her back to her feet. She later joked on Twitter that she “didn’t need my left ankle anyway”. It wouldn’t be the Brits without something going awry.
Mo Gilligan is a fine if subdued host
Replacing Jack Whitehall, Mo Gilligan was always given a daunting task and struggled to put his own signature stamp on the ceremony. Whereas Whitehall was able to needle the stars with a degree of self-awareness, Gilligan played it safe. He made sure everything ran smoothly at the notoriously boozy do – but a little bit of anarchy wouldn’t have hurt. His high point was a spot-on impression of Liam Gallagher, complete with parka.
Adele is still Queen of the Brits
It’s as though she never went away. Just minutes into the event and Adele picked up the gong for Song of the Year. She kept the speech uncharacteristically short, but did manage to squeeze in a few jokes. “I can’t believe a piano ballad beat all those bangers,” she cracked, as she overcame the likes of Elton John, Dua Lipa and KSI to win the award. She reappeared later in the night for a beautifully heartfelt performance of “I Drink Wine” that brought the crowd to an awed silence, before also going home with Artist of the Year and Album of the Year.
Ed Sheeran collaborates with Bring Me the Horizon
Tasked with opening the show, Sheeran had a trick up his sleeve from the start, performing alongside emo rockers Bring Me the Horizon with frontman Oli Sykes joining him on vocals for a duet of “Bad Habits”. Accompanied by a menagerie of circus performers – including acrobats and trapeze artists – the two acts put a heavier spin on Sheeran’s synth-inspired hit. The collaboration went down pretty well online, with one fan tweeting: “Ed Sheeran and Bring Me the Horizon is a mix I did not know I needed.”
Little Simz triumphs in her Brits debut
Picking up Best New Artist despite releasing her debut album seven years ago, it was a night to remember for Little Simz as she accepted her first Brit award alongside her beaming mother. “Look at what you’ve done, mum,” she says as she holds the award aloft. It was a victory for perseverance and self-belief and remarkable talent. Earlier in the night, Simz ignited the ceremony with a gripping performance of “Introvert”, which included a little help from The Crown star Emma Corrin who narrated a spoken word interlude.
The presenters are an odd bunch
A couple of Cox’s (Brian and Courteney), Mo Farah and Doctor Who herself, Jodie Whittaker all somehow ended up presenting awards at the Brits. Most surprising of all was Logan Roy himself turning up to present Ed Sheeran with his Songwriter of the Year award. The Succession star suavely strut across the stage much to the delight and bewilderment of the audience – the only let down was that he didn’t give Sheeran a hurling of Roy’s famous catchphrase.
While everyone’s attention was focused mostly on the music, fans couldn’t help but spot a new addition to Adele’s jewellery collection. Sporting an impossible to ignore diamond ring on a certain finger, social media quickly went ablaze with speculation that the “Easy on Me” singer had gotten engaged to her boyfriend, sports agent, Rich Paul.
The liveblog is now closed. See the full list of winners here.
Raye is here! She’s been through a lot in the last year, revealing she was struggling to release music via her label, Polydor – they eventually agreed to part ways and she’s now an independent artist.
Is there a Doctor in the house?!
A reminder of our predictions for the winners of this year’s Brit Awards!
Here are our predictions for the Brit Awards 2022 winners
Ceremony takes place on Tuesday 8 February at the O2 Arena in London
Sam Fender reveals he has a party bus ‘full of sausages and booze'
Sam Fender says it feels “fantastic” to be nominated for three gongs at the Brit Awards.
“I love any excuse to come out dressed up like this and have a party. And we got a party bus full of sausages and booze,” he told the PA news agency on the red carpet,.
Asked what he would do if he won an award, he replied: “Drive the bus into the Thames... I think we are going to go out and party.”
Asked how his younger self would react to his nominations, Fender replied: “I think he would be sick and I think he would expect us to be a lot more badass than we are.”
You can read our review of Fender’s latest album, Seventeen Going Under, right here!
Album reviews: Sam Fender – Seventeen Going Under and BadBadNotGood – Talk Memory
North Shields’ finest Sam Fender comes back blazing with his second album, while BadBadNotGood are in a more considered mood
Joel Corry predicts Adele will ‘blow the roof off’ the O2 Arena for her Brit Awards performance
Joel Corry has said he expects Adele to “blow the roof off” the O2 Arena when she performs live during the Brit Awards.
The chart-topping DJ and dance music producer was among the stars from the world of music arriving at the annual event.
Clara Amfo and Maya Jama are welcoming award nominees during the red carpet show, while comedian Mo Gilligan will host this year’s ceremony, replacing Jack Whitehall who has helmed the event in recent years.
Corry told the PA news agency: “I always get star-struck. There are going to be some incredible artists here tonight, and performers as well. Adele is performing. I have never seen Adele live. She is going to blow the roof off.
Reporting by Press Association
UK celebrities pose on the red carpet as they arrive at the Brit Awards
Here are some highlights from the Brit Awards 2022 red carpet
Holly Humberstone, who was named winner of the rising star Brit Award ahead of the ceremony, described being at the event for the first time as “very surreal”.
She told the PA news agency: “I have never attended the Brits. I have just watched it on TV from afar. It’s crazy. I can’t believe I am really here, very surreal.”
The singer, from Grantham, said her family were also attending and described their reaction to her success.
She said: “I think they are completely freaked out. The don’t know what to make of it - like myself! They are coming tonight, my parents and my sister, so it is going to be lovely having them here and knowing that they are here to see me.”
Speaking about performing live during the show, she added: “I am terrified. This is by far the biggest show I have played so I am very nervous. I am trying to control my nerves, trying to compartmentalise a little bit.
“I am looking forward to seeing other artists. I get to share the stage with so many incredible artists. It’s going to be great.”
Reporting by Press Association
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