Adele returns to Brits in triumph and back on song

ADELE made a triumphant return to the Brits last night 12 months after her breakthrough appearance at the awards catapulted her to stardom.

The record-breaking star landed the best female artist prize at last night’s pop music business bash just a week after she won six Grammys.

The 23-year-old, nominated for three prizes, beat stars such as Jessie J and Kate Bush to pick up the prize at London’s O2 Arena.

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Collecting the award from Kylie Minogue, she joked: “I feel like a drag queen next to you.

“It’s been an amazing year. Thank you. I’d like to thank my record company for letting me be the kind of artist I want to be.”

Her appearance at the star-studded ceremony, at London’s O2 Arena, marked her first UK performance since her career-saving operation after she was diagnosed with a vocal cord haemorrhage.

Adele also landed her second Brit Award of the night after picking up the main prize, best album, for 21.

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But Adele did not have it all her own way with Halifax singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, heading the field this year with four nominations. After landing best British male solo artist and the award for best British breakthrough act Sheeran thanked his manager Stuart Camp who he said was responsible for turning the “spotty, chubby, ginger teenager into the person up here tonight”.

The 21-year-old star, who has three top five hits to his name, has enjoyed critical acclaim and airplay with singles such as The A Team and Lego House, as well as topping the album chart with his debut, called +.

He said of his best British male award: “I honestly didn’t think I’d get this one, so I’d just like to say thanks to my family, my friends, my fans, every single promoter that’s ever booked me, every single radio DJ that’s every played me and my label. I’m really bad at this.”

One Direction pulled off a surprise by winning the best British single for What Makes You Beautiful, ahead of Adele’s Someone Like You – the track which relaunched her career at last year’s Brits. The X Factor heartthrobs – who came third in the ITV1 contest – landed the prize in a public vote.

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The group dedicated the award to their fans, with singer Harry Styles adding: “Everything we do is for you, and this is yours.”

Coldplay kicked off the show with their track Charlie Brown, performing in the round, shortly followed by a performance by Florence + The Machine on a stage decked with Greek columns.

Earlier Florence had arrived at the event wearing a peach gown created by Sarah Burton, who designed the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress last April.

But she changed into a mini-dress by the time she took the stage.

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Show host James Corden asked guests to take a moment to remember “the great, the unique” Whitney Houston, who died earlier this month.

Bruno Mars picked up the title of best international male act, and told guests: “It’s been my dream to come here.”

Rihanna won the best international female solo artist title for the second year running, seeing off some stiff competition from the likes of Beyonce and Lady Gaga.

The Barbadian singer – whose hits include We Found Love – dedicated her prize to the fans.

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“At times when I feel misunderstood, my fans remind me that it’s OK to be myself,” she told the audience.

The awards often throw up memorable collaborations and this year Coldplay frontman Chris Martin joined Noel Gallagher’s band High Flying Birds, for the song AKA What A Life.

The event, broadcast live on ITV1, also featured performances from Bruno Mars, Sheeran and Rihanna.

Coldplay had a good evening winning the prize for best British group for the third time, after previous wins in 2003 and 2001.

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Collecting the prize, Chris Martin said it was “humbling” to win.

And he praised the awards themselves: “We’ve been doing the Brits since before most of you were born. It was terrible then and it’s amazing now.”

US rockers Foo Fighters won the Brit Award for best international group and Britpop legends Blur performed a medley and received the outstanding contribution prize.