A big night for grime or a big opportunity missed?
Mark Savage
Music reporter
PACopyright: PA
So in the end, after all the think pieces and positive headlines, grime artists left the Brits empty-handed.
Bowie took home two of the night's biggest prizes, best British male and best album, while Rag'N'Bone Man was the surprise winner of best breakthrough, beating Stormzy and Skepta.
Is it enough that grime and urban music got nominated? Or does it look like the Brits invited these stars to the party, only to slam the door in their face?
It depends on how you view the ceremony. In pure sales terms, it's the performances that matter - and Skepta's powerful, thrilling rendition of Shut Down will undoubtedly give him a massive boost.
Ed Sheeran inviting Stormzy on stage is a big deal, too... a seal of approval from one of pop's biggest stars that never felt opportunistic.
Emeli Sande's win in the best female category will be held up as proof the voters aren't colourblind.
Likewise, the blink-and-you-missed-them international categories went to Beyonce, Drake and rap legends A Tribe Called Quest.
But if the awards matter (and they should), the Brits need to recognise the vigour of UK grime, not just reflect it.
But not before Robbie Williams is crowned Brits Global Icon.
No speech but instead into a live medley of his recent catalogue.
"Come on The Brits - it's nearly over!," announces the self-professed entertainer before racing through a medley of his hits ending on latest single I Love My Life.
One Direction's win in the viewer-voted best video category was a foregone conclusion. Even after a year off, they have one of the most dedicated fanbases of any band on the planet.
Still, the win got a huge cheer from the audience. Certainly a bigger one than that which met The Chainsmokers' duet with Coldplay. It's an old problem - never premiere new material to an audience who've come for the hits.
PACopyright: PA
Ed Sheeran did it better... giving people a taste of the mega-smashes Castle On the Hill and Shape Of You before bringing Stormzy out for a brand-new verse (if this doesn't get an official release, there'll be riots).
If you need a barometer of how the performance went down, we're in the posh boxes with all the record industry "suits" and even they're up on their feet. It's like a wedding disco with advert breaks.
Chris Martin returns... with the Chainsmokers
After his Wham! tribute, the Coldplay singer was back on stage singing with US DJ duo The Chainsmokers.
Possibly the most coveted of the night and presented by none other than Noel Gallagher.
The second posthumous award for the late singer.
It was accepted by his son, director Duncan Jones.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
"I lost my dad last year but I also became a dad and spent a lot of time trying to get over the shock and wanted to know what my son would want to know about his granddad.
"He was always supporting people who were a little bit weird, a bit strange and was always there for them.
"This for all the kooks and the people who make the kooks. Thank you."
House falls off stage at Brits
We missed this. but it bears repeating from Katy Perry's performance at the Brits.
Ed Sheeran just headed for the Castle On the Hill.
One minute Arya Stark from Game of Thrones was seen loving it down near the front...then before you could say "Tiny Dancer" Ed had switched into his number one single Shape of You.
Then his new bezzie Stormzy arrived on stage for an impromtu rap.
It was almost as fast and confusing as an episode of GoT and equally thrilling.
Well not quite but the censors have a field day as the hooded grime artist and British solo male nominee uses some pretty colourful language during his performance of Shutdown.
So it was muted for much of the song.
It reminds us of Kanye at the Brits two years ago.
Simon Cowell enjoyed it (yes you read that correctly). He was on his feet at the end.
Go to Beyonce and A Tribe Called Quest - no winners speech and no thank you videos sadly.
So, instead, here's a pic of Beyonce, Michelle and Kelly from the Brits in 2001.
International male solo artist is...
PACopyright: PA
Drake.
He beat Bon Iver, the late Leonard Cohen, Bruno Mars and The Weeknd.
Like Adele, Drizzy is not in the building, city or even country but he did leave a message that began with a big "Brits, waah g'wan!"
As if that wasn't enough, he added: "Just wanna say I'm honoured and grateful. This is probably the most important award we can win. You guys know how much we care.
"Thank you a million times over."
He then gave a "big up to my brother Skep and good luck tonight."
Well, she wasn't nominated for anything this year (because of eligibility dates) but she won five Grammys and it doesn't feel like the Brits without her.
"Hello London, it's me again, thank you so much, it means the world to me, I miss you all terribly," she said in a recorded message.
Moving stuff.
Katy Perry is Chained to the Rhythm
PACopyright: PA
Emerging from a slightly odd set of pink and yellow lit cardboard houses, Katy Parry and her newly-politically charged anthem.
Then, two huge skeletons wearing business suits walk on stage (one wearing a certain red tie as favoured by a certain US president). Who could they be? Hmmm.
The song, which opened the night, was described as a "happy heartbreak song" - not to be confused with happy hardcore (that's a different genre).
"We didn't think we were going to get it. We were just sitting chin-wagging", said Jade Thirlwall. Really Jade?
"If it wasn't for our friendship we wouldn't still be going.
"And lastly cheers to our exes for giving us such a major song. This is to you lads!"
Did you see that? Was The 1975's performance just hacked?
PACopyright: PA
So the Cheshire lads have the best band gong in the bag and it seems they also have a great sense of humour. Either that or they've been stitched up.
The TV coverage flashed up some rather derogatory cards during their performance of The Sound, saying things like "unconvincing EMO lyrics" and "This band thinks it has a charismatic singer...they are mistaken" and so on.
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Kev Geoghegan & Paul Glynn
All times stated are UK
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Latest PostShout out to the Brits
That's it for another year.
No awards for grime stars but we won't forget Skepta and Stormzy in a hurry.
A Lazarus-esque showing from David Bowie saw him take two big awards from beyond the grave.
We'll raise a glass now at the Music News LIVE after-party to The 1975, Emeli Sande and Rag'N' Bone man too.
But we'll leave you tonight with how the show began - with the official best British single.
Sing it ladies...
Warning: Third party content, may contain ads.
1D 4 Little Mix 4 Ever
Well Liam was the sole 1D representative on the night, but it looks like Niall Horan has been following our coverage.
He congratulated Little Mix on "killing" it with their opening performance of Shout Out To My Ex, which won best British single.
Wasn't that one about Niall's old pal Zayn? Awks
Lotta, lotta love for Stormzy
He may not have won an award on the night but Stormzy stormed right through new bezzie Ed Sheeran's set with a new rap on no.1 track Shape of You.
It's the talk of the (Twitter) town and it seems he enjoyed it too...three love heart emojis-worth.
A big night for grime or a big opportunity missed?
Mark Savage
Music reporter
So in the end, after all the think pieces and positive headlines, grime artists left the Brits empty-handed.
Bowie took home two of the night's biggest prizes, best British male and best album, while Rag'N'Bone Man was the surprise winner of best breakthrough, beating Stormzy and Skepta.
Is it enough that grime and urban music got nominated? Or does it look like the Brits invited these stars to the party, only to slam the door in their face?
It depends on how you view the ceremony. In pure sales terms, it's the performances that matter - and Skepta's powerful, thrilling rendition of Shut Down will undoubtedly give him a massive boost.
Ed Sheeran inviting Stormzy on stage is a big deal, too... a seal of approval from one of pop's biggest stars that never felt opportunistic.
Emeli Sande's win in the best female category will be held up as proof the voters aren't colourblind.
Likewise, the blink-and-you-missed-them international categories went to Beyonce, Drake and rap legends A Tribe Called Quest.
But if the awards matter (and they should), the Brits need to recognise the vigour of UK grime, not just reflect it.
Show's over
But not before Robbie Williams is crowned Brits Global Icon.
No speech but instead into a live medley of his recent catalogue.
"Come on The Brits - it's nearly over!," announces the self-professed entertainer before racing through a medley of his hits ending on latest single I Love My Life.
Some of you love that song just as much...
Others including The Courteeners frontman Liam Fray just loved it when it stopped.
Did Katy Perry mock Trump and the PM at the Brits?
BBC Newsbeat
Many viewers have been commenting on the similarity between Katy Perry's puppets, and Donald Trump and Theresa May.
The skeletons' outfits were similar to the ones worn by the British and American leaders when they met in Washington in January 2017.
One wore a dark suit and red tie, while the other wore a red blazer and skirt.
Read more
More from inside the venue
Mark Savage
Music reporter
One Direction's win in the viewer-voted best video category was a foregone conclusion. Even after a year off, they have one of the most dedicated fanbases of any band on the planet.
Still, the win got a huge cheer from the audience. Certainly a bigger one than that which met The Chainsmokers' duet with Coldplay. It's an old problem - never premiere new material to an audience who've come for the hits.
Ed Sheeran did it better... giving people a taste of the mega-smashes Castle On the Hill and Shape Of You before bringing Stormzy out for a brand-new verse (if this doesn't get an official release, there'll be riots).
If you need a barometer of how the performance went down, we're in the posh boxes with all the record industry "suits" and even they're up on their feet. It's like a wedding disco with advert breaks.
Chris Martin returns... with the Chainsmokers
After his Wham! tribute, the Coldplay singer was back on stage singing with US DJ duo The Chainsmokers.
Mixed reviews shall we say.
British album of the year
David Bowie's Blackstar.
Possibly the most coveted of the night and presented by none other than Noel Gallagher.
The second posthumous award for the late singer.
It was accepted by his son, director Duncan Jones.
"I lost my dad last year but I also became a dad and spent a lot of time trying to get over the shock and wanted to know what my son would want to know about his granddad.
"He was always supporting people who were a little bit weird, a bit strange and was always there for them.
"This for all the kooks and the people who make the kooks. Thank you."
House falls off stage at Brits
We missed this. but it bears repeating from Katy Perry's performance at the Brits.
A house collapsed. For realsies.
Introducing...Ed Storm
Ed Sheeran just headed for the Castle On the Hill.
One minute Arya Stark from Game of Thrones was seen loving it down near the front...then before you could say "Tiny Dancer" Ed had switched into his number one single Shape of You.
Then his new bezzie Stormzy arrived on stage for an impromtu rap.
It was almost as fast and confusing as an episode of GoT and equally thrilling.
British artist video of the year
Goes to One Direction, presented by their boss Simon Cowell.
Liam is on hand to collect it. The crowd goes wild.
He said he "we cannot believe that we're still winning these," and paid tribute to " the devotion of our fans".
Simon also joined in to thank the makers of the video. Bit odd.
Christine celebrates her Brits rivals
BBC Newsbeat
She didn't win the award, losing out to Beyonce but the Brit Awards nominee isn't the jealous type.
She's celebrating her rivals for each representing a different aspect of being a women - from "goddess" to "rebel".
Read more
Skepta shuts down the ITV broadcast
Well not quite but the censors have a field day as the hooded grime artist and British solo male nominee uses some pretty colourful language during his performance of Shutdown.
So it was muted for much of the song.
It reminds us of Kanye at the Brits two years ago.
Simon Cowell enjoyed it (yes you read that correctly). He was on his feet at the end.
Best international female and group
Go to Beyonce and A Tribe Called Quest - no winners speech and no thank you videos sadly.
So, instead, here's a pic of Beyonce, Michelle and Kelly from the Brits in 2001.
International male solo artist is...
Drake.
He beat Bon Iver, the late Leonard Cohen, Bruno Mars and The Weeknd.
Like Adele, Drizzy is not in the building, city or even country but he did leave a message that began with a big "Brits, waah g'wan!"
As if that wasn't enough, he added: "Just wanna say I'm honoured and grateful. This is probably the most important award we can win. You guys know how much we care.
"Thank you a million times over."
He then gave a "big up to my brother Skep and good luck tonight."
Too late Drizzy, he's already smashed it.
The Global Success award goes to Adele
Well, she wasn't nominated for anything this year (because of eligibility dates) but she won five Grammys and it doesn't feel like the Brits without her.
"Hello London, it's me again, thank you so much, it means the world to me, I miss you all terribly," she said in a recorded message.
Moving stuff.
Katy Perry is Chained to the Rhythm
Emerging from a slightly odd set of pink and yellow lit cardboard houses, Katy Parry and her newly-politically charged anthem.
Then, two huge skeletons wearing business suits walk on stage (one wearing a certain red tie as favoured by a certain US president). Who could they be? Hmmm.
It's kind of bonkers but brilliant.
British single goes to...
Little Mix - Shout Out To My Ex.
Woop woop! Cue the hysteria...
The song, which opened the night, was described as a "happy heartbreak song" - not to be confused with happy hardcore (that's a different genre).
"We didn't think we were going to get it. We were just sitting chin-wagging", said Jade Thirlwall. Really Jade?
"If it wasn't for our friendship we wouldn't still be going.
"And lastly cheers to our exes for giving us such a major song. This is to you lads!"
Did you see that? Was The 1975's performance just hacked?
So the Cheshire lads have the best band gong in the bag and it seems they also have a great sense of humour. Either that or they've been stitched up.
The TV coverage flashed up some rather derogatory cards during their performance of The Sound, saying things like "unconvincing EMO lyrics" and "This band thinks it has a charismatic singer...they are mistaken" and so on.
Some people seemed concerned/confused.
Others didn't fall for it...