Brit Awards 2018: Dua Lipa and Stormzy steal the show

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"Theresa May / Where's the money for Grenfell?"

The line that 2018 Brit Awards will be remembered by, came from double-winning Stormzy.

It may be a tad early to judge but the moment is being described as "iconic" already and the grime star has been labelled "a national treasure" and "the people's champion."

Lily Allen certainly enjoyed it too, like a lot of you out there.

It was the comedian's first time in charge and he spared no blushes, taking aim variously at Ed Sheeran, Little Mix, Niall Horan, Olly Murs, Foo Fighters, footballer Harry Kane and more.

But what have the great and good of social media got to say about his debut performance?

A man whose album caused the official charts to change their rules has effectively been shutout of this year's Brits, in much the same way as Jay-Z was at the Grammys.

Ed's only win of the night, the Global Success award (which could only ever have been his) feels like a bit of a token gesture at this point.

Wow.

The rapper closed the show with a performance to remember for many a year.

The 24-year-old kicked off with a heartfelt rendition of Blinded By Your Grace. Pt.2.

Then as the rain poured down on him alone - like a lost scene from The Truman Show - a bare-chested Stormzy delivered a rapid fire slam of the government and specifically Prime Minister Theresa May for her handling of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

The Daily Mail did not get away lightly either and some skilful self-editing on the part of the grime star ensured that his diss what not censored out, like Kendrick had been before him.

It all culminated with the by now drenched London superstar spitting out a powerful performance of his breakthrough hit, Big For Your Boots.

That one will go down in Brits history.

Go and dry off big man.

Well, there you have it. Stormzy gets best male and best album. A huge vindication of his debut record, which he said on stage was the "hardest thing I've ever done in my life."

It took him two years, delayed by depression and writer's block - but when it arrived, Gang Signs and Prayer signposted the way forward for Grime, mixing elements of gospel, soul and R&B with those crunching beats and furious raps.

He's firmly found his place now as one of the UK's biggest stars - and he's got two Brits to prove it.

After six years in record company limbo, people are always surprised Rita Ora is interested in being a performer. But all those TV gigs and modelling jobs were taken in frustration while she tried to get out of a recording contract with Jay-Z's Roc Nation, who refused to release her second album.

As a result, her performances over the last year have been shot through with a sort of joyous relief, and her vocals are stronger than most of us remember. It helps that Anywhere and the Ed Sheeran-penned Your Song were two of the best pop singles of 2017.

Her Liam Payne duet For You, on the other hand, was a bit of a let-down.

Let's just pretend that bit didn't happen, ok?

And it's gone to Stormzy and his table have gone wild.

Two awards for the big man tonight.

His was the first grime album to reach the UK's number one slot.

A truly, truly delighted looking Stormzy took to the stage.

"All the glory to God, this is all you.," he begins before thanking his team and "mum and my whole family, we done it.

"Gang Signs and Prayer, I've never given my entire being, my entire emotion to something like this before

"I didn't have anything left after, we made something undeniable."

And now he gets to close the show.

Host Jack W joked that; "If anyone is just tuning in, they'll think this is the weirdest episode of The Cube ever".

For others out there, Kendrick's performance recalled memories of classic sitcoms and video games of yester year.

Here's our Brits-themed #ThrowbackWednesday.

These car gags could run and run.

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Lorde is one of a handful of stars who didn't make it along to the Brits tonight, (along with best video winner Harry Styles).

But even though she sent a video message, she must be reading our MNL page online too - naturally - as she's tweeted her thanks to the Brits, saying she was "overjoyed".

Harry!

Not only is he not in the building but he didn't even prepare a winners video.

We guess it's just a sign of the times.

Check out the winning video which sees the One Direction man flying above the sea.

A panicked Jack - who may have missed a cue - runs on stage to say that Harry has told him "thanks to [award presenter] Olly Murs", adding, "he's an inspiration and he can take the award home".

Yaay for Olly.

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His performance appears to have three false starts before he launches into FEEL, one of the darkest, most introspective tracks on his third album DAMN, which looks at all the negative emotions his fame has fuelled ("Ain't nobody praying for me.")

Beneath him, in a perspex box, a dancer is smashing an expensive sports car to pieces.

It's an uncompromising deconstruction of his public image, and of hip-hop's most materialistic trips.

But it's not exactly engaging the audience at the O2 Arena. *Maybe it came across better on TV?

*It didn't. It mostly confused people as the lyrics were largely bleeped out by the ITV producers, making you wonder what the point was.

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The video messages are coming in thick and fast now from stars who couldn't be bothered...we mean... couldn't be at the Brits (only joking Sir Elt) .

From a room somewhere in Vegas, Elton John, with a bizarre pronunciation of the recipient's name, said: "From the first time i heard Ed Sher-an, I knew he'd be a huge star around the world."

He then thanked the singer/songwriter for publicly name-checking his track Tiny Dancer.

"It sent my streaming numbers through the roof, thanks Ed."

Then "just about living legend" - according to host Jack - Ronnie Wood gave Ed the award in person.

"A few years ago Ed performed with us in the States and he was really great.

"We saw in him a great songwriter and a lovely guy."

You have to admire Sam's moxy, getting up on stage and singing his heart out in front of a room of people that totally failed to nominate his second album for any Brits.

Mind you, he'll probably be able to use that rejection for six tracks on his next album, so who's the real winner here, eh?

Of course, the fans don't really care about the awards, and plenty of people in the paying section of the O2 are on their feet singing along to Too Good At Goodbyes.

Sam brings it home with what, by my count, is the third gospel choir of the night. I hope they're all charging good rates.

Gorillaz

Murdoc from the band sent a video of thanks from behind bars, thanking lots of people including "my zumba teahcer" and "Sid 'the psycho' Smith.

Real life Humanz Damon Albarn, Jamie Hewlitt and collaborators including Little Simz and Jehnny Beth then stormed the stage.

"I've got one thing to say," said a slightly 'tired and emotional' sounding Damon.

"And it's about this country.

"This country is believe it or not quite a small little thing right, but it's a lovely place and part of a beautiful world.

"Don't let it become isolated. Don't let yourselves become cut off.

Quote Message: Considering our size we do incredible things in music. We've got a real spirit and real soul, don't let politics get in the way of all that...

Considering our size we do incredible things in music. We've got a real spirit and real soul, don't let politics get in the way of all that...

The mic appeared to cut off before rapper Little Simz and Savages singer Jehnny were allowed a short message of thanks

"Oh, God, don't let this my Adele moment," said a trembling Jack Whitehall.

"I think he's talking about Brexit," he then added, of Damon's speech.

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Ariana Grande had intended to be here for the Manchester Arena tribute, but Liam ably fills her shoes with a spine-tingling rendition of Live Forever.

A lot of people had expected him to play Don't Look Back In Anger, which became an anthem of defiance after the Manchester Arena bombing last year - but the words to this song feel just as apposite. (A more uncharitable person might point out the Don't Look Back was Noel's song, but let's not get into that here).

Gary Barlow also paid a loving tribute to the 22 "innocent, music-loving people" who lost their lives.

Remembering the One Love concert, he said: "It was an event that epitomised the human spirit... that showed hate will never win and fear will never divide us."

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Dua Lipa can wear a huge dress, Ellie from Wolf Alice once worked at the Brits and Dave has claimed the name... er.. Dave

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Ariana Grande was forced to cancel her appearance tonight due to ill health and Take That star Gary Barlow stepped in...

...to introduce Liam Gallagher for a stripped-back performance of Live Forever.

The rumours were true after all.

It's the second time Liam has been ushered in at the last minute to honour the victims of the attack in his hometown, after he stole the show at the One Love Manchester gig.

The Kiwi couldn't make it as she is rehearsing for her tour.

But she did send the first video message of thanks of the evening saying she was "incredibly honoured".