Dave Grohl presented. Justin Timberlake performed to a positively baying room. Carey Mulligan put on a gorgeous show of support for her Best British Group-winning Mumford & Son. But tonights Brit Awards belonged to one man: Ben Howard.
The Devon-raised singer scooped both Best British Breakthrough and Best British Male before a star-studded crowd of musical peers including Taylor Swift, Alexa Chung, Rita Ora and Jessie J.
'I was quite stoked to come to the awards to be honest, so to get two of these is amazing,' the modest, Emporio Armani-clad musician said - before proving exactly why he deserved them with a haunting performance of Only Love.
Elsewhere, Justin Timberlake - deliciously introduced by host James Cordon as '95% beefcake with just a little bit of horse' - whipped the crowd into a frenzy with a performance of new single Mirrors from hotly-anticipated album Suit & Tie, the One Direction boys high-kicked their way through Comic Relief single One Way Or Another, and Taylor Swift stripped out of a virginal white gown down to a black corset and over-the-knee boots for a no-holds-barred rendition of Trouble.
Notably absent was nominee and ELLE cover star Rihanna - who turns 25 today, and is partying in Hawaii with Chris Brown tonight - and Adele, who collected her award for Skyfall as Best British Single by VT from LA, where she is preparing to perform at the Oscars on Sunday.
The Brit Awards 2013: Winners List
