The BRIT Awards, hosted for the fourth time by James Corden, were the perfect celebration of a vintage year. Muse started proceedings with an explosive performance featuring a huge orchestra and fireworks, setting the tone for the evening.

This time last year saw Emeli Sandé won her first ever BRIT Award when she was chosen as the Critics' Choice winner. 12 months on she scooped the biggest Award of the night, the MasterCard British Album Award, for her debut album Our Version Of Events which has now been certified four times platinum and is close to sales of 1 5 million worldwide.

Emeli was also honoured with the British Female accolade and gave a stunning performance for the BRITs finale.


Also performing, Ben Howard was the only other artist to enjoy multiple wins - British Breakthrough (winner decided by public vote) and British Male. Ben's Every Kingdom album was released at the end of 2011 and reached the Top 10 in the Official Album Charts.

Mumford & Sons picked up British Group. Coldplay beat competition from bands like the Rolling Stones and Muse to be presented with the reinstated British Live Act, their eighth BRIT Award to date. Last year's MasterCard Album Award winner Adele was also honoured, winning the British Single Award (with Capital FM and iTunes) for Skyfall, her fourth BRIT Award in total.

One Direction received the first-ever Global Success Award (the UK act with the highest international sales during the 2012 calendar year, excluding UK). The band released their second album Take Me Home in November, breaking chart records, to become the fifth biggest selling album in the US in 2012.


In the international categories Lana Del Rey picked up International Female Solo Artist, International Group went to The Black Keys and Frank Ocean won International Male Solo Artist.


In another first for the BRITs, Damon Albarn took to the stage to collect the Special Recognition Award on behalf of War Child, as 2013 marks the charity's 20th anniversary.

Performances on the night (in order of appearance) came from Muse (Supremacy), Robbie Williams (Candy), Justin Timberlake (Mirrors), One Direction (One Way Or Another), Taylor Swift (I Knew You Were Trouble), Ben Howard (Only Love), Mumford & Sons (I Will Wait) and Emeli Sandé (Clown/Next To Me).


The winners in full:

Critics' Choice - Tom Odell

British Producer - Paul Epworth

British Female Solo Artist - Emeli Sandé

British Group - Mumford & Sons

British Breakthrough Act - Ben Howard

British Male Solo Artist - Ben Howard

International Female Solo Artist - Lana Del Rey

British Live Act - Coldplay

British Single - Adele Skyfall

International Group - The Black Keys International

Male Solo Artist - Frank Ocean

Special Recognition Award - War Child MasterCard

British Album Of The Year - Emeli Sandé Our Version Of Events

BRITs Global Success Award - One Direction.