Grace Jones almost stole the show by turning up in a hood, mask and horns, but it was the infinitely more understated Coldplay that proved the stars of today’s Q Awards, by collecting the two most prestigious gongs.

The alternately feted and maligned rock band, fronted by Chris Martin, was awarded Best Album and Best Act in the World Today by the music magazine for their fourth studio album of epic tunes, Viva La Vida.

The double win, reminiscent of their summer chart success - they topped the singles and albums chart simultaneously – ended Oasis’s hopes of a gong and Last Shadow Puppet’s shot at Best Album.

But Alex Turner’s side project still managed a moment in the limelight at the at the event, held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel. Last Shadow Puppets were awarded Best New Act, although the Mercury winning Arctic Monkey and his bandmate, the Rascals’ frontman Miles Kane, could hardly be considered new to the music scene.

The Breakthrough Artist category was a battleground for the year’s lauded new talents Duffy and Adele, who both rose to prominence last winter, but the race was won by Welsh Mercy singer Duffy, who accepted the gong via video link.

Awards host Alan Carr was perhaps as pleased as Duffy by her victory as he took the opportunity to reel off a joke at the expense of Amy Winehouse: "People are calling her the new Amy. If Amy keeps it up they’ll soon be calling her the only Amy.”

Keane, on the verge of releasing their comeback album following Tom Chaplin’s battle with drugs and alcohol, was awarded the Best Track award for their new single Spiralling.

The Kaiser Chiefs took the title for Best Live Act, Adam Ant won the Q Icon award and former Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour took home the Outstanding Contribution to Music gong. Now a successful solo artist, Gilmour received a standing ovation from the audience before dedicating his award to the late Pink Floyd keyboard player Rick Wright, who died last month.

Grace Jones’s eye-catching outfit wasn’t wasted – she was able to show it off as she collected the Q Idol gong. The one-time model told the audience: “I know I haven’t done any music for a long time and coming through the line of press people were saying 'Grace, you've come back'. Only Lazarus came back. He was dead, I’m not dead. I’ve been on holiday underground!"

The Winners

Best New Act

The Last Shadow Puppets

Breakthrough Artist

Duffy

Best Track

Keane - Spiralling

Best Video

Vampire Weekend - A-Punk

Q Classic Songwriter

Winner - John Mellencamp

Q Classic Song

Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell

Q Inspiration

Cocteau Twins

Q Legend

Glen Campbell

Best Live Act

Kaiser Chiefs

Best Album

Coldplay - Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends

Q Innovation In Sound

Massive Attack

Q Icon

Adam Ant

Q Idol

Grace Jones

Q Outstanding Contribution To Music

David Gilmour

Best Act In The World Today

Coldplay

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