Paul McCartney may have been crowned a legend and Britney Spears named Act of the Year but it was President-elect Barack Obama who stole the show at last night’s European MTV awards.

Obama fever dominated the 15th MTV Europe Music Awards ceremony at the Liverpool Echo Arena, with artists competing in their tributes to the future US leader.

Presenter for the night, Katy Perry - who opened the ceremony dressed as an American footballer straddling a giant cherry chapstick to perform her hit I Kissed A Girl - also donned an oversized yellow T-shirt with a print of Obama’s face.

Jared Leto, of 30 Seconds to Mars, who won both the Rock Out and Video Star awards, had the audience on their feet to honour the President-elect. "Lets hear it for Barack Obama," he said, prompting the loudest cheers of the night.

Sugababes also got in on the act, with Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Range and Heidi Berrabah wearing red, white and blue when they came on stage to present Pink with the gong for Most Addictive Track.

And McCartney, who picked up MTV’s one-off Ultimate Legend Award, closed his acceptance speech by thanking “everyone in America for voting in Mr Obama”.

Other awards last night went to German band Tokio Hotel, named Headliner, and Kanye West who picked up the Ultimate Urban award. Britney Spears, who did not attend the ceremony, won two awards for Album of the Year and Act of 2008.

The most surprising winner of the night was Rick Astley, who scooped Best Act Ever as voted by the public. MTV was last night putting the shock win down to the internet craze Rickrolling. Astley was not able to accept the award, but in his absence Perry and co-presenter Perez Hilton pleased the crowd with a dance routine to his famous track Never Gonna Give You Up.

MTV EUROPE MUSIC AWARD WINNERS 2008

Most Addictive Track: Pink ‘So What’

Video Star: 30 Seconds To Mars ‘A Beautiful Lie’

Headliner: Tokio Hotel

Ultimate Urban: Kanye West

Rock Out: 30 Seconds To Mars

Artists Choice: Lil Wayne

Act of 2008: Britney Spears

Ultimate Legend: Sir Paul McCartney

Album of the Year: Britney Spears Blackout

Europe’s Favourite Act: Emre Aydin (Turkey)

New Act: Katy Perry

Best Act Ever: Rick Astley

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