As it happened: live blog from the Brit Awards

Arctic Monkeys may have built up a reputation for being too cool to grace the biggest night in British music, but they finally gave in to the glitzy glory of the Brits last night, writes Adam Sherwin.

Attending the ceremony for the first time — after accepting three previous awards by video link — the Sheffield band cemented their position as music royalty, taking both Best Group and British Album prizes for the second year running.

Dressed in outfits that were more country squire than rock’n’roll — of plus-fours, cravats, flat caps, a walking stick and a hunting horn — the band cut their own dash on a red carpet cluttered with sartorial excess.

While their victory proved that rock is far from dead, pop was also finally recognised at the Brits. Take That, the reformed Nineties boy band, beat Arctic Monkeys and Kaiser Chiefs to the award for Best Live Act.

Amy Winehouse made a dramatic return to the stage last night, choosing the live televised Brits to deliver her first public appearance since beginning treatment for drug addiction. She had little preparation, however, missing rehearsals to visit her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, in Pentonville Prison where he is awaiting trial on assault charges.

Equally lacking in practice was Sir Paul McCartney — who received the Outstanding Contribution to Music prize — who had had to rehearse his medley of Beatles classics before his appearances at the High Court in his divorce battle with Heather Mills.

Sir Paul, 65, had declined previous attempts to give him the honour. “It’s actually not lifetime achievement,” he said. “I try to avoid those because it feels like you’re going to die the next second. It’s great to get any award.”

Kate Nash, whose conversational pop songs followed Lily Allen to the top of the charts, secured the award for Best Female.

Mika, 24, the Lebanese-born singer who was told by Simon Cowell not to bother writing songs, won the British Breakthrough category. The former Royal College of Music student’s Seventies-style album Life In Cartoon Motion sold 1.2 million copies.

The award for Best British Male went to Mark Ronson, Winehouse’s producer and a naturalised US citizen. Ronson, 32, was rewarded for Version, an album of cover versions from the likes of Radiohead and Kaiser Chiefs.

Kylie Minogue marked her successful return from treatment for breast cancer by winning the International Female Solo category. She sang a track from her latest album and was presented with her prize by David Tennant, the Doctor Who actor with whom she co-starred in a Christmas special.

Foo Fighters, the American rockers, confirmed their standing as a leading stadium after taking the International Group and Album awards.

The Brits were hosted at Earls Court by Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne on a “glam” stage, with gold drapes and a curtain of lights, while a “punk” stage featured a torn Union Jack.

The awards

Best British Male Mark Ronson
Best British Female Kate Nash
Best British Group Arctic Monkeys
Best British Album Favourite Worst Nightmare by Arctic Monkeys
Best British Breakthrough Mika
Best Live Act Take That
Best British Single Shine (Take That)
Best International Male Kanye West
Best International Female Kylie Minogue
Best International Group Foo Fighters
Best International Album Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace by Foo Fighters
Critics’ Choice Award Adele
Outstanding Contribution Sir Paul McCartney

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