Brit awards - as it happened: Pink closes ceremony as The 1975 win Best Album award

Ceremony included performances by The 1975, Dua Lipa, Calvin Harris, Little Mix, Jorja Smith and George Ezra

Brit awards 2019: Hugh jackman performs greatest showman

The Brit Awards began with a mind-boggling performance from Hugh Jackman performing a song from The Greatest Showman and closed with two vibrant shows with The 1975 and Pink.

The 1975 picked up two of the biggest awards of the night, for Best British Group and Best Album, for their latest LP A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships.

Jorja Smith, George Ezra, The 1975, Little Mix and The Carters (Beyonce and Jay Z) all picked up awards, and the audience was been treated to some vibrant, superbly choreographed performances from Little Mix and Ms Banks, Dua Lipa with Calvin Harris, and a stripped-down, moving show from Jorja Smith.

The 1975 made a powerful speech as they accepted the award for Best British Group, quoting Guardian deputy music editor Laura Snapes who wrote in a recent article: "Male misogynist acts are examined for nuance and defended as traits of ‘difficult’ artists, [while] women and those who call them out are treated as hysterics who don’t understand art," in reference to the recent allegations about Ryan Adams.

This year’s set of nominations was largely female-led, with more women acts than men up for awards in the Best Single, Video, Breakthrough and Album categories.

There appeared to be more of an attempt to acknowledge genres other than rock and pop, reflected in nods for rapper Giggs, R&B singers Jorja Smith and Ella Mai, electronic artist Aphex Twin and jazz musician Kamasi Washington.

“I think the Brits are very aware that things needed to improve, and I’ve seen a purposeful change in who’s chucked into the ring [over the past few years],”Amfo told The Independent. “Across genres, across gender lines… clearly it’s a very female-led year, which I’m very happy about.

"Women have been making great music, we’ve been loud, and I’m glad that’s being acknowledged."

The liveblog has now closed

See all of our Brits 2019 coverage here.

Key Points

• Ceremony took place at the O2 Arena in London
• A wealth of pop and rock acts were up for awards, including Dua Lipa, George Ezra, Anne-Marie, The 1975 and Christine and the Queens
• Jack Whitehall returned as host and proved his worth with some great comedy value across the night

[20 February 2019 19:50 · roisin.oconnor]

So we've spotted something on Twitter that looks like... wait. Have two of the biggest awards of the night leaked early? 

*** Cover your eyes if you don't want spoilers ****

This advert was *apparently* being shown on TV just a few moments ago

[20 February 2019 19:54 · roisin.oconnor]

OK apparent mess-up aside, the ceremony is about to get underway and the set is looking great, as per last year.

[20 February 2019 20:03 · roisin.oconnor]

Kicking off the first performance of the night is Hugh Jackman performing hits from The Greatest Showman, it looks pretty spectacular on stage right now!!

[20 February 2019 20:06 · roisin.oconnor]

This is absolutely bonkers, surely one of the greatest opening performance the Brits has seen in a long time.

[20 February 2019 20:11 · roisin.oconnor]

Hugh Jackman is "Australia's answer to Bradley Walsh" according to Jack Whitehall. 

RIght, so Paloma Faith is presenting the first award of the night, for British Male Solo artist, and the award goes to...

George Ezra!

[20 February 2019 20:21 · roisin.oconnor]

Nile Rodgers and US artist H.E.R are presenting the award for Best British Female. H.E.R is just back from the Grammys where she won not one, but TWO awards. "Haven't you heard, the future is female."

And the winner goes to... JORJA SMITH

Jorja had an incredible year in 2018, with spot on the Mercury Prize shortlist, Grammy nominations, a critically acclaimed album and collaborations with some of the biggest artists on the planet.

"This is for all of us, for the little girls and women who are loving what they're doing. Thank you so much," Jorja says in a short but sweet acceptance speech.

[20 February 2019 20:24 · roisin.oconnor]

  ↵More on that spectacular opening performance by Hugh Jackman here ––>

[20 February 2019 20:25 · roisin.oconnor]

"Does George Ezra only have one song?" – an anonymous member of the culture team. But I like him, and he is very good life. I feel more cheerful already.

[20 February 2019 20:27 · roisin.oconnor]

Next up is the category for Best Group, the results of which, if reports on Twitter are correct, have already been revealed...

The award is being announced by Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer and This is England actor Vicky McClure

[20 February 2019 20:28 · roisin.oconnor]

Yep... the winner is The 1975!