Brit awards 2022 – as it happened

I can’t tell whether that seemed to go incredibly fast or last a million years. It’s hard to resume normal mental function post-liveblog and not contrive comment on everything in sight. “This toothbrush has nothing on Jack Whitehall, etc etc.” (Clearly, tonight has lasted a million years.)

Anyway, thanks for joining me and Elle for a very strange Brits. We have the strange predicament of a largely great class of winners coupled with a pretty boring event. Good performances from Little Simz and Dave for sure, but a distinct lack of excitement otherwise, and a serious downturn in hosting from the Whitehall era. Maybe one day they’ll get it right! Until then, we’re off to simmer down from all the moderate pop excitement with an episode of Cheers. The Brits’ best single has nothing on Gary Portnoy. Goodnight!

It’s Dave performing In the Fire with help from Fredo, Ghetts, Meekz, Giggs and a gospel choir. Unlike his 2020 Brits performance in which he attacked prime minister Boris Johnson as “a real racist”, this performance is all about pure feeling, Dave detailing the experience of being at risk of deportation, and how “everythin’ but my mum’s pay’s on the rise”. It may well be its own form of limitation to expect political artists to keep on making political statements, and so this is a well earned moment of full-frontal emotional expression that climaxes with Dave ripping a solo on a guitar that shoots real flames out of the neck.

Phew! It’s very warm in here, but maybe it’s just my laptop going into overdrive from our relentless journalistic service tonight.

Time for a recap of all the performances we’ve enjoyed over the past two hours, in case once was not enough for you of Ed Sheeran X Bring Me The Horizon.

Dave’s set the stage ablaze for a performance of In the Fire, complete with gospel choir and all-star appearances from Fredo, Meekz, Ghetts and Giggs.

Adele wins album of the year for 30: her third, having won in 2016 for 25 and in 2012 for 21. She thanks “her label and stuff”, but dedicates this win to her son Angelo.

“I’m very proud of myself for sticking to my guns and putting out an album that was so personal to me, because not many people do stuff like that anymore,” she says.

Angelo, aged nine, had been so patient and “gracious” with her during the process, Adele said.

She also paid tribute to producer of the year (not awarded on the broadcast), Inflo, as “someone who was absolutely integral” to the album.

“He really changed my life, not just with my music – he really helped me in so many ways.”

Idris Elba, of the film Cats, is here to present the big one: album of the year.

• 30 by Adele
• We’re All Alone In This Together by Dave
• = by Ed Sheeran
• Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz
• Seventeen Going Under by Sam Fender

Not to sound gazillion years old and deeply uncool, but host Mo Gilligan’s focus on drinking as the peak of rock’n’roll excess – down to checking in with Maya Jama on what cocktails are being served at the bar, and grilling 16-year-old A1 (of A1 & J1) on how many shots he’s done – is wearing a bit thin.

Not least for famously moderate Gen Z…

Should you find yourself looking at the clock during the Ed Sheeran weepy strings section – there’s just one more award to go, album of the year.

Brian Cox has beaten a hasty retreat, without going full beast.

Ed Sheeran has come on stage to accept songwriter of the year. He thanks his record label, and his wife Cherry for going along with his move to the country and being “so supportive while we just make songs and songs and songs.”

Cherry looks sweetly bashful in the audience.

I know Brian Cox is a fine actor but he simply cannot make me believe that Logan Roy is an Ed Sheeran fan.