Brit Awards 2016: the winners, highlights and raised eyebrows

It was a night of tears, twerking, Bowie tributes and a visit from a real life star man as the 2016 Brit Awards took place in London's O2 Arena.

Coldplay opened the ceremony with a performance of their single Hymn for the Weekend, confetti showering down on the star-studded audience during the song. They went on to win best British group, making them the most successful band in the ceremony's history.

Others taking home trophies included James Bay, Tame Impala, Justin Bieber and Bjork, while the likes of Jess Glynne, Rihanna, Drake and Little Mix appeared on stage and Ant and Dec presided over proceedings.

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Adele emerged as "the Queen of the Brits", says the Daily Mirror, taking home four prizes – best British female artist; single; album, and the Global Success award - and putting on "a stunning performance of her song When We Were Young".

It was an emotional evening for the singer, who broke down in tears as she was given her Global Success trophy from British astronaut Tim Peake.

Currently on the International Space Station, Peake appeared via video-link, catching Adele completely off-guard.

"I can't work out whether I'm crying because of this award or because Tim Peake said it," she said, through tears. "My kid's going to think I'm so cool."

Adele also caused a stir for saying "the F-word" live on air, reports the Daily Mail, which notes it's the second time she has sworn during the Brits, after infamously flicking her middle finger up at the "suits" for cutting off her acceptance speech in 2014.

"I thought you'd be f***ing bored of me," she told the crowd, forcing hosts Ant and Dec to apologise when the editing failed to cover up the expletive.

More eyebrows were raised by Rihanna's twerking performance with rapper Drake. "RiRi, dressed in fringe pants and a white crop top, backed it up" to Drake, who then proceeded to grind on her – they were "practically having sex", says Sierra Marquina at US Magazine.

One viewer said it was "more awkward than seeing my parents kiss".

In tribute to the late David Bowie, who passed away last month, his former tour band took to the stage with New Zealand-born singer Lorde to perform Life on Mars. And unlike Lady Gaga's tribute at the Grammys, her rendition received the thumbs up from Bowie's son, Duncan Jones, who called it "beautiful".

The evening went off largely without a hitch - unlike last year, when Madonna fell on stage after a costume mishap. Capes had since been banned, Ant and Dec told the crown, adding: "It's a health and safety disaster."