Arctic Monkeys, One Direction and David Bowie win big at BRIT Awards

Arctic Monkeys and One Direction won two awards apiece at tonight's 34th annual Brit Awards at The O2 in London. The Sheffield band picked up their sixth and seventh awards since 2006 for Best British Group and Best British Album, while One Direction bagged the fan-voted Best Video award as well as the rather dubiously titled Global Success award.

Ellie Goulding took home the gong for Best British Female but it was David Bowie's win for Best British Male - his first BRIT since winning the same award 30 years ago - which drew one of the night's more memorable moments. Bowie, who at 67 became the oldest person to win a BRIT, did not attend the ceremony and instead sent model Kate Moss to The O2 as his "representative on earth" to accept the award on his behalf. Reading an acceptance note written by Bowie, Moss unexpectedly ended with a call for Scotland to maintain their status as part of the United Kingdom in reference to the current independence debate going on in that country.

"Thank you very, very much. And Scotland: stay with us", she said.

Bowie's The Next Day is the singer's 24th album and his first since 2003 and he has largely remained out of the public eye since suffering a minor heart attack in 2004.

James Corden hosted for the fourth, and final, time on a night that saw live performances from Beyoncé, Arctic Monkeys, Bruno Mars, Ellie Goulding among others. Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers also performed, playing a succession of hits including 'Get Lucky', 'Good Times' and the Oscar nominated 'Happy'.

The awards - the biggest single night in British music - was brash and glossy, as you might expect, but it was Bowie's political interjection which will live longest in the memory.

The full list of winners is:

British Male Solo Artist - David Bowie

British Female Solo Artist - Ellie Goulding

British Group - Arctic Monkeys

British Breakthrough Act - Bastille

British Single - "Waiting All Night" by Rudimental ft. Ella Eyre

British Album Of The Year - AM by Arctic Monkeys

Best Video – One Direction

International Male Solo Artist - Bruno Mars

International Female Solo Artist - Lorde

International Group - Daft Punk

Global Success - One Direction