Brit Awards 2016: Emotional Adele scoops four awards

Adele with her British female solo artist award she won four in total. Picture: AFP/Getty Images

An emotional Adele had to be bleeped out as she swore on live TV during her acceptance speech for the prize.

“Thank you, I can’t work out if I’m crying because of the video or because Tim Peake did it. My kid is going to think I’m so cool,” she said.

“Not bad for a girl from Tottenham that don’t like flying, getting global success. And Tim Peake, I love you.”

It was her third win at the ceremony at London’s O2 Arena, having already scooped British female solo artist and Best British single for Hello. She later took home the Best British album prize for 25.

Accepting her first award of the night, she said: “Thank you so much, to come back after so long away and be so warmly received is really lovely, thank you so much.”

Meanwhile, Annie Lennox paid tribute to the late David Bowie before his friend, Gary Oldman, accepted the Brit icon award in his name.

The Blackstar singer died unexpectedly from cancer in January.

Lennox said: “David Bowie is deeply embedded in the heart of British culture … The legend of his extraordinary sound shall be revered for as long as the Earth shall spin.”

Oldman said the Ziggy Stardust singer had faced his illness with “enormous courage and customary humour”.

“Even in dire circumstances, when he wrote to tell me the bad news he added, the good news is, I’ve got my cheek bones back,” he said. “David, you were mortal but your potential was superhuman and your remarkable music is living on. We love you and we thank you.”

He then introduced singer Lorde, who performed a tribute, including Space Oddity and Starman. Oldman said Bowie had thought she was “the future of music”.

James Bay joined Canadian pop star Justin Bieber as he performed his hit Love Yourself, before Bieber launched into an energetic performance of his chart-topping song Sorry.

Bay was later named British male solo artist and thanked his record labels and family, adding at the end of his speech: “Thank you so much, this is insane.”

Bieber was named Best international male solo artist. He said: “Man, I’m shaking a little bit right now. I just really appreciate it right now and you guys are awesome, thank you.”

Rihanna was joined by singer Drake as she performed her new song Work.

Coldplay were named Best British group for the fourth time. Lead singer Chris Martin said: “We’d like to dedicate this to all the young men and women musicians in refugee camps around the world. They could be us and we could be them, so we send them our love and thank you so much for giving us our job.”