BRITs 2020: Harry Styles performs emotional rendition of Falling

Harry Styles took to the stage and performed a emotional rendition of his ballad Falling, after paying tribute to his ex-girlfriend Caroline Flack on the red carpet at the BRIT Awards on Tuesday night.

The Adore You singer, 25, who dated Caroline 2011, sported a black ribbon on his lapel when he arrived at the ceremony which was held at the 02 arena following her death on Saturday.

Harry performed in a white lace jumpsuit and gloves as he stood in a pool of shallow water as he sang his latest song for the audience, after missing out on the Best Male Solo Artist gong.

Ahead of his performance, Jack Whitehall joked: ‘One Direction – we didn’t give him a hope in hell – plain Jane on the end, but somehow he’s dragged himself out of Niall’s shadow.. Harry Styles is here!’

Jack kicked off the BRIT awards by presenting international female artist nominee Lizzo with a glass of champagne, as he joked he had some ‘fizzo for Lizzo’ during a hilarious VT.

However she appeared to have mistaken him for a member of staff as she asked him to polish her flute and take her dry cleaning. Convincing himself that he was a worthy host, Jack then tried on several new looks including outfit inspired by Liam Gallagher, Chewbacca and Harry.

First to perform on the evening was Mabel, who wowed as she took to the stage in a pink corset style-top as she opened the show to her track Don’t Call Me Up.

After taking to the stage following her song, Jack opened the show by paying tribute to ‘kind’ and ‘infectious’ Caroline following her tragic death.

He said: ‘Over the weekend, we learned the news that Caroline Flack tragically passed away. She was a kind person with an infectious personality and I speak for everyone here when I say our thoughts are with her friends and family.’

Caroline took her own life aged 40 after a worried friend who was staying with her went to the shops, leaving the ex-Love Island presenter alone at her London flat.   

The tribute was followed by a fitting performance from Lewis Capaldi, who sung his hit track Someone You Loved.

Following her performance, Jack revealed some of the performances to come during the star-studded evening, which included Harry and Rod Stewart – who would be joined by his the Faces band mates. 

He also quipped that the only teenager to make environmentalist Greta Thumberg look lazy was in the building, James Bond theme tune singer, Billie Eilish.

Lewis and Mabel were the first awards winners of the evening as they bagged the respective gongs for Best Newcomer and Best British Female artist.

Following Mabel’s win amid the ongoing controversy about the lack of female representation at this year’s awards, Jack said: ‘The Brits have been recycling the same excuses as to why so few female artists were nominated – but in this category they couldn’t avoid it!’

Next to perform was international superstar Lizzo, who has stormed the charts in the past year with her hits, Truth Hurts, Juice and Good as Hell. 

She was announced as an icon of body positivity before showing the audience what she is made of.

Ronnie Wood announced he was also there to spread positivity as he presented the Male Solo Artist Of The Year category, which included Harry Styles, Lewis Capaldi, Dave, Michael Kiwanuka and Stormzy – before Stormzy took home the win.

Stormzy took the stage and again referenced the sexism row, saying: ‘Firstly, always, I thank god – I give you all the glory! I am so happy, thank you to my mum and my incredible team. To be the best male, I’ve got the most incredible females in my team.

‘The male is nothing without these incredible females. I love you guys, thank you!’

Michael Warn took to the stage to introduce the next performance, his Top Boy co-star and rapper Dave.

Paloma Faith and Kiefer Sutherland were at hand to present the Best International Male.

Several jokes were made during the evening about the lack of female representation, including one from Paolma who joked that Best Male category was severely ‘underrepresented’.

The category included Bruce Springsteen, Burna Boy, Tyler, The Creator, Dermot Kennedy and Post Malone – with Tyler taking the win.

The award wins kept coming as Foals bagged group of the year, marking their first BRIT award ever. 

Taking to the stage, they said: ‘Wow! We didn’t see that coming. Thanks so much, it means so much. We’d like to thank our label for sticking by us and giving us artistic freedom. We’re allowed to do what we want.

‘Since back in the day when we toured around the country in a Royal Mail van, which we still owe the money for! It means so much. Hopefully next year we’ll see more women in this category!’.

A highly-anticipated point in the show was Billie Eilish’s world exclusive performance of the new James Bond theme, No Time To Die, as she offered the audience a haunting rendition of the track.

Following the breathtaking performance Jack joked it was nearly as good as the time Brian May did a duet with 5ive at the Brits.

Jack spoke to Lizzo in the audience who spoke about her earlier performance, she said: ”There was so much energy! They could have done the performance for me. They good have worn the corset and danced with the sexy dudes.’, she then joked that Brits can learn to be more Lizzo by buying her album.

Jack attempted to continue the conversation about Glastonbury, however Lizzo looked confused and joked: ‘I got lost in your eyes!’

The host then referenced Lizzo and Harry’s recent duet, Lizzo turned to grab Harry [Styles] and they held hands as Lizzo asks Jack if he’s jealous?’ Jack replied: ‘oh my god I’m so jealous, back off Styles!’

He then went on to discuss her playing of the flute, and said: ‘You’ve done so much for the flute community! We’ve invited some members down – you’ve done so much for their street cred!’

Presenting the Rising Star award was last year’s winner Sam Fender, who quipped: ‘Last year I won this award and now I’ve got a Gregg’s gold card and Alan Sherrer’s number’, before introducing Celeste who sang her song Strange.

Presenting the Best International Female award was the Spice Girls Mel C, who revealed: ‘It feels so good to be back at the BRITs, I’m honoured to be presenting to one of these females, they are bold, brave and inspiring and they’re making bloody good music.’

Up for the award were Lizzo, Lana Del Rey, Camilla Cabello, Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish. 

After winning, Billie said: ‘Thank you sporty! Before I say anything, you girls are the only reason I exist you deserve this. London has always felt like a second home, I just stuttered and said your name. Thank you to my team, brother and family.

Billie then opened up to the crowd before choking back tears and said: ‘I wanted to say, something I was thinking, I’ve felt very hated recently but when I was on the stage I saw you all smiling recently – it genuinely made me feel like I wanted to cry – and I want to cry right now.’

Heading back to Lizzo and Harry, Jack said: ‘I didn’t even want to talk to him, it was just an excuse to get close to you again – let’s have a little triplet? Harry what’s your best Brits memory?’

He then asked how people now respect him, and Harry said: ‘Did you not respect me?’

Jack said: ‘Yes I’ve always respected you – Up All Night is My Sgt Pepper!’

Jack then asked Harry who the lady was he brought with him, to which he replied was his sister.

Keen to get in on the action with Harry and Jack, Lizzo was then handed a glass of tequila which she necked in one.

Next up was Stormzy’s rip-roaring performance with special guest Burner Boy, which ended in a stage full of people completely soaked as rain fell from the sky.

Tom Jones was presenting the prestigious Best Song of the Year category, after battling out some tough competition Lewis Capaldi’s Someone You Loved won in the category after securing 10 weeks as number one.

Lewis, accompanied by a bottle of Buckfast, said: Contrary to popular belief, everyone thinks this song his about my ex who is on Love Island, but it’s actually about my grandmother – who I hope ITV don’t contact to go o a dating show 

‘It’s been the best year of my life! Thanks to my mum and dad, for having sex! Thanks to my grandmother for dying.’

Finally it was time for the biggest award of the night, Best Album, which was presented by Billie and her brother Finneas O’Connell and awarded to Dave for his record Psycho Drama.

Dave said: ‘Firstly, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who supported me, God, my mum, my family and my entire team – it’s an honour to receive this for you guys. There’s so many legends in this building.’

‘There’s so many legends, I want to say to Harry Styles, Stormzy, Billie Eilish, this is one of the biggest honours of my entire life. But I want to say, everyone that comes where I come from, my people from south London…

‘East London, west, Birmingham, Manny, ETC, All my young king and queens who are chasing their dreams – I am know different. Everyone who’s inside doing their time, I love you.’

Playing out the show was crooner Rod, who kicked off the performance with I Don’t Wanna Talk About It, which Rod joked was for Jack’s mum Hilary.

Rod then introduced his Faces band mates, as they celebrated 50 years together and sang their track Stay With Me.