LONDON • Astronaut Tim Peake presented Adele with a Brit Award from space on Wednesday, as the singer swept the board at the annual British music awards rendered sober this year by the death of David Bowie.
"We're all huge fans up here," Peake said in a recorded message from the International Space Station, adding that the singer had "taken the world by storm".
He presented Adele, 27, with a Global Success award for her record-breaking latest album 25, which also won Album of the Year, while Hello won Best Single. She was also named Best Female Solo Artist.
She took to the stage in tears, saying: "My kid is going to think I'm so cool," and added: "Not bad for a girl from Tottenham that don't like flying, getting global success. And Tim Peake, I love you, I hope you're okay and not too hungry. Bye."
She closed the show by singing When We Were Young, a song from 25. She had earlier used an acceptance speech to publicly support Kesha, the American pop star who accused her producer of allegedly abusing her for years.
In another emotional moment, Bowie's friend and British actor Gary Oldman and Scottish singer Annie Lennox paid a heartfelt tribute to Bowie, the British rock legend who died unexpectedly from cancer last month, aged 69.
"David, you were mortal, but your potential was superhuman and your remarkable music is living on. We love you and we thank you," Oldman said.
Rumours of an all-star tribute act proved wide off the mark, with Bowie's old band taking to the stage to perform Life On Mars with Lorde, an artist he had championed.
Coldplay opened the night and took home their fourth Brit Award for Best Group for their seventh and possibly last LP, A Head Full Of Dreams.
Lead singer Chris Martin dedicated the award 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".
Justin Bieber, who performed with Best British Solo Artist James Bay, was named Best International Solo Artist.
Rihanna, who delayed the start of her world tour and missed the Grammys last week due to illness, shook up London's 02 Arena with a rendition of her new song Work with a special appearance by Canadian rapper Drake.
The awards have come under fire for not representing non-white artists. Black British singer Laura Mvula said she would not attend the event, citing the lack of diver- sity. The organisers announced plans for a new advisory committee to help them acknowledge diverse talent more effectively.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
