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Nubile dancers and gatecrashers
Kaiser Chiefs were toast of the Brits 2006, opening the show with I Predict A Riot and going on to take three awards including best live and best rock acts.
James Blunt took the first prize of the night (best pop act) and followed that with best British male: "I have been accused so many times of singing like a girl that it is amazing to be the best male."
Voted in by Radio 1 listeners, Sheffield's Arctic Monkeys took British breakthrough act but weren't there to accept it.
Despite not seeming showbiz bash types, they told Jo Whiley in the Live Lounge this week that they were keen to go to the do but had a tour night in Portsmouth booked.
The Kaisers twice attracted fans onto the stage with them as they went to collect their awards.
For their best rock Brit, the lads announced to the audience they didn't know the random partygoer who had managed to crash the stage with them.
Busting in on their best group presentation was comedian Vic Reeves declaring: "I am the ambassador for Leeds, and this is the best band in the world from Leeds."
KT Tunstall didn't get the best live act she wanted so much, but she did get best British female. She described the concept of her tap-dancing turn to Radio 1:
"When we were trying to persuade the Brits to let me play, they said, you're going to have to come up with something pretty special. I said what about 20 incredibly nubile good-looking women in not very many clothes, wearing tap shoes? And they went, brilliant!" Madonna bounced right back from a recent hernia op to take best international female: "Any excuse to dress up and have a glass of champagne that's free."
Hawaiian surfer and best international breakthrough act Jack Johnson confided in Newsbeat that he was "extremely nervous" - especially about the camera zooming in on his face. He let slip he'd been talking about a duet with Kanye while they hung out backstage.
Mr West turned heads on the carpet by rocking up with more than 70 thong-wearing dancers sprayed gold.
After blowing the roof off with his set, Mr West thanked Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood as he accepted best international male: "This means so much to me because when I make my music I always try to have a European influence on it."
Single of the year is Coldplay's Speed of Sound - Chris Martin fell to his knees onstage and leant back with hands in the air as though to say "Thank the Lord".
Prince thrilled the crowd with his 80s classics Purple Rain and Let's Go Crazy. Best urban act Lemar said Prince's stunning performance proves if you keep working on your craft and putting out good music you'll be around for years to come.
Lifetime achievement winner Paul Weller was feeling good about the British scene, saying right now we're in an exciting renaissance, with great talent around.
Kaiser Chiefs were toast of the Brits 2006, opening the show with I Predict A Riot and going on to take three awards including best live and best rock acts. 