Olivia Dean crowned new UK queen of pop as Brit Awards hit the north

On the big night, Harry Styles, an investor in the Co-op Live arena, owned the auditorium with his opening performance of his hypnotically clubby new single Aperture, appearing like a cross between Talking Heads’ David Byrne and a particularly dapper investment banker in his high waisted trousers.

He had previously engaged in the first of several cringeworthy pre-recorded sketches alongside his comedic stalker Jack Whitehall.

The returning comic, on hosting duties for the last time, also pointed to Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham at one point, joking that the Brits was the “only party he’s allowed into these days” – a reference to PM Keir Starmer stopping him from standing as a Labour candidate in this week’s Gorton and Denton by-election.

KPop band Huntr/x – made up of singers Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami – then stormed an outdoor stage with their breakout hit Golden.

Raye, who scooped six awards last time she was at the Brits in 2024, performed a re-imagined version of her hit Where Is My Husband! – before diving into her new soul ballad, Nightingale Lane.