The Arctic Monkeys and Take That were the big winners at the Brit Awards.

The Sheffield band won the coveted Best British Group award. They also walked away with the Best British Album award for Favourite Worst Nightmare.

Take That won Best British Live Act and Best British Single for Shine, voted for by commercial radio listeners and The Sun Bizarre column readers. Gary Barlow described it as "unbelievable".

The biggest night in the music calendar begun with an energetic performance from Mika and the Gossip's Beth Ditto. The pair opened the show with a medley of hits including his own songs Love Today and Grace Kelly.

Rock's 'royal couple' Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne hosted the Earls Court show from their own on-stage "residence", described as part Addams Family mansion and part Beckingham Palace.

Other winners included Mark Ronson for Best British Male Solo Artist. He is thought to be the first non-singer to have won the award.

Best International Male Solo Artist was Kanye West. Australian pop princess Kylie Minogue took the prize for Best International Female Solo Artist.

Foo Fighters walked away with the title of Best International Group. They also scooped the Best International Album for Echoes Silence Patience Grace.

Kate Nash picked up the award for Best British Female. Adele took the honour of the Critics' Choice award, which was voted for by a team of experts made up of music critics and heads of music at major radio and TV stations.

Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who played Henry VIII in The Tudors, presented the Best Breakthrough Act award to Mika. The singer said: "This is brilliant. Thank you very much."