Adele tops BBC Music Awards

Adele's great 2015 run now includes scoring the top prize at the BBC Music Awards where she was named the British Artist Of The Year.

Just weeks after the 27-year-old "Hello" singer released her record-breaking comeback album 25, breaking chart records around the world, Adele was honoured with her latest accolade at the ceremony in Birmingham, England, where she beat out the likes of Ed Sheeran, Jamie XX, Florence + The MAChine, Foals and Years & Years for the trophy.

Adele also won Best Live Performance for her recent UK TV special, Adele at the BBC, but she was unable to pick up the top prizes in person, and instead sent a video message to show her appreciation, saying, "Sorry I'm not there. I'm absolutely gutted, but thanks so much for my award.
 

"That's amazing. I've only just put out new music. I'm so chuffed. I hope you're all having a wonderful evening."

Also absent from the show was Taylor Swift, who won the International Artist of the Year honour. She also sent a video from Australia, where she is wrapping up her 1989 world tour, and joked, "Oh my God, this is really heavy. I really appreciate you guys shipping this out, because it must have cost a lot."

Irish star Hozier was also a big winner, scooping the Song of the Year prize for his Grammy-nominated hit "Take Me To Church".

Performance highlights from the ceremony included sets from One Direction, Ellie Goulding, Little Mix, The Shires, and Rod Stewart, who closed out the show.