The organisers of the Brits have apologised to record-breaking star Adele after she was unceremoniously forced to cut short her acceptance speech for the top gong at this year’s awards.
The singer landed two trophies at the glitzy event when she collected the best British female award as well as the big title of the night, best album, for 21.
But a rambling acceptance speech by earlier winner Damon Albarn meant she was barely able to deliver a speech and she gestured with her middle finger in frustration on-stage.
Adele (23) said the insult was aimed at “the suits”, after show host James Corden interrupted her to wind up her words.
Following the ceremony at London’s O2 area, the show’s organisers released a statement saying: “We regret this happened and we send our deepest apologies to Adele that her big moment was cut short due to the live show over running.
“We don’t want this to undermine her incredible achievement in winning our night’s biggest award, that tops off what’s been an incredible year for her.”
Adele’s success followed a colossal win at the Grammys a little over a week ago when she was the toast of the music world with six trophies.
As she collected the best album prize for 21 - which has sold almost four million copies in the UK - the breathless star gushed: "Nothing makes me prouder, yeah, than coming home with six Grammys, then coming to the Brits and winning album of the year.
“I am so so proud to be British and to be flying the flag and to be in the same room as all of you.”
But seconds later Corden had to apologise as he forced her triumphant speech to end in a whimper. The star - who made a show-stopping comeback performance with hit Rolling In The Deep earlier in the show - then made her rude gesture.
ITV, who broadcast last night’s event, also offered its apologies to the British singer after the show.
A spokesman for the network said: “The Brits is a live event. Unfortunately the programme was overrunning and we had to move on. We would like to apologise to Adele for the interruption.”
The incident also upset Corden who said afterward: “I just feel bad about having to cut Adele off.
“I don’t understand what happened but I’m upset about it. Blur get to play for 11 minutes and she gets to say thank you once.”
Black-clad Adele’s appearance at the event had been her major UK comeback after undergoing surgery on her vocal cords in November.
Backstage she explained: “I flipped the finger but it wasn’t to my fans. I’m sorry if I offended anyone but it was the suits that offended me. Thank you all very much and thanks to my fans. I don’t want them to think I was swearing at them.”
Time appeared to run short when Albarn spent several minutes thanking people who had helped rock act Blur as the band collected their outstanding contribution prize. Adele was forced off to allow the quartet to perform a set of big hits.
The night’s other big winner was Ed Sheeran who also collected two awards. He landed best British breakthrough and beat stars such as Professor Green and Noel Gallagher to take best British male.
Sheeran - whose hits have included Lego House and The A Team - thanked his manager Stuart Camp who he said was responsible for turning the "spotty, chubby, ginger teenager into the person up here tonight".
Adele could have had a third prize but was beaten to the title of best single by heartthrob group One Direction for their track What Makes You Beautiful.
The X Factor heartthrobs - who came third in the ITV1 contest - landed the prize in a public vote. The group dedicated the award to their fans, with singer Harry Styles adding: "Everything we do is for you, and this is yours."
Coldplay took the best British group title for a third time, following wins in 2001 and 2003. It was their seventh Brit in total.
Collecting the prize, Chris Martin said it was “humbling” to win. And Martin - who performed with his own band and played piano in Noel Gallagher’s band at the ceremony - praised the awards themselves: “We’ve been doing the Brits since before most of you were born. It was terrible then and it’s amazing now.”
Dozens of the biggest stars in the music business gathered at the arena in south-east London to celebrate the most important night in the UK music calendar.
Major names who gave spectacular performances included Rihanna and Florence + The Machine. Florence Welch arrived at the bash wearing a glamorous gown created by Sarah Burton, the Alexander McQueen designer who was behind the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress.
When Tottenham-born Adele collected her first award of the night she acknowledged that it had been an astonishing year. “It’s been an amazing year. Thank you. I’d like to thank my record company for letting me be the kind of artist I want to be.”
But in her heels, she doubted her looks matched up to Kylie Minogue, from whom she accepted the trophy, which was designed by pop artist Sir Peter Blake.
Adele joked to Minogue: “I feel like a drag queen next to you.”
PA