BRITS STAR HARRY IN KNIFE HORROR
Pop singer mugged day before death of former girlfriend Caroline Flack
SINGER Harry Styles put on a brave face as he performed at the Brit Awards last night following the death of his former girlfriend Caroline Flack – only hours after he was mugged.
The former One Direction star, 26, was robbed at knifepoint in Hampstead, north London, just before midnight on Friday, leaving him ‘very shaken’.
Police are investigating the incident, in which Styles handed over an unknown amount of money.
The following day former Love Island presenter Miss Flack, 40, was found dead at her London home. She and Styles dated in 2011 and the singer – in a brown suit, purple jumper and pearls – wore a black ribbon on his lapel in what was believed to be a tribute to her before performing an emotional rendition of his ballad Falling.
Love Island host Laura Whitmore, 34, made her first public appearance following the death of her friend Miss Flack. She wore a newspaper-print Clio Peppiatt mini-dress and black heels as she posed for cameras.
In an Instagram post ahead of the ceremony, Miss Whitmore shared a photograph of her ticket and her towering stilettos.
She captioned the post: ‘Sometimes you just need to put on your dancing shoes.’ Also on the red carpet at the O2 Arena in London were model Abbey Clancy, 34, in a thigh-skimming black mini-dress with long train, and singer Ellie Goulding, 33, in a revealing knitted multi-coloured gown.
US star Billie Eilish, 18, who gave a live debut of her James Bond theme No Time To Die and won the International Female award, wore a Burberry trenchcoat with matching trousers and sweatshirt – and even painted her nails with the print.
The big winner of the night was Scottish singer- songwriter Lewis Capaldi. Looking dressed-down in a white T-shirt under a casual blue shirt, the 23-year- old secured a double triumph, taking Song of the Year for Someone You Loved as well as the Best New Artist award.
Rapper Stormzy, 26, won the British Male Solo Artist award with singer-songwriter Mabel, 23, taking British Female Solo Artist.
The British Group award went to indie band Foals, while rapper Dave took Album of the Year for his debut Psychodrama and Celeste won Rising Star.
The ceremony opened with host Jack Whitehall paying tribute to Miss Flack. The comedian described her as ‘a kind and vibrant person with an amazing sense of fun’.
Rod Stewart closed the ceremony with help from his former Faces bandmates Ronnie Wood and Kenney Jones. Rolling Stones guitarist Wood had earlier posted a video of himself taking the Tube to the O2.