Brit Awards 2014: David Bowie wins best British male trophy

Rock legend David Bowie has been named best British male at the Brit Awards in London, although he was not there in person to collect his award, the BBC reports.
 
Arctic Monkeys won both best group and best album for the third time - the first act to achieve that milestone.

Ellie Goulding won best British female, while pop act One Direction were honoured for their global success for the second year running.
The boyband also won best British video, in a public vote.

Their win, for the track Best Song Ever, was helped by their 17.8 million-strong Twitter followers.

Bowie's prize came at the expense of four much younger hopefuls - Jake Bugg, Tom Odell, John Newman and Mercury Prize winner James Blake.

At 67, he is the oldest recipient of a Brit Award in the ceremony's history and the award comes 18 years since his last Brits success.
The singer, who released his The Next Day album after a 10-year hiatus, previously won best British male in 1984.

But the star, who spends much of his time in New York, did not attend the gala.

Noel Gallagher, announcing the award, remarked: "You maniacs didn't think he'd actually be here? David Bowie's too cool for that."
Model Kate Moss accepted the prize on Bowie's behalf, and read a prepared speech from the rock star.

Bowie said it was "a great way to end the day" and then urged Scottish voters to reject independence in September's referendum.
"I'm completely delighted to have a Brit for being the best male - but I am, aren't I Kate? Yes. I think it's a great way to end the day.

Thank you very, very much and Scotland stay with us," were his words - as delivered by Moss.