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Brit Awards 2021: Jackie Weaver and 'Line Of Duty' steal spotlight

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Jackie Weaver appears on-screen during The BRIT Awards 2021 at The O2 Arena on May 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by JMEnternational/JMEnternational for BRIT Awards/Getty Images)
Parish council clerk Jackie Weaver introduced Coldpay at the opening of the Brit Awards 2021. (Getty Images)

Viral internet sensation Jackie Weaver stole the spotlight at the 2021 Brit Awards with a surprise appearance via video link.

The Cheshire parish council clerk whose Zoom antics went viral earlier this year was drafted in to help host Jack Whitehall introduce opening act Coldplay, along with Line Of Duty stars Vicky McClure and Martin Compston.

The show opened with comedian Whitehall being grilled by the stars of the hit BBC police drama over video call before they threatened to "bring out the gig guns".

Whitehall gasped: "Mother of God! Not the Gaffa!", expecting their co-star Adrian Dunbar to join the call.

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But instead Handforth Parish Council clerk Jackie Weaver appeared on the call.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Actors Martin Compston and Vicky McClure appear on-screen with host Jack Whitehall during The BRIT Awards 2021 at The O2 Arena on May 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by JMEnternational/JMEnternational for BRIT Awards/Getty Images)
'Line Of Duty' stars Martin Compston and Vicky McClure appeared on-screen with host Jack Whitehall during the opening of the Brit Awards 2021. (Getty Images)

She told Whitehall: "I think we've had quite enough of this, shall we get on with this. To open the Brit Awards 2021 please enjoy four lovely lads who have a band called Foreplay."

Following performances by Coldplay and Dua Lipa, Whitehall welcomed the 4,000-strong live audience to London's O2 Arena, made up of popstars and keyworkers invited as part of the Government’s live events pilot scheme.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 11:  Coldplay virtually perform at The BRIT Awards 2021 at The O2 Arena on May 11, 2021 in London, England.  (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Coldplay performed from a boat on the River Thames at the Brit Awards 2021. (Getty Images)

Whitehall mocked Piers Morgan's departure from Good Morning Britain as he referred to the country easing out of lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic, saying: "This venue has been emptier than Piers Morgan's diary."

He also made One Direction's Niall Horan the brunt of his jokes by quipping: "We have had to limit the number of people attending - yes we've billed tonight as a Niall Horan gig."

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This year's Brit Awards took place at the O2 Arena in London. There was a live audience of 4,000 people at the ceremony as part of the Government’s live events pilot scheme, as the country eases out of lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic. Over half the tickets were given to key workers from the London area.

Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock were the belles of the 2021 Brit Awards (Getty Images)
Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock were the belles of the 2021 Brit Awards (Getty Images)

Comedian Jack Whitehall hosted for the fourth time in a row and Coldplay opened the show with a performance from a platform on the River Thames.

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