BRIT Awards 2021: Dua Lipa plays medley as she pays homage to Geri Horner in Union Jack outfit

Dua Lipa hit the stage in scintillating style when she hit the stage at the 2021 BRIT Awards on Tuesday night.

The singer, 25, entertained fans as she ran through a medley of some of her biggest hits at the ceremony, held at London’s O2, while donning an eye-catching ensemble that included a Union Jack-print wrap skirt.

Levitating hitmaker Dua’s choice of ensemble hearkened back to Geri Horner’s headline-making patriotic minidress, which she wore as she performed at the same awards show some 24 years ago, back in 1997.

Hitting the stage: Dua Lipa hit the stage in scintillating style when she hit the stage at the 2021 BRIT Awards on Tuesday night

Dua teamed her skirt of choice with a matching blazer – which she swiftly removed – a white blouse and black tie, while a gold dress with a scooped neckline complemented her look.

Adding a racy touch, the star retained her black stockings and suspenders from her red carpet ensemble, while patent buckle heels rounded out her head-turning look.

Also taking to the stage on the night were Elton John and Years & Years, who teamed up to perform the Pet Shop Boys classic It’s A Sin, after teasing the surprise collaboration on social media ahead of the show.

The Rocket Man hitmaker, 74, took to the stage with Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander, 30, after becoming a huge fan of Olly’s performance as Ritchie Tozer in Channel 4 drama It’s A Sin. 

Paying homage: Levitating hitmaker Dua's choice of ensemble hearkened back to Geri Horner's headline-making patriotic minidress

A trip down memory lane: Geri Horner wore the iconic minidress  as she performed at the same awards show some 24 years ago, back in 1997

Paying homage: Levitating hitmaker Dua’s choice of ensemble hearkened back to Geri Horner’s headline-making patriotic minidress, which she wore as she performed at the same awards show some 24 years ago, back in 1997 (left)

Flag blazer: The 25-year-old singer hit the stage in a Union Jack blazer, which she soon shed as she got into her performance

Flag blazer: The 25-year-old singer hit the stage in a Union Jack blazer, which she soon shed as she got into her performance

And the joint performance was heavily hinted at on social media, with Elton, Years and Years and The Brit Awards’ Instagram accounts all sharing words that spell out ‘It’s Sin.’

Sir Elton got the rumour mill going on Monday night by posting the word ‘It’s’ on a brightly coloured background, before Years & Years dropped the word ‘A’ in an identical font.

Fuelling the speculation further, the official Brit Awards page then posted the word ‘Sin’, getting fans excited for what will no doubt be an epic performance.

Their cover of It’s A Sin was a fitting choice, as, it shares its name with the critically acclaimed series which starred Olly.  

Elton was a huge fan of It’s A Sin when it aired on TV earlier this year and even shared his appreciation on social media.

Olly starred alongside a cast of rising stars and celebrated favourites including Keeley Hawes, Stephen Fry and Neil Patrick Harris and It’s a Sin has been universally praised by fans. 

Elsewhere, the 2021 BRIT Awards, hosted by Jack Whitehall, marked the first major indoor music event in over a year as bosses prepare to release 2,500 free tickets to key workers. 

The Brit Awards took place in front of a live audience of 4,000 people at London’s The O2 on Tuesday- six days before the next phase of lockdown lifts. 

The ceremony, which was broadcast live on ITV, will celebrate the return to live music and nominee Dua Lipa promised those attending that it will ‘be a night to remember’. 

The indoor ceremony and live show formed part of the Government’s scientific Events Research Programme, and it will use enhanced testing approaches to examine how events can take place without the need for social distancing after all restrictions are lifted on June 21. 

Working closely with the Government to adhere to safety guidelines, this means The BRITs, will be the first live music show at The O2 in over a year, with 4,000 tickets being up for grabs- just one fifth of the venue’s 20,000 capacity. 

The BRITs will play an important role in paving the way for the return of live music at scale as the UK emerges from the past year’s restrictions. 

Audience members will not be socially distanced or required to wear face coverings in the arena, but they will be required to follow existing Government guidance when travelling to the venue and adhere to rules set out by the event organisers.

Among the rules, attendees must have proof of a negative lateral flow test result to enter the venue. 

As part of the wider scientific research on the trial events, attendees were asked to take a test after the event to gather further evidence on the safety of indoor settings, reduced social distancing and the removal of non-pharmaceutical interventions like face coverings. 

The show awarded Taylor Swift – who will make history as the first ever female to be given BRITs Global Icon Award at the ceremony on Tuesday. 

The 11-time Grammy Award winner, 31, joined former winners Elton John, Robbie Williams and David Bowie in being given with the award in recognition of her impact on music across the world and incredible repertoire and achievements to date. 

BRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS 2021

FEMALE SOLO ARTIST 

ARLO PARKS

CELESTE 

DUA LIPA – WINNER

JESSIE WARE 

 LIANNE LA HAVAS

MALE SOLO ARTIST 

AJ TRACEY

HEADIE ONE 

J HUS – WINNER

JOEL CORRY 

YUNGBLUD

BRITISH GROUP 

BICEP

BIFFY CLYRO 

LITTLE MIX – WINNER

THE 1975 

YOUNG T & BUGSEY

BRITs RISING STAR 

GRIFF WARNER – WINNER

PA SALIEU

RINA SAWAYAMA 

MASTERCARD ALBUM 

ARLO PARKS COLLAPSED IN SUNBEAMS 

CELESTE NOT YOUR MUSE 

DUA LIPA FUTURE NOSTALGIA 

J HUS BIG CONSPIRACY

JESSIE WARE WHAT’S YOUR PLEASURE? 

INTERNATIONAL GROUP

BTS 

D.C. PARTISAN 

FOO FIGHTERS 

HAIM POLYDOR – WINNER

RUN THE JEWELS

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST 

ARLO PARKS – WINNER

BICEP 

CELESTE 

JOEL CORRY 

YOUNG T & BUGSEY

BRITISH SINGLE

220 KID & GRACEY DON’T NEED LOVE

AITCH & AJ TRACEY FT TAY KEITH RAIN 

DUA LIPA PHYSICAL

HARRY STYLES WATERMELON SUGAR 

HEADIE ONE FT AJ TRACEY & STORMZY AIN’T IT DIFFERENT 

JOEL CORRY FT MNEK HEAD & HEART

NATHAN DAWE FT KSI LIGHTER

REGARD & RAYE SECRETS 

S1MBA FT DTG ROVER PARLOPHONE 

YOUNG T & BUGSEY FT HEADIE ONE DON’T RUSH

INTERNATIONAL FEMALE SOLO ARTIST 

ARIANA GRANDE

BILLIE EILISH – WINNER

CARDI B

MILEY CYRUS 

TAYLOR SWIFT 

INTERNATIONAL MALE SOLO ARTIST 

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN  

BURNA BOY 

CHILDISH GAMBINO 

TAME IMPALA FICTION

THE WEEKND – WINNER

GLOBAL ICON

Taylor Swift