The Brit Awards are known for having a few surprises in store each year but James Blunt’s cameo might be one of the most baffling.
In a deeply random side quest, he appeared on stage at the awards show with Alex Warren during the American singer’s rendition of Ordinary.
As the lights went up for Alex’s performance, viewers were immediately met with the Beautiful singer instead.
James was there to present the artist of the year category with Maya Jama, but decided to take to the stage for the surprise cameo.
He played piano as Alex belted out his biggest hit, which made history when it spent 13 weeks at number one.
Fans had expected him to sing as well, but James stayed quiet, prompting host Jack Whitehall to quip that we had all won.
When he came back on stage to present the award, Jack described him as ‘the only man posher than me at the Brits’ before joking he was about 30th in line to the throne’.
In a dig at the recent royal dramas, the Bad Education star added: ‘Might be 29th soon’.
On X, viewers were a little taken aback by the singer’s ‘side quest’, although a massive music award show is probably exactly where you should expect to find him.
‘I double took when I saw James Blunt omg,’ wrote yesitskina, adding that Alex ‘ate’ his performance too.
Robyn declared they thought they were ‘losing it’ when they saw him on the piano as most people just simply asked ‘why’ James was there.
Tanka Jahari asked: ‘Is that…. James Blunt?? Playing the piano for Alex Warren??’
‘They’re throwing EVERYTHING at this, this year. James Blunt on the piano for Alex Warren!’ Matt Hall said.
Ryan Williams shared that James ‘casually playing the piano for Alex Warren at The Brits wasn’t on my 2026 Bingo card’.
Alex wasn’t the only one to bring out surprise guests at this year’s Brits, with Rosalia dueting with the one and only Björk during her performance of Berghain.
Mark Ronson also had some very special guests during his mash-up after being honoured for his outstanding contribution to music.
He first surprised fans by bringing out Ghostface Killah, who had been chilling in a car on stage and appeared in a yellow tracksuit.
Then, like a disco angel, Dua Lipa descended from the ceiling while standing on top of a giant glittering mirrorball.
While Dua’s appearance was the most dramatic, it was his inclusion of a tribute to the late great Amy Winehouse that really captured the crowd.
In his speech, the legendary producer reflected on working with Winehouse and the long-lasting impact of that friendship.
‘I realised on the way here that on Thursday March 6, it will be 20 years to the day that Amy Winehouse came up to my studio in New York City,’ he shared.
‘She came up to the steps and she said, “I’m here to meet Mark Ronson”. And I said, “That’s me”, and she goes, “I thought you were an old guy with a beard”’.
‘Anyway, we went upstairs and we talked for four hours and that night we wrote ‘Back To Black’, and that day changed my life forever.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
