'I was at the BRIT Awards – nobody was safe from Jack Whitehall's digs'

It was my second time at the BRIT Awards and it didn't disappoint.

As a massive music lover who is constantly on the hunt for new singers to listen to and picking out dozens of gigs to head to. Growing up watching the BRITs on TV, I could never have imagined that after almost a decade in journalism and six years in entertainment, I'd be invited to the awards which has seen some of the most iconic performances, from the Spice Girls to Bring Me The Horizon and Ed Sheeran.

Jack Whitehall was back on hosting duties after several years away and it certainly paid off. The comedian was on top form with his script that appeared to have been crafted to make sure that almost everybody was left worried as to whether they would be his next target.

Just moments into the show, Jack made a pop at ITV – who were broadcasting the event. He joked that the network had "so many" presenters being "cancelled" over the past year, before adding that the event was celebrating music – with the event paid for by a credit card company, hosted in an arena sponsored by the mobile phone network and airing on ITV "that brought you Tipping Point".

But it wasn't just Jack's dig that got the event off to a start, American singer Sabrina Carpenter made her BRITs debut with her hit Espresso before moving into Bed Chem. I last saw Sabrina perform in 2017 when she supported my friends' band across the UK. It's fair to say that since her UK debut all those years ago, her artistry and image has definitely changed. I'm sure that there will be a string of Ofcom complaints over her racy outfit, dance moves and kneeling in front of a man dressed as a King's Guard.

One of my highlights was seeing Sam Fender perform his mega-hit, People Watching, as well as winning Best Alternative/Rock Act. Having followed the North Shields-born singer since the early days of career and having interviewed him in the past, I can honestly say he's a worthy winner and despite having success with his three albums, the future is still bright for Fender.

It was a risky move for Jack Whitehall to speak to Danny Dyer on live TV - but it was also extremely amusing. The former EastEnders star didn't hold back as he gave his brutally honest verdict on Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. Dyer told how he believes the world is being run by "b*** e**s," with Starmer being the biggest one. He also shared how his new movie is similar to Bridget Jones, except it had the word "c**t" in it.

As a huge fan of One Direction, following them around the country over the years, the tribute to Liam, who tragically died in October left me extremely emotional. A tear-jerking video of Liam was played, accompanied with an acoustic clip of him singing 1D's Little Things.

We all knew the tribute would be coming during the event, but nothing could have prepared any of us for just how powerful it was – documenting Liam's humble beginnings in Wolverhampton to his rise to mega stardom as one of the biggest names in the world. There wasn't a dry eye in the house but the love for Liam could be felt throughout the arena as we wiped out tears away.

As the booze flowed and the ceremony came to an end, it was time for the all important afterparty, where the booze continued to flow and accidentally end in my hand. Hosted by Future Agency and MC Immersive, off we went to a boat which was moving across the Thames, yes, a moving boat after a free bar.

Here, I was joined by friends and colleagues as we danced along to what can only be described as certified bangers, as well as a live DJ set from Woody Cook. Partying on a moving boat was an interesting choice for an after party but it was definitely one of the best parties I've been to. I mean, when else can you celebrate a night of music, while sinking tequila, taking in the sights of London in the early hours?

Overall, the BRIT Awards this year was better than last year and dare I say, one of the best of recent years. Jack Whitehall was a comical genius and whoever decided to book him, in my opinion, deserves a pay rise. Lola Young's performance of Messy was simply stunning, Jade Thirlwall's set was mesmerising and she's certified herself as a true pop girlie. I knew she was capable of achieving such success but that performance just blew me away.