Shakira, Ed Sheeran and Dave among winners at 67th annual Ivors Awards in London

Ed Sheeran and Dave have been honoured at The Ivors during a ceremony that also featured a surprise appearance from superstar Shakira.

Some 21 songwriters and composers collected their Ivor Novello gongs across 14 categories spanning music, film, television and video games at the star-studded ceremony at Grosvenor House in London.

Sheeran, 31, picked up most performed work award for Bad Habits, alongside co-writers Fred Again and Johnny McDaid of Snow Patrol.

The win is his fifth at the awards following success in 2018 with Shape of You and 2012 with his breakthrough hit The A Team.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Dave claimed songwriter of the year after his critically acclaimed second album We’re All Alone In This Together went to number one in 2021.

It is his fourth Ivor Novello after previously winning best contemporary song three times for Question Time in 2018, Black in 2020 and Children Of The Internet last year.

Colombian popstar Shakira made a surprise on the red carpet before the ceremony, now in its 67th year, before collecting the special international award in honour of her global stardom.

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Geordie singer-songwriter Sam Fender won his first Ivor Novello at the ceremony for best song musically and lyrically for his classic rock-inspired track Seventeen Going Under – which was penned about his teenage years in North Shields and the troubles his family faced.

Elsewhere, best contemporary song was awarded to music producer Dean “Inflo” Josiah Cover and rapper Little Simz for I Love You, I Hate You, taken from her 2021 album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.

And for a third consecutive year since its creation in 2020, a female artist took home the rising star award, with Naomi Kimpenu picking up the accolade.

Her debut EP Prelude was released last year and praised by the Ivors Academy for her “perfectly posed vocals and sincere songwriting”.

The Cure’s Robert Smith and Simon Gallup were awarded the music icon award after their gothic rock and post-punk hits remain influential today.

While Peter Gabriel, the original lead singer of Genesis, received the fellowship of The Ivors Academy in recognition of his “outstanding contributions as a musician, innovator, humanitarian and songwriter”.

All Saints star Shaznay Lewis, a judge for The Ivors and once a winner herself, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled for this year’s winners, who have joined an ever-expanding list of legendary songwriters and screen composers.

“It is a privilege to experience such an immensely powerful, emotive and eclectic range of music.

“Huge congratulations to everyone who took home awards, and every single songwriter and composer nominated.”

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