Northern Ireland

Snow Patrol's Johnny McDaid and Ed Sheeran win Ivor Novello awards

Snow Patrol's Johnny McDaid
Snow Patrol's Johnny McDaid Snow Patrol's Johnny McDaid

SNOW Patrol's Johnny McDaid has scooped an Ivor Novello award for his work on Ed Sheeran's hit song Shape of You.

McDaid (41), from Derry, co-wrote the chart-topping track with Sheeran and Steve Mac, which earned the gong for most performed work at yesterday's ceremony in central London.

The category recognises songs that received the most broadcast, online and general performance in the UK during 2017.

Shape of You came out on top ahead of Sheeran and Benny Blanco's Castle On The Hill, and Human by Jamie Hartman and Rag 'n' Bone Man.

The song is from Sheeran's award-winning third album, Divide, which has smashed records since its release in 2017.

It also earned him the title of songwriter of the year in a special award.

Shane MacGowan, Billy Bragg, Lionel Richie, Cathy Dennis and Billy Ocean were among those handed special recognition prizes.

MacGowan was given the Ivors inspiration award, while Richie was handed the international award for leaving an "indelible mark on British music".

Stormzy, who beat Sheeran to two prizes at the Brit Awards in February, claimed the album of the year prize as he celebrated black music as "the popping thing right now".

He was referencing the nomination of fellow rapper Dave and singer-songwriter Sampha, with the former beating Stormzy to the best contemporary song prize for his politically-charged anthem, Question Time.

The song, co-written with Fraser T Smith, takes aim at British prime minister Theresa May and pays tribute to the Grenfell Tower victims across seven minutes with no chorus.