UK soul singer Sam Smith takes home four Grammys

Last night's double-header of awards shows – the Baftas and Grammys – proved to be a successful night for British talent. While Eddie Redmayne accepted the best actor gong in London's West End, Londoner Sam Smith was the big winner in LA, taking home four Grammys.

Smith, who is just 22, thanked an un-named ex-lover for inspiring the songs from his award-winning album by jilting him. The Stay With Me singer won best newcomer, best song, best record and best pop vocal album.

He said: "I want to thank the man who this record is about, who I fell in love with last year. Thank you so much for breaking my heart because you got me four Grammys."

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The Guardian says Smith's victories were no surprise – but there was an unexpected win for Beck, who took best album, beating both Smith and Beyonce with his downbeat, melancholic folk-rock Morning Phase.

Beck's win angered at least one Beyonce fan. Kanye West followed Beck onstage as he went up to collect the award, The NME reports, just as he once followed Taylor Swift onstage at the MTV awards to make a hugely embarrassing impromptu speech.

Back then, in 2009, West wanted to tell the world that Beyonce should have won Swift's prize (best female video). Last night, he had exactly the same motive – but checked himself just in time, leaving the stage without speaking.

Explaining his brief stage invasion later, West accused the Grammys of "diminishing art and not respecting the craft and smacking people in their face after they deliver monumental feats of music" by not giving the award to Beyonce.

West added: "Beck needs to respect artistry and he should've given his award to Beyonce." In 2009, West, who had been seen drinking brandy during the show, apologised to Swift the next day.

There was a consolation prize for Beyonce, however: two awards, for best R&B performance and best R&B song.

Beck also took best production, while other winners included Pharrell Williams and Rosanne Cash.

There were other British winners besides Sam Smith on the night: Clean Bandit with Jess Glynne, and Aphex Twin. They won, respectively, best dance recording and best dance/electronic album.