International

Madonna ended up putting on a performance that was memorable for all the wrong reasons, when she was pulled off the stage backwards as she closed out Wednesday night's BRIT Awards 2015.

With the final, much-anticipated performance of the night singing Living For Love, Madonna failed to untie her cape in time for her dancers to rip it away as she took to the stage at London's 02 Arena.

The 56-year-old looked shocked - and briefly stopped singing - after she fell down a set of stairs, but picked herself back up and continued to the end.

Karlie Kloss was seen turning to best friend Taylor Swift in the audience with a mortified look as onlookers watched the stage veteran tumble and then battle on with conviction.

Madonna appeared to land on her back with a bang after she fell down a flight of three steps mid-performance. She paused for around a minute where she couldn't muster the strength to sing.

But the singer dusted herself off, brushed over her hair and stood up to ascend the steps once again without her cape.

The veteran was no doubt disappointed by the incident because she was said to be 'desperate to give the performance of her life' as rehearsals piled on the pressure.

A source told the Daily Mirror that the blonde bombshell was struggling to get through practise shows and was seen using a vaporiser to soothe her vocal cords to ease her vocal cords.

The source continued: ''She is putting all her efforts into putting on a great show. She is working every hour, day and night, to ensure it will be her part of the show that everyone will be talking and tweeting about.'

She was left stunned by the incident but with more than three decades in the business, it didn't appear to affect her performance.

Madonna was making her triumphant return to the BRIT Awards stage after 20 years, when she performed on the annual television show in front of stars including Prince and Oasis.

It had been a much-hyped event by returning presenters Ant & Dec on the night, even managing to overshadow international artists Kanye West and Taylor Swift.

After the show, Madonna's name was certainly on celebrity viewers' minds - perhaps not for the reason that she would have hoped for though.

She was quick to reassure fans that she was 'fine' in the midst of their concern and even praised the beauty of her specially-designed Armani cape.

The singer said: 'Armani hooked me up! My beautiful cape was tied too tight. But nothing can stop me and love really lifted me up! Thanks for your good wishes! I'm fine! #livingforlove'

Stars followed up on social media, full of praise for the star's perseverance after watching her press on - even though she was visibly shaken.