Madonna falls to the ground

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.  

 

  

Grounded: The pop superstar was dragged to the ground as she attempted to undo her cape 

 

Hitting the deck: The tumble looked painful as she grimaced while surrounded by her dancers

 

Can't stop: She was at the mercy of the stairs behind her as she went down on her backside

 

  

On the floor: The dancers didn't appear to help her back on her feet but did grapple with her cape to get it off

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. 

Extra presenter and former Saved By Bell star Mario Lopez took to Twitter in support of the singer, saying: 'Tell you what though not many artists would continue after that fall. Way to go Madonna for being a trooper & carrying on! #Legend' 

UK soap star Antony Cotton, who plays Sean Tully in Coronation Street, added: 'All puns aside, Madonna got on with it and showed why she's still on top of her game and also made sure she's the only one on the news #icon'

 

Grounded: Madonna was laying on the stage for just seconds before pulling herself back up