Rick Astley has been named the Best Act Ever by MTV.

Yes, you read that right. The online Rickrolling phenomenon – whereby the 80s popster's hit Never Gonna Give You Up has been hidden behind a variety of fake links – reached its terrifying apex at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Liverpool last night (November 6).

In what has already been a momentous week for democracy, Astley's loyal army of supporters successfully led to him victory in the publicly-voted category, beating U2, Green Day, Britney Spears and Tokio Hotel to the hyperbolic honour.

In April this year, SurveyUSA estimated that 18m American adults had been Rickrolled.

Astley himself did not turn up for the ceremony. Instead, the award was collected on his behalf by US gossip blogger Perez Hilton. Britney Spears was able to console herself with the rather less historic award of Best Act of 2008 and Best Album for last year's Blackout, an astonishing turnaround from her disastrous performance of Gimme More at last year's Video Music Awards.

Other winners included Pink, whose smash hit So What was named Most Addictive Track, the Rock Out award went to Jared Leto's 30 Seconds to Mars and Kanye West was named Ultimate Urban act.

Live performers at the Liverpool Echo Arena included the Killers, Pink, Take That and Duffy. The ceremony was hosted by Katy Perry, who won Best New Act. As reported yesterday, Sir Paul McCartney was named Ultimate Legend – though it isn't clear whether this is a higher honour than the one bestowed upon Astley.