Brit Awards: Five things to look out for in tonight’s ceremony
The biggest night in British music is upon us, as the Brit Awards gear up for their 45th edition.
Charli XCX leads the nominations this year, with five in total – including artist of the year and album of the year, all thanks to her critically-acclaimed, trend-setting album Brat.
The Essex-born singer will attend the show but, surprisingly, is not expected to perform. Instead, there’ll be big numbers from Ezra Collective, Sam Fender, Lola Young, and Teddy Swims.
An eclectic set of nominations also sees recognition for The Beatles, a Christmas song by Eurovision star Sam Ryder, and hits by TikTok stars like Artemas and KSI.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of the ceremony.
1) A mega night for Charli XCX
It might not have been year’s biggest-selling album, but Charli XCX’s Brat spawned the most conversations.
Released in June, it combined abrasive dance-floor beats, soaring hooks and meme-friendly artwork as the 32-year-old assessed her place in the music industry, the real and imaginary rivals she’d accumulated, and whether or not to leave it all behind to have a baby.
Just as everyone was absorbing that, she hired a bunch of guest stars – Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Addison Rae, Bon Iver – and re-recorded an entirely new, sometimes superior, version of the album.
As authentic as it was catchy, Charli’s seventh album introduced her to a whole new audience… and brought her a clutch of Brit nominations.
Earlier this week, organisers announced she’d won songwriter of the year – earning the star her first ever Brit award (she’d received nominations before in the best female and best pop act categories).
That sets the scene for her to dominate tonight’s show. If she wins everything she’s nominated for, she’ll tie with Raye as the most-awarded artist in a single Brits ceremony.
2) A show-stopping performance from Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter gave one of the best performances at last month’s Grammy Awards.
Arriving on stage in a sparkly tuxedo dress, she rearranged her hits Espresso and Please Please Please in a jazzy big band style, and even delivered a fleet-footed tap dance sequence.
Better still, she turned the whole performance into a screwball comedy – missing her cues, dropping her cane, and accidentally knocking over her set.
A former Disney star, she sold it all with a cheeky nod and a wink, undercutting the ceremony’s more self-serious acts (The Weeknd, we’re looking at you).
Hopefully the singer will deliver something equally Short n’ Sweet when she pops into the Brits ahead of her UK tour.
3) A possible tribute to Liam Payne
Liam Payne had a huge connection to the Brits, both as part of One Direction and as a solo artist, so it’s likely that the ceremony will include a tribute to the star – who tragically died in Argentina last October.
Gossip columns have speculated that his former bandmates would reunite to honour his memory, but with Zayn and Louis both on tour, that seems unlikely.
According to The Sun, the tribute will be “a strong section of the show and not simply an In Memoriam name-check”.
Quoting an unnamed source, the newspaper said: “His family aren’t involved in the plans but they are being kept in the loop.
“The Brits are treating it with the utmost respect and sensitivity.”
4) The return of Jack Whitehall
It’s four years since Jack Whitehall last hosted the Brit Awards, but his tenure was largely seen as a triumph – thanks largely to his willingness to poke fun at the stars in the audience.
“If you like Adele songs but find them too upbeat you’re in for a treat,” he said at the 2018 ceremony.
“Sam Smith will be performing.”
He’s been honing his script for this year’s ceremony over the Atlantic, jetting over from US filming commitments with less than 48 hours to go.
But in a preview video, he was up to his old tricks, suggesting he should spray-paint himself orange to declare “Make the Brits Great Again”.
5) These records could be broken
With 70 nominees across 13 categories, there are lots of records up for grabs this year. Here are some of the big ones.
How to watch the Brit Awards
Inside the UK, the ceremony is broadcast live on ITV and ITVX from 20:15 GMT. International viewers can watch the show on the official Brits YouTube channel.
BBC News will be live from the red carpet from 16:30GMT – with a live page providing coverage throughout the night.
Who’s nominated for the main Brit Awards?
Artist of the year
Group of the year
Album of the Year
Read the full list of nominees here.
