Jack looks to hit all the right notes
The BRIT Awards 2019
STV, 8pm
JARVIS Cocker mooning Michael Jackson, Ronnie Wood and Brandon Block coming to blows, Chumbawamba throwing a bucket of ice-cold water over John Prescott, and the KLF dumping a dead sheep at an after-party. The Brit Awards has thrown up its fair share of talking points over the past 38 years.
And although Stormzy and Dua Lipa were the big musical winners last year, it was debutant host Jack Whitehall who grabbed the headlines.
Okay, it was tame compared to the above events, but the A League of Their Own comic did have the audience in stitches, as he aimed digs at the likes of Olly Murs, S Club 7’s Paul Cattermole, and Sam Smith.
“If you like Adele songs but find them too upbeat, Sam Smith is performing!” he joked.
But the most eyebrow-raising moment came when Whitehall asked Cheryl Tweedy and Liam Payne if they had a sex “safe” word.
While Payne remained coy, Cheryl simply said: “Don’t stop”.
However, with the couple announcing their split in July, and Payne, 25, reportedly now dating 48-year-old Naomi Campbell, Whitehall, should have a fair bit of ammunition to hand when he returns to host the British Phonographic Industry’s annual awards show.
This year’s headliner at London’s O2 arena is Dumfries-born DJ, musician and producer Calvin
Harris, who is taking to the stage for his debut Brits performance.
His mini set will feature appearances from his collaborators Smith, Lipa and Rag’n’bone Man, as they recreate smash-hit tracks Promises, One Kiss and Giant.
Also performing on the night will be Jess Glynne with H.E.R., George Ezra, Jorja Smith, Little Mix, and The 1975.
As far as the awards go, Anne-marie and Lipa lead the charge with four nominations each, with the former shortlisted for British Female, British Single, British Artist Video of the Year and British Album of the Year.
Following her double Brit win last year, Lipa has received two nods in both the British Single and British Artist Video categories.
George Ezra, meanwhile, has scored three nominations – for British Male, British Album of the Year and British Single – while Jorja Smith has also notched up three nods.
Harris, The 1975, Little Mix, Tom Walker, Glynne, Rita Ora, Clean Bandit, Florence + The Machine and Rudimental are all up for two awards apiece.
Those fortunate to win on the night will be receiving something very special indeed.
Previous Brit Award statues have been designed by Vivienne Westwood, Damien Hurst, Tracey Emin, Zaha Hadid, Peter Blake and Anish Kapoor, but this year’s have been created by lead designer of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, Sir David Adjaye.
Cast in solid glass, the trophies take the form of Britannia, the female personification of Britain, albeit slightly different to the traditional form.
Before tonight’s main show, Clara Amfo and Alice Levine will host The BRIT Awards: Red Carpet over on ITV2, where they will hear from the nominees.
They will also speak to host Whitehall and look forward to what might happen on the biggest and most unpredictable night on the British entertainment calendar.