Brit Awards: What time is the ceremony on TV tonight and which acts are nominated?

The 39th annual Brit Awards are almost upon us.

This year’s nominations have been praised for placing a greater emphasis on female talent than usual, with more women shortlisted for Best Single, Best Video, Best Breakthrough and Best Album than men. A more diverse range of genres are also represented, from rapper Giggs to R&B singers Jorja Smith and Ella Mai, electronica stalwart Aphex Twin and jazz musician Kamasi Washington.

Whether the Brits can conjure another shock moment of the same calibre as Chumbawamba dumping a bucket of water over John Prescott, Jarvis Cocker mooning Michael Jackson or Stormzy denouncing prime minister Theresa May over Grenfell Tower remains to be seen.

When are the Brit Awards, how can I watch the ceremony and who’s hosting?

This year’s Brits will be broadcast from London’s O2 Arena on ITV as usual, running from 8pm to 10.20pm on Wednesday evening.

The Independent's Culture team will also be covering the evening on our site.

As for the host, comedian Jack Whitehall will again court controversy as master of ceremonies. “Let’s see who I can upset this year,” he wrote on Twitter.

Who is performing?

Dua Lipa, Sam Smith and Rag ‘n’ Bone Man will all perform alongside DJ Calvin Harris. The set is expected to feature “One Kiss”, “Promises” and “Giant”, the singles Harris produced with those artists respectively.

Pink is expected to close the show after picking up her award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.

Who is nominated?

George Ezra, Little Mix, Jess Glynne, Dua Lipa and Jorja Smith lead this year’s nominations.

Glynne and Smith are up against Florence + the Machine, Anne-Marie and Lily Allen for Best British Female.

Ezra is shortlisted for Best British Male along with Sam Smith, Craig David, Aphex Twin and Giggs.

Jorja Smith is also in the running for British Breakthrough, as are Ella Mai, Tom Walker, Mabel and punk band Idles.

For Best British Group, Arctic Monkeys, Gorillaz, Years & Years, The 1975 and Little Mix have all been recognised.

The 1975 are also up for Best Album for A Brief Enquiry into Online Relationships. Florence + the Machine (High as Hope), Ezra (Staying at Tamara’s), Jorja Smith (​Lost and Found​) and Anne-Marie (Speak Your Mind) are the competition.

Best International Female is between Cardi B, Camila Cabello, Christine and the Queens, Ariana Grande and Janelle Monae.

Best International Male will go to Drake, Eminem, Kamasi Washington, Shawn Mendes or Travis Scott.

You can read the full list of nominations here.