Image source, PA

How sweet is this? It may be a few weeks before Mothers' Day, but Little Mix have brought their mums with them as their dates tonight.

And we have to say, they're all looking pretty amazing as well. 

Image source, Reuters/Getty

Now these three at least look a little more wrapped up for the chilly weather outside. 

We saw Adele arrive before, now here's a closer look at her floaty maroon dress. 

Florence Welch is here now as well, complete with a shawl, and Alesha Dixon - showing off a new hairdo.

It's been 20 years since Oasis won best album, best video and the coveted best British group award.

Jarvis Cocker famously interrupted Michael Jackson's Earth Song and David Bowie was presented with the outstanding contribution to music award. 

Noel Gallagher was in typically defiant rock and roll form... 

...then a year later this happened.

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

If there's one person that looks especially delighted to be at the Brits, it's Craig David. He was famously nominated for six Brits in 2001 and didn't win any of them.

He said one thing he's realised in his 15-year career is that it's the fans at live shows who are the most important.

And asked about his recent resurgence, told the BBC:

Awww. Not only was Craig feeling the love with Olly Murs, above, he also embraced the Major Lazer crew on the red carpet. 

He tipped Years & Years to win an award tonight and said he was most looking forward to seeing Rihanna and Drake perform.

Rihanna has arrived at the Brits ahead of her performance at the ceremony later this evening. 

She's rocked up in a sparkly lilac number which looks incredible - albeit a bit cold. 

Let's wait and see if there's an outfit change when she takes to the stage. 

Funk legend George Clinton may be pushing 75 but there's always a first time for everything, and this is his first ever Brit awards.

We reckon he is looking brilliantly dapper.

"I'm just hanging out, supporting Kendrick Lamar and Rudimental who I've been working with lately," he says.

Image source, PA

It has been almost 20 years since the Spice Girls performance which featured Geri Halliwell - now Geri Horner - in "that" Union Jack dress.

She is back this year as a guest rather than as a performer.

"It's amazing because it's a celebration of British music," she tells the BBC. "There is such a diversity of talent here".

The Spice Girls' 1997 appearance is recognised as one of the definitive Brits performances - what are her tips for tonight's performers?

"The most exciting performances are generous, when they are really giving to the crowd. When it's vain, it's ugly but when it's 'hey, we're doing this together', it's exciting."

Mark Savage
Music reporter

Image source, AFP / Getty Images

Just seven short years ago, Adele lost best British female and best breakthrough artist to Welsh singing sensation Duffy.

There's no chance of that happening again tonight - and not just because Duffy has fallen headfirst into the dumper.

With 2.73m copies of 25 sold since November, Adele is the bookmakers' favourite to win both best album and best British female. In fact, the odds are as short as 1-33, suggesting her victory is all but inevitable.

Some of the other categories are harder to call, though. Best International Group is particularly tough - with critical favourites Tame Impala and Alabama Shakes up against U2 and dance act Major Lazer, whose hit single Lean On is Spotify's most-streamed track of all time.

The dark horses, though, are rock band Eagles of Death Metal - who scored a nomination shortly after Islamic extremists massacred 89 people at their gig at the Bataclan theatre in Paris.

It'll be interesting to see how the industry voted.

We've seen the frocks, now what about the whistles?

Well, he has already said that he is planning on tweeting through the night and Olly Alexander from Years & Years has not disappointed with his choice of evening wear:

We're seeing some fabulous frocks on the red carpet. 

Little Mix have gone for a mixture of metallics and lace, Ella Eyre looks fabulous in black and is it just us, or is Kylie Minogue's hat just a little bit reminiscent of the one she wore on the cover of her first album...? 

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, PA

Image source, AP

Foals singer Yannis Philippakis says the music industry is currently "like Crufts". 

"It's all about the hairstyles and who's got the best training and the pedigree," he says. 

Take a look at the clip above for more of his views on the state of the "brain drain" in music. 

"The eagle has landed... repeat... the eagle has landed."

Which is code for: "Adele has arrived at this year's Brits!"

She's nominated in four categories. Let's hope that smile is still there at the end of the night... 

Image source, Getty Images

Hey, Damon Albarn. There's no need to scoff a snack en route to the Brit Awards. Didn't you know there's a slap-up meal waiting for you?

Here's what's on the menu tonight.

Starter - Roasted Wight Isle tomato mousse with Scottish forest mushrooms and shaved truffle. 

Main - Lake District trio of lamb, including roast best end, pressed salt baked belly and slow cooked rolled shoulder, served with Lincolnshire butternut puree, Berkswell ewe’s cheese, lamb jus and marsh herbs. 

Vegetarian - Crushed ratte and sweet potato with chermoula, served with baba ganoush rotolo, parslied polenta cake and Lincolnshire butternut squash

Dessert - Eton Mess reinterpreted using poached Yorkshire rhubarb, vanilla custard, Chantilly cream and meringues, topped with a selection of nostalgic British sweets and a chocolate-themed punk Mohican. 

Before it all gets cluttered with with.. erm.. people, here is a sneaky look from inside the O2 Arena:

Much like the Oscars, the build-up to this year's Brit Awards has been dominated by criticism over a lack of diversity.

Rapper Stormzy (above right) launched the protest, noting Grime artists had been totally overlooked, despite a breakout year for the genre.

His views have been endorsed today by rock group Wolf Alice (above left) - who are nominated for best breakthrough act at tonight's ceremony.

In a Twitter statement, the band said urban music was being "criminally overlooked".

BBC Two's Victoria Derbyshire programme took a look at the issue this morning, with Megaman from So Solid Crew.

Critics' choice award winner Jack Garratt says the "eight year old in me is very excited about being here tonight".

He told the BBC it "feels incredible" to be at the Brits.

Jack - the winner of the BBC's Sound of 2016 - featured in this excellent photobomb on the red carpet a little earlier. 

Image source, PA

Want some Brits facts? Well, of course you do. 

Phil Hebblethwaite from BBC Music has brought you 10 things you (probably) didn't know about the Brits. 

One of them is a little-known fact about the dress sported by Geri Horner - then known as Geri Halliwell - when she performed with the Spice Girls way back in 1997 (was it really that long ago?). 

Check that out and the nine other facts.

How do the stars relax before a big awards ceremony? 

Why, if this tweet from James Bay is anything to go by, they play ping pong... 

The stars are just as excited as us about the Brit Awards, judging by their Instagrams. 

Mark Ronson says he's "Brits bound", Major Lazer are suited and booted, and even Naughty Boy's cat is getting in on the action. 

They're up for best British group and video of the year - and now half of One Direction (does that make it 0.5 Direction?) have arrived at the Brits.

New dad Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne have hit the red carpet, but there's been no sign of their band mates as yet...