Aoife Walsh
Culture reporter at The O2 Arena

Rema says “everyone is tense” backstage “except me”.

Speaking about his performance tonight, he says everyone is going to feel the “essence of Nigerian culture”.

“I’ve got my band with me as well, it’s going to be very beautiful”, he adds.

Noor Nanji
Culture reporter at The O2 Arena

This year’s outfits have not disappointed - from Dua Lipa’s long leather Versace dress, to Olivia Dean’s stunning floor length purple dress and Olly Alexander’s green vintage Alexander McQueen.

We’ve had outfits with statements on, like the long white gown worn by The Last Dinner Party’s Abigail Morris that had “I’m only here for your entertainment” written on the front.

Some of the outfits have had the potential for a wardrobe malfunction. Charlie XCX admitted as much, as she walked in in a custom Armani dress with had a silk train which was at risk of being trampled on.

But the giraffe that waltzed down the red carpet stole the show. At times, Rob Beckett was seen struggling with the head of his outfit, but he continued his way undeterred.

Fashion was never supposed to be easy, as they say.

Image source, ge

Aoife Walsh
Live reporter

Charli XCX says it’s “excellent” that more women are nominated this year, but jokes that “now I have nothing to go viral about”. Last year, the artist spoke out about the lack of women nominated for Best Artist.

She says she tries not to take award ceremonies “too seriously”. Her outfit is custom Armani and made out of resin.

The singer - whose track Speed Drive featured in the Barbie film - admits she has “a potential for wardrobe malfunction” and is holding part of her dress up with her hands.

Speaking about Raye, she says she’s “so proud of her”. “She’s just a really cool, nice person”.

Andrew Rogers
BBC Newsbeat reporter at the O2

If there's one thing everyone's looking forward to tonight it's Kylie Minogue closing the show.

And someone who's had a sneak preview is one of tonight's hosts, BBC Radio 1's Clara Amfo.

Image source, Getty Images

"There's a reason why she's a global icon," Clara tells me.

She couldn't give much away but says, after seeing the rehearsal earlier, we can expect something "sensational".

Clara will be hosting the awards alongside Capital DJ Roman Kemp and TV presenter Maya Jama.

Aoife Walsh
Live reporter at the O2 Arena

The iconic Kylie Minogue is here now. It’s a special night for Kylie, who is going to be given the Brits Global Icon award. She says it’s “surreal” and “amazing”.

“There’s a part of my brain spanning the years saying ‘Wow, how did I get here’.”

Speaking about her closing performance tonight, she says she’s done her best to include hits from across her decades-spanning career, adding that, after all this time, she’s “more in love with music than ever”.

Aoife Walsh
Culture reporter at the O2 arena

Olly Alexander, this year’s Eurovision entry for the UK, is here now. He says his outfit is vintage Alexander McQueen. He says he feels “relieved” his Eurovision single Dizzy is out now.

“I’ve been sitting on this song for so long,” he adds, before saying he is “excited to watch everyone perform” tonight.

Aoife Walsh
Live reporter at the Brit Awards red carpet

Raye's already broken records by getting seven nominations, beating the six received in previous years by Craig David, Gorillaz and Robbie Williams.

Speaking about the nominations she says: “I don’t know what’s going on”.

“It can only be described as a miracle,” she says, adding that she’s wearing waterproof eyeliner in preparation for an emotional night ahead.

She says being an artist “is all I’ve ever wanted” and to “be in control of my craft and love what I put my name to”. She's wearing a long black dress by Fendi Couture.

Noor Nanji
Culture reporter at The O2 Arena

Raye says she has tears in her eyes. She is wearing a stunning floor length strapless dress.

Aoife Walsh
Live reporter

Legendary US rock band Green Day have just been chatting to us. Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong says it’s been “exciting to see everyone dressed up and ready to get drunk”.

Speaking about their sold-out gig in Wembley, he says they “can’t believe it”.

He says “the ambition and the desire to keep writing good songs” keeps them going after 30 years.

Sidenote: I’m officially star struck

Image source, Getty Images

Raye has just arrived. We're hoping we'll get to speak to her shortly.

Noor Nanji
Culture reporter at The O2 Arena

Thesedays, what we listen to and stream is often influenced heavily by TikTok. Singers are chasing that viral moment - and it can really pay off if you get it.

Take the TikTok sensation PinkPantheress for example. She felt she wasn’t finding fame quickly enough, so in 2020, she started uploading musical clips to the platform which gained millions of views. Fast forward to today, and she’s nominated for two Brit Awards - Best New Artist and Song of the Year for Boy’s a Liar.

Raye’s explosive rise was also helped by TikTok. She had her breakthrough moment in 2022 when she released her song Escapism independently. It immediately went viral on TikTok and, tens of millions of streams later, it went to number one.

Today, well, you don’t need me to tell you how it ended up. She’s sitting proud on SEVEN Brit nominations – the most ever received by an artist in a single year.

Andrew Rogers
BBC Newsbeat reporter at the O2

You never get loads of time with stars on the red carpet but it's even harder when they have to dash to the loo.

Image source, Getty Images

In the 30 seconds or so we had with PinkPantheress though, she told us she's "not feeling confident about winning" but admits it "would be great".

The 22-year-old singer from Bath is up for two awards this year: Best New Artist and Song of the Year.

Here's the moment from a little earlier where Dua Lipa expressed her support for fellow artist Raye, who she is up against in several categories.

Just a reminder, you can watch live BBC News coverage of the Brits build-up at the top of this page.

And there is a full list of the nominations here.

Aoife Walsh
Live reporter at the Brit Awards

We’ve seen everything from latex gloves, leather dresses and diamond teeth - but comedian Rob Beckett in a giraffe costume is something I did not anticipate.

He seems to be struggling with keeping the head of the giraffe up, becoming red in the face as he wrestles with it.

Jasmine Sandhar
BBC Newsbeat reporter on the Brit Awards red carpet

US singer Caroline Polachek is embracing British culture while she's here - particularly marmalade.

Image source, Getty Images

"I will talk about marmalade all day," she tells me. "I love it.

"I had it on toast this morning - the bitterness and the sweetness in the jam, wow."

She is nominated for International Artist of the Year - up against the likes of Miley Cyrus, Burna Boy and Taylor Swift.

Aoife Walsh
Live reporter

American signer and musician St Vincent presented the Last Dinner Party with the Rising Star award earlier this evening.

She says she’s “really into” the band's new album Prelude To Ecstasy. She describes it as dramatic with Queen-like melodies. “They’re saying real things, too”, she says, adding that the Brits red carpet is “madness” but good fun.

“It’s the Brits, I’m going to go drink champagne.”

Image source, Aoife Walsh

Aoife Walsh
Culture reporter at the O2 arena

As we previously mentioned in this page, Dua Lipa will be opening the show tonight with her new single Training Season.

“I’m very excited, it’s a big energy performance,” she says, adding that the performance will include some “extreme sports”.

She says is “over the moon” for fellow artist Raye, who could make Brit Awards history later if she becomes the most-awarded artist. “Now it’s her time."

Donning a long leather dress made by Donatella Versace, Dua Lipa says: “We’re very close, I feel very lucky to be wearing one of her pieces."

Image source, Aoife Walsh

Andrew Rogers
Reporting from the O2

She's up for three awards tonight but if singer Olivia Dean can only bag one she's hoping it's Best New Artist.

In that category she's up against the likes of Raye, Mahalia, PinkPantheress and Yussef Dayes but she says this category feels like "less pressure" than her other nominations.

Image source, Getty Images

The Dive singer has already been named BBC Introducing's Artist of the Year but despite her success so far says her advice is to "have a real blind faith and stay delusional".

Olivia's also got a chance at winning a Brit for Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for Messy - and she reveals that she's already working on album number two.

"Another album is coming soon as well as lots of shows and lots of joy and smiles," she says.

"I'm so happy to see more women nominated this year - especially Raye who's cleaning up."

With many of the nominees gracing the red carpet now, here's a look at who else we've spotted...

Perhaps one of the most recognisable stars at this year's awards, Dua Lipa is set to open the show tonight with her new song Training Season.

Image source, Getty Images

Jungle - Tom McFarland, Lydia Kitto and Joshua Lloyd-Watson - arrived in monochrome black and white. Stay tuned as they are also set to perform later tonight.

Amd singer-songwriter, rapper and presenter Fleur East showed off her baby bump in a dazzling brown jumpsuit.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

In December, it was announced that indie band The Last Dinner Party had won the Brits Rising Star prize.

On the red carpet, singer Abigail Morris says the band received the trophy just minutes ago, and their success with their recent number one record has “not sunk in at all”.

This is the first time the band have been to the Brit Awards ceremony - they say they’re all looking forward to seeing Kylie Minogue live.

Abigail Morris says her dress - which says “I’m only here for your entertainment” - is a line from one of their songs. “I thought it was appropriate for tonight."

Image source, Noor Nanji