BRITs 2018 LIVE updates: Dua Lipa steals the show as Jack Whitehall mocks pop elite

Jack Whitehall is set to host the ceremony, live from London’s O2 Arena.

Dua Lipa leads the nominations, with a record-breaking five; and performances are expected from the likes of Justin Timberlake, Rita Ora and Sam Smith.

Scroll down for the latest live updates – and keep updating this page for more throughout the ceremony, including all the winners.

20:44: Dua Lipa’s time to prove why she’s the most-nominated solo female in BRITs history.

And she’s been ready in more ways than one – BBC Entertainment News tweeted: “Poor old Dua Lipa was lying prostrate on that platform for the entirety of Dave Grohl’s speech. That’s dedication.”

What a performance it is, too: high energy, great vocals, great staging. Best of the night so far?

20:39: Over to Best International Group now. And the prize goes to Foo Fighters!

20:37: Jamie Laing from Made In Chelsea did NOT appreciate the jibs from Jack Whitehall there, did he?

And Jack resting his hand on his head only seemed to infuriate him further.

Was that part of the joke? Or is Jack no longer welcome in Chelsea?! Given that Jamie and Jack appear to be very close friends… it seems a safe bet that it was all in good fun.

20:31: Best British Male Solo Artist belongs to Stormzy!

Are things looking very good for him beating Ed Sheeran to Best Album later tonight?

He collaborated with Little Mix last year, so collecting the prize from them feels all the more special.

20:29: An eviscerating Olly Murs dig from Jack Whitehall (a controlled fire during Rag’n’Bone Man’s performance prompted a reminder of Olly’s famous Oxford Circus panic-tweeting), and it’s off to Little Mix to give out British Male Solo Artist. Could this be Ed Sheeran?

20:24: Now the Critics’ Choice winner Jorja Smith will perform with last year’s champion Rag’n’Bone Man.

Interestingly, the latter beat Dua Lipa in that category last year. Despite all his success, did BRITs voters perhaps get that one wrong?

Whatever the case, everybody seems to have done pretty well for themselves. And now it’s over to Jorja to conquer 2018.

20:18: Dua sounds a bit emotional as she accepts her first ever gong. She takes a moment to thank the female artists who’ve paved the way for her.

20:16: Best British Female Solo Artist is an interesting one – the most obvious winner is pop sensation Dua Lipa; the first of five fields she’s nominated for tonight.

And the winner is… Dua Lipa!

Could this be a VERY lucrative night for her? 

20:10: Jack Whitehall just launched things properly with hilarious digs at both Ed Sheeran (who will perform “as long as he doesn’t do Gallway Girl”), and Sam Smith (“for people who find Adele too upbeat”).

The room is laughing – including Sheeran and Smith themselves. So at least it’s been taken in good spirits.

There’s also a dig at the shortlisted five nominees for the Best British Video – which, he said, “is wide open… [it] could literally be won by any former members of the band One Direction”.

Now it’s over to Kylie Minogue and Millie Bobby Brown to present British Female Solo Artist.

20:06: Justin Timberlake launched the night with a high-octane number but he’s stripped things back – introducing Chris Stapleton to the stage for the song Say Something.

It’s the best-loved track from his generally shrugged-upon new album Man Of The Woods, and it’s going down reasonably well with the audience in the room.

Not exactly an all-guns-blazing start to the show, but – and this won’t happen much tonight – it’s nicely restrained.

20:02: Jack Whitehall sort-of-performing Man’s Not Hot is certainly an interesting way to open events tonight.

He shuffles on-stage in a HUGE jacket to introduce Justin Timberlake as the night’s first performer.

20:00 We’re about to begin – catch up on the red carpet action and more here.

All the nominees can be found right here, too.

The BRIT Awards will be airing on ITV in a matter of seconds.