HE ANNUAL glamourous Brit Awards take place on tonight, and we have a handy guide to everything that you need to know about Britain’s biggest night of music celebrations.

Hosted by Dermot O’Leary and Emma Willis from The O2 in London, this year’s ceremony is set to be as big and eye-popping as ever.

The late and great David Bowie is up for two posthumous awards, while Little Mix and Skepta are leading the way with three nods apiece.

This year marks the first time a grime artist has received a nomination.

The nominations in full are as follows:

British Male Solo Artist

Craig David

David Bowie

Michael Kiwanuka

Skepta

Kano

British Female Solo Artist

Anohni

Ellie Goulding

Emeli Sande

Lianne La Havas

Nao

British Group

The 1975

Bastille

Biffy Clyro

Little Mix

Radiohead

British Breakthrough Act

Anne-Marie

Blossoms

Rag'n'Bone Man

Skepta

Stormzy

British Single

Alan Walker - Faded

Calum Scott - Dancing On My Own

Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna - This Is What You Came For

Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul and Anne-Marie - Rockabye

Coldplay - Hymn For The Weekend

James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go

Jonas Blue ft. Dakota - Fast Car

Little Mix - Shout Out To My Ex

Tinie Tempah ft. Zara Larsson - Girls Like

Zayn - Pillowtalk

MasterCard British Album Of The Year

The 1975 - I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It

David Bowie - Blackstar

Kano - Made In The Manor

Michael Kiwanuka - Love & Hate

Skepta - Konnichiwa

British Artist Video Of The Year

Adele - Send My Love (To Your New Lover)

Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna - This Is What You Came For

Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul and Anne-Marie - Rockabye

James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go

Jonas Blue ft. Dakota - Fast Car

Little Mix ft. Sean Paul - Hair

One Direction - History

Tinie Tempah ft. Zara Larsson - Girls Like

Zayn - Pillowtalk

International Male Solo Artist

Bon Iver

Bruno Mars

Drake

Leonard Cohen

The Weeknd

International Female Solo Artist

Beyonce

Christine And The Queens

Rihanna

Sia

Solange

International Group

A Tribe Called Quest

Drake & Future

Kings Of Leon

Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds

Twenty One Pilots

This year’s awards will pay tribute to former Wham singer George Michael, who sadly passed away in December.

The biggest event in the British music calendar takes place at The O2 on Wednesday night with stars from Katy Perry to Ed Sheeran due to perform.

The tribute comes after the Grammys remembered the Last Christmas, Careless Whisper and Faith singer, with a performance from Adele one of the highlights of the ceremony.

As well as Sheeran and pop star Perry, who last appeared at the awards in 2014, Robbie Williams and Bruno Mars are also due to perform at The O2.

This year's Brit Awards will focus on grime music, modern singer-songwriters and indie pop, but in years gone by the annual prize-giving ceremony has seen a wide range of eclectic acts take to the stage.

Previous winners and nominees from Essex include Olly Murs, who along with other nods received a nomination for Best Male Solo Artist in 2013, as well as rock band Blur, with lead singer Damon Albarn from Aldham, winning the Outstanding Contribution to Music award in 2012.