Dua Lipa and Griff to perform at BRIT Awards

Dua Lipa and Griff are the first artists that have been confirmed as performers at The BRIT Awards 2021.

Pop superstar Dua, 25, and newcomer Griff, 20, will take to the stage at the highly-anticipated music event which will be broadcast on May 11 from The O2 arena. 

Dua looked incredible in a tight pink dress as she posed on a moon-shaped swing in snaps released for the announcement while songwriter Griff put on an edgy display in statement collar jacket. 

This year’s BRIT Awards will be hosted for the fourth time in a row by comedian Jack Whitehall, 32, and nominations will be announced by Nick Grimshaw on Wednesday on the Brit’s social media channels.

Dua made BRIT Award history in 2018 as the first female artist to pick up five nominations, with two wins for British Breakthrough Act and British Female Solo Artist, also performing her hit New Rules on the night. 

She returned in 2019 to perform One Kiss alongside Calvin Harris, which won British Single. 

Dua said: ‘I am so excited to be returning to perform for you all at The BRITs this year. It’s going to be truly special to be back on stage in the UK.’ 

Meanwhile Griff was the recipient of the first BRITs 2021 trophy, the Rising Star Award.

Griff said: ‘Guys, pray for me!! I’m going to be in a room full of the biggest and best artists in the world, singing my little heart out. I can’t wait!!!!’

Since the release of her first single in 2015, Dua Lipa has become one of the music world’s most exciting young artists. 

Her eponymous debut album has eclipsed five million sales worldwide, with single sales reaching 80 million and the video for her break-out hit New Rules made her the youngest female solo artist to reach one billion views on YouTube.  

Griff was announced the winner of this year’s BRITs Rising Star award earlier this month, seeing off strong competition from Pa Salieu and Rina Sawayama.  

She grew up in Kings Langley in Hertfordshire, as the daughter of a Chinese mother and a Jamaican father and has had hits such as Black Hole.  

It was announced last week that Jack would host the event for the fourth time in a row as the ceremony returns in May.

The comedian has presented the star-studded bash for the last three years and told how he is looking forward to returning to The O2 Arena after a year of lockdown.

Speaking to The Sun, he said: ‘It really is always an honour to do it but this year feels even more special. I must be doing something right to be invited back. 

‘This is about celebrating all the artists that made the music which helped us get through what’s been a b*d of a year. It’s also now just a nice excuse to get out of the house and put on a suit.’ 

The publication reports that Brit bosses are still working out how they will get audiences into the venue safely and comply with Covid restrictions. 

Glitzy after-parties are also likely to be off the cards for this year’s show, with Jack joking his mother Hilary may present a Covid health risk as she ‘lunged’ at Stormzy last year in an attempt to get a selfie.

Jack has sparked controversy with some of his jokes in previous years, including a joke about dads ‘fumbling’ at home over a Little Mix performance. 

The comic insisted: ‘As the host I try to not say controversial things but I guess as a comedian my radar might be a little off.’

Jack added that he thinks he knows which of his jokes will end up in the papers the next day but he is almost always wrong. 

Some of the big winners at last year’s ceremony included Stormzy for Best Male Solo Artist, Mabel for Best Female Solo Artist and Lewis Capaldi’s Someone You Loved for Song of the Year.