James Corden is to host the BRITs in 2013, while controversial artist Damien Hirst has been picked to design the statue-awards.


Popular on LondonNet


Gavin and Stacey comedian Corden will front the biggest night in the British music industry for a third year running when it is staged in February.

Corden returns despite controversy this year when he was forced by producers to cut off Adele mid-speech as she accepted the night’s top prize, Album of the Year, for her 21 album.

He said at the time: “I was furious and put in a horrible position. I went straight to Adele’s dressing room and she was fine with me, but really upset. She had a speech and had a list of people she wanted to thank.”

After being cut off, the 24-year-old Rolling in the Deep singer put her middle finger up to the camera, and later said she felt offended.

She said: “That was for the suits at the BRIT Awards, not my fans. I’m sorry if I offended anyone but the suits offended me.”

Although he may have been upset by the incident, Corden helped pull in the highest viewing figures for the BRIT Awards in seven years with the ceremony having its best ratings since 2005 with six million viewers tuning in.

The BRITS 2013 will take place on 20 February at the O2 Arena, while Radio 1’s Nick Grimshaw will host a launch event on 10 January.

Damien Hirst will design the prestigious Brit Award statues, following in the footsteps of Dame Vivienne Westwood and Sir Peter Blake.