The countdown has started to the biggest event in the British music calendar - tonight's Brit Awards (Tuesday).

Justin Timberlake has already arrived at London's Earls Court and he's been playing ping-pong with his crew in the games room.

A team of more than 500 people are getting the set ready, and there are apparently going to be giant horses on stage during the ceremony tonight.

The good news is the booze will be flowing after last year's alcohol ban turned the ceremony into a bit of a limp affair.

Will Will win again?

Will Young is up against Daniel Bedingfield, Dizzee Rascal, Badly Drawn Boy and David Bowie for Best Male.

Will won Best British Breakthrough Artist last year and he reckons it's still one of the greatest achievements he's had:

"It's great when you win. Last year I didn't go there expecting to win. Obviously you want to win but you don't want to be disappointed!"

"It was a wonderful feeling. The best feeling I've had to be honest, and I still look at the Brit in my room and go 'Wow, that's fantastic!'"

"It would be really nice to add another one to it, but to be nominated is great."

Huge performances expected

Beyonce will be on stage with Outkast tonight; Gwen Stefani, Missy Elliott and Alicia Keys are also going to perform as a trio. Muse will be playing too.

50 Cent will be recreating his arrest at Heathrow last year on video, where all of a sudden he disappears - to suddenly reappear on stage at the Brits with G-Unit.

Justin Timberlake is handing out a Lifetime Achievement Award to Duran Duran but his mates Black Eyed Peas are playing so there may be an impromptu performance.

Busted bursting with excitement

Busted are up for Best Group, Best Pop and Best British Breakthrough Act.

They're already getting a bit over-excited about their rather raunchy stage set:

"It should be good whatever we do. There may be some fit girls behind us."

"I've always had an idea of sort of progressing what the Shadows had."

"Girls in cages!"

Lemar rates The Darkness

The Darkness are competing with Lemar for Best British Breakthough, but here's where he's put his money:

"They came up with that song 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love' and it connected with everyone, whether you're into RnB, soul, rock, everything."

"Everyone just appreciated it for what it was - a good song!"

Sara Cox will be live backstage from 3pm on Radio 1, and we'll be updating the Brits results as they come in here on Radio 1 Online.