Bob Geldof is getting a Lifetime Achievement Award at Brits25 tonight. He's already at the venue and backstage he told Radio 1 why he thinks the Brits is such a big event:

"In Britain music seems to be more important than almost any other country, that's why we don't have an Oscars, we have The Brits instead."

"We don't have film stars. Film stars here have to dress down and be almost anonymous, whereas rock stars are full on. They don't have that in America or anywhere else, it's nice to be around that for a while."

He admitted he is nervous about performing and about getting his Lifetime Achievement Award:

"I know, I've been long enough in pop to know you're supposed to be cool about this. If I was still a kid in the (Boomtown) Rats I'd be saying I was indifferent to it."

"The reality is I'm not, I'm sort of thrilled I'm getting this, rather sadly I know."