Stars descend on Manchester ahead of BRIT Awards for night of partying as ‘tense and anxious’ host Jack Whitehall opts for low-key meal with fiancée Roxy Horner

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Manchester is preparing to host the BRIT Awards for the first time, and many famous musicians are already in the city for the event.

I was at the Co-op Live arena tonight for what felt like the biggest night of the year for British music! It was incredible seeing so many famous faces – celebrities, influencers, and people who really make things happen in the industry. You could really feel the excitement, a little bit of nervousness, and a huge amount of pride for the North, especially after all the buzz from the pre-show events last night.

Jack Whitehall, 37, enjoyed a quiet dinner with his fiancée, Roxy Horner, 34, before hosting an event. He kept a low profile ahead of his presenting work.

Instead of facing the busy, excited crowds downtown before the awards show, the couple decided to have dinner inside their hotel, The Lowry.

Rooms at the five-star hotel start at £150 a night and guests can enjoy features like a spa, barbershop, and the River Restaurant.

Even though Jack has hosted the awards show six times before, people watching noticed he seemed nervous and worried as he prepared for what’s expected to be a very unpredictable night on live TV.

Instead of a big celebration, the parents of the couple had a simple, quiet dinner together. It seemed they were also quickly discussing some final details about the event over the meal.

Hosting the BRIT Awards is a huge challenge, and this year, Jack faces extra pressure because the event is being held in Manchester for the very first time.

Sharon Osbourne, 73, was seen having lunch with a colleague yesterday, and appeared to be in a more subdued mood.

Tonight, she will accept an award in memory of her husband, Ozzy Osbourne, bringing a touching element to the event.

I’ve been watching, and she seems incredibly sad but remarkably composed. I’m hearing that her children will be there with her, which is so good to know – she’ll definitely need their support during what I’m sure will be a very difficult time.

Last night, the hottest spot in town was definitely the new Soho House Manchester.

Fleur East, Will Best, Tyler West, and Molly Rainford had a fun night out at a popular members’ club that’s become a regular hangout for performers visiting the area.

Fleur and Will enjoyed a fun night out with DJ Roger Sanchez, a Grammy Award winner, before their hosting duties for Hits Radio. They were clearly taking advantage of a rare opportunity to unwind before hitting the red carpet.

Tyler seemed lost in thought. He’s co-hosting the red carpet event with TikTok personality Charley Marlowe, and sources say he’s feeling the stress.

According to a source, Tyler is feeling a lot of pressure and his rehearsals haven’t been going smoothly. Meanwhile, Charley is predicted to be the standout performer, as she’s been doing exceptionally well in practice.

Robbie Williams performed a special concert for War Child at Aviva Studios, giving fans a preview of the excitement to come during BRITs week.

He left wearing a playful T-shirt celebrating Manchester culture. It cleverly combined the cover art from Joy Division’s ‘Unknown Pleasures’ album with a picture of Roy Keane, the famous Manchester United player.

Oh my gosh, Robbie was amazing! He was talking all about what it was like going off on his own after everything with Take That – all the incredible bits and the tough times too. And he asked if everyone had seen that new Netflix documentary about the band! I nearly screamed, honestly. It’s EVERYTHING! I’ve watched it like, five times already. It was just… magical to hear him talk about it all.

During a discussion about the new Take That Netflix documentary, he commented that he couldn’t recall ever seeing anyone look more self-satisfied than Robbie Williams did in the second episode.

I really won, didn’t I? And honestly, I felt terrible about how I’d treated people. I was awful to Gary, and even to Howard, though I didn’t want to upset Mark because he’s a friend. I kept replaying it in my head for days, feeling like I needed to apologize again and again, even though I’d already apologized countless times. Then, while touring in Glasgow, it hit me: no one who’s left a boy band has ever publicly criticized the others the way I have.

Right now, I’m trying to move past the embarrassment and regret of bothering people, and briefly indulging in angry thoughts, before shifting my focus to boosting my ego.

He later added that he loves Gary and ‘Gary loves me’.

Musician Mark Ronson was staying at the luxurious Stock Exchange Hotel, which costs £335 per night, before being recognized tonight for his contributions to music.

According to sources close to him, he decided to get a good night’s sleep and postpone any celebrations until after the official ceremony.

Spanish singer Rosalía is also a guest at the hotel, but she prepared for the BRIT Awards in a much different way.

Rather than retreat indoors, Rosalía reportedly ventured out to explore Manchester.

This hotel is a glamorous destination in the city, and it’s famously co-owned by former football stars Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs.

It’s not just any celebrity hotspot, though. Madonna famously rented the entire place during rehearsals for a UK tour. Other big names who’ve been guests include Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Liam and Noel Gallagher, and David Beckham.

As a fun way to celebrate, Deansgate station has been temporarily changed to ‘Olivia Deansgate’ to honor Olivia Dean, a nominee – showing how much the city is supporting the event.

This year’s ceremony will be held at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena, which opened two years ago at a cost of £365 million. Singer Harry Styles, who has invested in the venue, is scheduled to perform there for the first time on Saturday.

Raye, Olivia Dean, Wolf Alice, EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI will also perform, alongside the artists behind the voices of HUNTR/X, Alex Warren, Mark Ronson, ROSALÍA, and SOMBR.

Oh my gosh, I’m SO excited! Lola Young and Olivia are absolutely dominating the nominations this year with FIVE nominations each! And can we talk about Lily Allen? She’s BACK and already snagged three nominations – a true queen! I’m seriously losing it right now, I need to vote like a million times!

After getting rid of separate male and female award categories in 2022, the award show has received significant criticism for the lack of female nominees. This was especially noticeable in 2023 when all the nominees for Artist of the Year were men.

This year marks a significant shift, as women and non-binary individuals now represent 70% of all nominations.

The city is buzzing with excitement, but those planning the event are privately preparing for potential challenges with logistics.

The Co-op Live arena is located just outside the city center, and to avoid traffic jams, officials have closed some roads to ensure smooth travel for performers and their teams.

As night fell, dark Mercedes vans filled the streets, their engines running as hair and makeup artists, security personnel, and record label staff hurried between hotels and event locations.

Although organizing the awards outside of London for the first time in 50 years presents some challenges for officials, the event is predicted to significantly benefit Manchester’s economy.

As a lifestyle expert, I have to say, Manchester really came alive the night before the BRIT Awards! It was a whirlwind of emotions – from cozy, intimate dinners and those last-minute, slightly nerve-wracking rehearsals, to seeing fans proudly sporting tribute merch and exclusive members’ club parties. There was definitely a buzz in the air – a perfect mix of glamour and anticipation.

Tonight, the spotlight switches fully on.

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2026-02-28 16:37