Lizzo has joined the line-up of performers for the 2023 Brit Awards, organisers have confirmed.
The American singer and flutist is the latest star to be revealed, along with David Guetta, Becky Hill and Ella Henderson who will also take to the stage next month.
Defending the nomination choices, the awards said that while the lack of female nominees was “disappointing”, it was down to 2022 seeing “fewer high-profile women artists in cycle with major releases” than in 2021.
The Brit Awards‘ organisers reportedly plan to evaluate their decision to adopt gender-neutral prizes as part of their annual review after the upcoming ceremony.
This year will be Lizzo’s second performance at the event. She’s nominated for international artist of the year and international song of the year for her hit About Damn Time, which reached number one in the US and number three in the UK.
The three times Grammy winner has over five billion global streams to her name and had a platinum selling debut album. Her fourth studio album Special was released to critical acclaim last year, reaching number two on the Billboard 200 chart and the UK Top Ten.
She performed a medley of songs at the 2020 Brit Awards, and delighted fans at one point in the evening by cosying up to pal Harry Styles and downing a drink from his table.
David Guetta is also nominated for international song of the year for I’m Good (Blue) with Bebe Rexha, which is his seventh number one UK record.
It’s the latest in a string of successful collaborations for Guetta, including Black Eyed Peas, Shakira, and Becky Hill along with Ella Henderson. A two-time Grammy winner, Guetta has achieved 14 billion global streams and 50 billion record sales worldwide to date.
Electric music pioneer Becky Hill is nominated for best dance act and is the current holder of the award, having won it last year. It will be her first Brit performance.
Nominations for the 2023 Brit Awards were announced earlier this month, with former-boybander Harry Styles and Isle of Wight duo Wet Leg leading the nods.
Other artists nominated for multiple awards include Aitch, Arctic Monkeys, Beyoncé, Cat Burns, Dave, Ed Sheeran, Eliza Rose, Lizzo, Nova Twins, Sam Smith, Stormzy and Taylor Swift.
This year four genre categories will be decided by the public via a vote on TikTok – those are alternative rock act, hip hop/rap/grime act, dance act and pop/R&B act.
R&B girl group Flo were previously announced as the winners of the Rising Star award.
The Brit Awards 2023 will take place on Saturday 11 February and will be broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX from London’s O2 arena, hosted by Mo Gilligan.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Timesthe properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
TV presenter Katie Piper has revealed her decision to get an artificial eye, 16 years after an acid attack that left her with life-changing injuries and partial blindness.
The Loose Women panellist, 41, is an advocate for those with burns and disfigurement injuries.
She shared a video of her being fitted with the prosthetic on Instagram.
Piper said: “After many years battling with my eye health, I’ve reached the end of the road somewhat, and the decision has been made to try a prosthetic eye shell.
“This marks the start of a journey to have an artificial eye, with an incredible medical team behind me.
“As always I’m incredibly grateful to all those in the NHS and private health care system for their talent and kindness.
“I will share my journey, I’m hopeful and nervous about being able to tolerate it and would love to hear from any of you in the comments if you’ve been on this journey or have any advice.”
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Commenting on the post, presenter Lisa Snowdon said Piper was a “warrior” and a “true inspiration”.
Piper has undergone hundreds of operations after suffering an acid attack arranged by her ex-boyfriend in March 2008.
She gave up her right to anonymity and made a documentary in 2009 called Katie: My Beautiful Face.
Piper also founded the Katie Piper Foundation which supports survivors of life-changing burns and scars, and has received an honorary doctorate from the Royal College of Surgeons to mark her ground-breaking work.
She was made an OBE in 2021 for her services to charity and burn victims.