Brit Awards to host 4,000 people with no social distancing next month

Fair play to them.

In a world of social distancing, cancelled events, and staying as far away from people as possible, the Brit Awards have decided to return to pre-"new-normal" times. The event, which is taking place next month, will host 4,000 people in London's o2 area, 2,500 of whom will be London's key workers. Under the UK government's new Events Research Prograamme, the awards will welcome guests with a negative lateral flow test on May 11. Guests will not need to social distance inside the venue, nor will they need to wear masks. The new programme is considering how best to safely resume live events across the UK this summer. It comes after the Grammy Awards hosted a successful live event earlier this year, with live acts, but without a live audience. Dua Lipa, who will be performing at this year's awards alongside Arlo Parks and Headie One, said: "This has been a long, tough year for everyone and I’m delighted the night will honour the key worker heroes who have cared for us so well during that time and continue to do so. ‘They are quite simply an inspiration. The Brit Awards are always special and this will truly make it a night to remember.” Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden added: "The Brits are always a big night in the music calendar, but this year’s awards will be particularly special. They will reunite live audiences with the best of British talent for the first time in a year, while providing a vital opportunity to see how we can get large crowds back safely as soon as possible. "Music connected us when we were separated by this pandemic and now it’s going to help bring us back together again." This year's Brit Awards will be hosted by Jack Whitehall. The Brits take place on May 11.