Adele may our best-selling artist this year with a record-breaking spell at the top of the charts both sides of the Atlantic, but she's been surprisingly pipped by Ed Sheeran in this year's list of nominations for the Brit Awards.

Sheeran is nominated for four of the gongs on offer, while both Adele and Jessie J have received three nods.

The brightly-haired 20-year-old has covered a lot of ground in the seven months since his debut single, The A Team, broke into the UK Chart at number 3.

As well as being nominated in the Breakthrough Artist category, he's been shortlisted for Male Solo Artist, Top British Single (based on airplay and sales), and British Album of the Year for his debut offering +.

Click here for a full list of all the nominations for this year's Brit Awards

Adele isn't doing too badly, considering she's had to take several months off to recover from throat surgery in the US. The soul superstar's been nominated in three categories, and her live performance on the night is bound to be one of the most highly-anticipated events of a buzz-filled evening. (Click here to see the other artists confirmed for the night)

One of her rivals for Best Female Solo Artist is Jessie J, who also has three nominations - the other two are for Breakthrough Artist, and for her single with VOB, Price Tag.

Coldplay and Florence and the Machine have each been nominated twice, going head to head for Mastercard British Album of the Year, and for Best British Group and Best British Female Solo Artist respectively.

And Noel Gallagher's solo project, with his High Flying Birds, has been rewarded with a nomination for Best British Male Solo Artist.

It wouldn't be an awards night without Jay-Z and Kanye West popping up somewhere - sure enough, they've got a nod in the Best International Group category, where they face competition from Fleet Foxes, Foo Fighters, Lady Antebellum and the rejuvenated Maroon 5.

Already announced are the Outstanding Contribution Award, to go to Blur - who will reform on the night - and the Critics' Choice Award, whose recipient is Emeli Sande.

Here are the Brit Awards nominees at their best in our Special Slideshow:

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