The BBC Music Awards are to return for a third year.

Hosted by Fearne Cotton and Claudia Winkleman, the event will celebrate the year in music and feature some of the best-loved artists from the last 12 months.

Scott Mills and Chris Evans announced the awards’ return during their BBC radio shows on Friday morning, telling listeners the ceremony will take place at ExCel London on December 12.

Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton will co-host the awards (Matt Crossick/PA)

A host of stars have already signed up to appear at the ceremony, including Emeli Sande, Michael Buble, Kaiser Chiefs, Lukas Graham, Zara Larsson and The 1975, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.

Emeli, who had pre-recorded an interview with Scott, told him: “I’m really excited to perform and we’ve been in rehearsals, so I really can’t wait.

“We want to do something really special. Hopefully people will be pleasantly surprised.”

Emeli Sande
Emeli will be at the awards ceremony in December (John Phillips/PA)

Claudia said of being a host: “As the song goes, music was my first love and it will be my last.

“I’m honoured to help present the BBC Music Awards and am so excited to be working with the very brilliant Fearne.”

There will be five awards up for grabs: British artist of the year as decided by the BBC Music committee; Song of the year voted for by members of the public; Introducing artist of the year decided by the BBC Music Introducing panel; BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge performance of the year voted for by the Radio 1 Playlist Committee; and BBC Radio 2 album of the year voted for by the Radio 2 Playlist Committee.

Claudia Winkleman
Claudia will host the event with Fearne (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Coverage of the event on the day will include Radio 2′s Steve Wright Show Music Awards special between 2pm and 5pm, Radio 1′s Greg James will be backstage and on the red carpet from 4pm to 7pm, and then backstage access with Jo Whiley from 8.30pm to 10pm. The awards themselves will be broadcast on BBC One.

BBC Music director Bob Shennan said: “From Glastonbury to the BBC Proms, BBC Music has brought some of this year’s most memorable musical moments to millions of music lovers.

Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival (Ben Birchall/PA)

“This year’s BBC Music Awards, to be hosted by two of the UK’s best-loved presenters Fearne and Claudia, will shine a light on a fantastic range of incredible artists for what’s sure to be a spectacular night of entertainment.”

Tickets are on sale now, priced from £42 to £62 plus a booking fee. Visit bbc.co.uk/musicawards for full details.