From on-stage scuffles to a politician attacked with water and off-colour gags about the Iraq war, the Brit Awards have had their fair share of controversy over the years.

In 2007 the show was televised live for the first time in a decade, and ITV received hundreds of complaints after host Russell Brand joked about the so-called "friendly fire" death of a British soldier.

Last year Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne hosted, assisted by their children Kelly and Jack, and the famously foul-mouthed family were the model of decorum until comedian Vic Reeves arrived on stage.

His quip about Kylie Minogue, saying she was "all right, a bit of work there and she will be ok" was met with silence.

Reeves appeared to forget which award he was presenting - prompting Sharon to shout: "Shut up, you're p**ed, p*** off you b******."

Organisers this year have played it safer, and the show will be presented by the - by comparison - angelic Kylie along with Gavin & Stacey duo Mathew Horne and James Corden.

The antics of numerous artists down the years explain why ITV executives might get twitchy about broadcasting the show live.

In 1992, the KLF, who were named best band, hatched a plan to throw buckets of blood at the audience.

They abandoned this on the advice of lawyers, and instead fired blank rounds from a machine gun at spectators before leaving the stage with the message "KLF have left the music industry".

Later that evening they dumped a dead sheep at the official post-awards dinner.

Two years later, the band - renamed the K Foundation - attempted to burn £1 million on a remote Scottish island.

The age of Britpop brought the Brits their most famous night of controversy in 1996, when Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker stormed the stage as Michael Jackson performed his Earth Song accompanied by a chorus of children.

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