Ananova:

The Darkness lead the field for next month's Brit Awards with four nominations.

They are up for best British group, best British breakthrough, best British rock and best British album for Permission to Land.

Dido has three nominations including best British female - an accolade she is almost sure to win.

Busted, Daniel Bedingfield and Mercury Music prize-winner Dizzee Rascal also have three nominations apiece.

The nominations in full:

Best Pop: Christina Aguilera, Daniel Bedingfield, Black Eyed Peas, Busted, Justin Timberlake.

Best International Male: Beck, 50 Cent, Sean Paul, Damien Rice, Justin Timberlake.

Best International Female: Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Missy Elliott, Alicia Keys, Kylie Minogue.

Best International Group: Black Eyed Peas, Kings of Leon, Outkast, The Strokes, The White Stripes.

Best International Album: Christina Aguilera, Stripped; Beyonce, Dangerously In Love; Outkast, Speakerboxxx; Justin Timberlake, Justified; The White Stripes, Elephant.

Best International Breakthrough: 50Cents, Evanescence, Kings of Leon, Sean Ball, The Thrills.

Outstanding Contribution: Duran Duran.

Best British Male - Badly Drawn Boy, Daniel Bedingfield, David Bowie, Dizzee Rascal, Will Young.

Best British Female - Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Dido, Jamelia, Annie Lennox, Amy Winehouse

Best British Group - Busted, The Coral, The Darkness, Radiohead, Sugababes

Best British Album - Daniel Bedingfield, Gotta Get Thru This; Blur, Think Tank; The Coral, Magic and Medicine; The Darkness, Permission to Land; Dido, Life for Rent.

Best British Dance - Basement Jaxx, Goldfrapp, Groove Armada, Kosheen, Lemon Jelly.

Best British Breakthrough - Busted, Jamie Cullum, The Darkness, Lemar, Dizzee Rascals.

Best British Single - Dido, White Flag; Gareth Gates featuring the Kumars, Spirit in the Sky; Jamelia, Superstar; Mis-teeq, Scandalous; Rachel Stevens, Sweet Dreams My LA Ex

Best British Urbans - Lemar, Big Brovaz, Mis-teeq, Dizzee Rascals, Amy Winehouse.

Best British Rock - The Darkness, Feeder, Muse, Primal Scream, Stereophonics.