Talent show judges compete for Mobo crown

Rival talent show judges Jessie J and Tulisa Contostavlos will battle it out to be crowned queen of the Mobo Awards.

'The Voice' coach and 'The X Factor' judge will go head-to-head for the Best Female gong at the ceremony at Liverpool's Echo Arena.

Also in the running for the Best Female title are Emeli Sande, along with Jay-Z's protege Rita Ora, former 'X Factor' contestant Rebecca Ferguson and 'Running' singer Jessie Ware.

The two surviving members of US girl group TLC will also be honoured for their outstanding contribution to music at the event.

The pair, Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, will be joined at the bash by guest of honour Dionne Warwick, who will pick up a lifetime achievement award.

The group, which also included Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, had a string of hits in the 1990s including 'No Scrubs' and 'Waterfalls' before Lopes's death in a car crash in 2002.

Saturday's ceremony, the 17th annual Mobo Awards, is hosted by Miquita Oliver and Adam Deacon and will feature appearances by JLS, Conor Maynard and Labrinth.

Plan B and Emeli Sande - who is riding high on the success of performing at the Olympics opening and closing ceremonies this summer - lead the nominations with five nods each.

Rapper, actor and director Plan B - real name Ben Drew - is up for Best Male, Best Hip-hop/Grime act, Best Video, Best Song and Best Album for 'Ill Manors'; the soundtrack to his directorial debut, a gritty crime drama which he also wrote.

A win would go some way to make up for Thursday's Mercury Prize which saw Drew lose out to Alt-J.