Super Bowl 2018 half time show: How to watch Justin Timberlake perform live

Justin Timberlake will perform this year's halftime show, with rumours still swirling about a potential Janet Jackson appearance

(Getty)

One of the biggest sporting events in America is almost upon us: the Super Bowl kicks off this Sunday 4 February.

The New England Patriots reached a record 10th Super Bowl with their 24-20 comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. They will face now the Philadelphia Eagles at the US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, after they beat the Minnesota Vikings 38-7.

If you're not in the US - and even if you're not fussed about the sport itself - there's still the halftime show to get excited about.

This year Justin Timberlake has been booked to perform what many regard as the biggest draw of the night, which last year was viewed by a staggering 111.5m people in the US.

Timberlake's booking is a controversial one given the infamous "nipplegate" incident which occurred when he performed with Janet Jackson in 2004, where he ripped her costume and exposed her breast for a few seconds.

The incident caused uproar but, while Timberlake's career did not appear to suffer, Jackson was banned from the Super Bowl for life and was also blocked from the Grammy Awards that year. So the fact Timberlake has been booked and - so far - there is no word of an appearance from Jackson, many have viewed the schedule as of a sign that she is still suffering the sexist backlash from 14 years ago.

Anyway, here's what you need to know about watching the Super Bowl from the UK:

What time does it start?

Kickoff is at 3:30pm on the West Coast of America, which is 11:30pm in the UK (GMT).

How do I watch it?

The Super Bowl will be shown on BBC this year, with coverage beginning at 23:15pm and running until early Monday morning, usually about 3:30am. It will also be shown on Sky Sports 1 HD.

You can watch live coverage of the game on BBC One, Connected TV and online plus the BBC Sport website and mobile app and follow text updates and analysis online.

What time is the halftime show?

Halftime begins at about 00:45am, but this could vary depending on how the first half goes. It's worth tuning in from 00.30am just in case.

Will Justin Timberlake's show have guest appearances?

Beyonce A lot of fans are hopeful about rumours that Jackson could make an appearance, which would be huge, but producer Jimmy Lewis seemed to squash that speculation, saying: “I wouldn’t bet on it,” when he was asked. But then he added a cryptic: “I don’t know if she likes football that much. But you never know when she’s going to stop by.”

How long does the halftime show last?

Generally Super Bowl halftime shows last for 15 minutes. Stars pick several of their biggest hits to perform in a mash-up style performance.

Will the famous Super Bowl commercials be shown on TV?

You won't be able to see them on TV in the UK but they're sure to appear on social media and YouTube swiftly after they air. Here's a list of what we're expecting.

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