Acclaimed actor and writer Richard E. Grant will host this year’s BAFTA Film Awards, it has been announced in an extended format of the show.
Grant, best known for his role in the classic 1987 film Withnail and I, said: “I feel extremely privileged to be hosting the EE Baftas for the first time and to be able to celebrate the best of this year’s outstanding line-up of films. “
Jane Millichip, Chief Executive of Bafta, said: “We are blessed to have a fantastic line-up of hosts for our 2023 EE Bafta Film Awards, all of whom ooze wit, charm and warmth.
“I can’t wait to see Richard E Grant take the stage. Much loved by our audience at home, Richard is also hugely respected by his colleagues in the industry.”
Previous hosts of the awards have included Stephen Fry, who announced his retirement in 2018 after hosting the annual show 12 times.
His successor, Joanna Lumley, was widely criticized for her two-year stay. Graham Norton also had a go and last year Rebel Wilson took over housekeeping duties.
Organizers earlier announced a format shake-up, with Alison Hammond as the face of a new Bafta studio from the Royal Festival Hall to give viewers an “all-access experience of one of the biggest nights in film”.
Presenter Vic Hope and broadcaster and film critic Ali Plumb will host the Bafta red carpet arrivals show, which will be streamed live on Bafta’s social channels and will include interviews with nominees and other special guests.
For the first time, the ceremony will conclude with a live broadcast to reveal the winners of the final four categories, allowing the audience at home to experience the reactions of the nominees and winners in real time.
In previous years, the ceremony was recorded and broadcast live on the same day.
The nominated films and talent for this year’s awards will be revealed on Thursday.
Titles that made the Best Picture longlist include Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin; Everything everywhere and at once; and the Bill Nighy Living vehicle.
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Talent including Michelle Yeoh, Viola Davis, Bill Nighy and Colin Farrell made the longlist for the lead actor and actress categories, which were announced on January 6.
The nominations will be announced via a live global broadcast hosted by actors Hayley Atwell and Tohib Djimo on Thursday at midday from Bafta’s newly refurbished headquarters in Piccadilly, London.
Hope and Plumb will also host Bafta’s social takeover once the nominations are revealed.
This year’s Baftas will be held on February 19 at the Royal Festival Hall at London’s Southbank Centre.
The show will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 7pm to 9pm on the same day.
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