“I won’t go snowboarding!” Nick Muhammad hosts Olivier Awards ceremony on its 50th anniversary | Olivier Awards

Nick Mohammed has been chosen as host of this year’s Olivier Awards, which will be held at the Royal Albert Hall in London next month.

The comedian, writer and actor, who recently found a new fanbase as a Celebrity Traitors finalist, will follow in the footsteps of his Ted Lasso co-star Hannah Waddingham, who presented Olivier in 2023 and 2024. Last year, they were co-hosted by Beverly Knight and Billy Porter. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the awards, which honor achievements in theatre, dance and opera.

Mohammed said: “Hosting Olivier in its 50th year is not just a dream come true, but an absolute honor and privilege.” “I love it not only for the breadth of theatrical talent it celebrates, but also for the extraordinary variety of live shows it showcases on the same night. And while I’ll try to stay in the wings through tonight, I can’t promise I won’t be singing (in full voice). But at least I won’t be skating on the ice this time.”

Mohammed was on skates (and in a shiny dinner jacket) as he played his squeaky-voiced alter ego, Mr Swallow, at the 2024 BAFTA Awards. He also skated on stage in his show The Very Best and Worst of Mr Swallow.

Established in 1976, the Olivier Awards are run by the London Theater Society. Winners are selected by a panel of industry figures, theater stars and theater-loving audience members. Nominations will be revealed on Thursday. Last month it was announced that special awards would be given to choreographer Wayne MacGregor (outstanding contribution to dance) and soprano Danielle de Nys (outstanding contribution to opera). Industry awards will go to children’s playwright David Wood; Betty Lane, founder of the Lane College of Performing Arts; and Linda Tolhurst, stage keeper at the National Theater for nearly half a century.

Olivier’s concert will be held on April 12. Highlights of that evening’s events will be broadcast by the BBC, embroiled in the fallout from its recent BAFTA awards telecast, which edited out some of the tics of Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson, but included him uttering the N-word as Sinners actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo took to the stage. Alan Cumming, who presented the Baftas awards ceremony, said: “What should have been an evening celebrating creativity as well as diversity and inclusion, has turned into a show of shocking nonsense.”