“The trick isn’t so annoying that people hate you”: Is hosting the toughest awards show ever? | film

nNo modern film awards show is complete without a witty host, who takes on the difficult task of setting up the evening, getting people on and off stage in quick succession, keeping the restless audience entertained, and coming up with a decent comedy routine themselves. Hence the attention paid to the annual announcement of the hosts of the BAFTA, Golden Globe and Oscar awards; They’re gigs that can flourish in cultural memory, like Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s multiple turns at the Golden Globes, or become infamous, like Anne Hathaway and James Franco’s double act at the Oscars in 2011, which saw them decried as “children” and “spectacularly unwatchable” by the media.

In December, BAFTA announced that Scottish actor Alan Cumming would host the 79th edition of the event, which takes place on Sunday; He takes over from fellow actor and Scot David Tennant, who held the position in 2024 and 2025. Tennant was given an average review for his efforts last year by Gwilym Mumford of The Guardian, who described him as “a game host, a man who is ready to sing and dance, but who certainly needs more help from whoever writes his gags” – but that was glowing compared to the notices that came to the film’s very good star, Joanna Lumley. After her role in 2019; In an article titled “Is Joanna Lumley the worst BAFTA host ever?” The Guardian said: “Watching him on TV was painful. Not only were the jokes bad, the BAFTA audience responded with a complete, ominous silence.” In the wake of the Lumley debacle, Bafta was able to regain some credibility by appointing Graham Norton in 2020 (“Safe Husband”) and the well-reviewed Rebel Wilson in 2022 (“Save Bafta”).

Actress and director Alice Lowe says hosting award shows isn’t as intimidating as it might seem. “Personally, I don’t think it would be too difficult if you’re used to live performance. The trick isn’t so annoying that people hate you. I think they thought we’d bring some kind of authenticity to it, which is why I think they asked Steve and me.”

“I made sure to do my homework and watch the nominated films, know who the nominees were and how to pronounce their names – I didn’t want to have a John Travolta mispronunciation kind of scenario. We also spread any jokes in front of the organisers,” Lowe adds. Travolta’s difficulties introducing Frozen star Idina Menzel — whom he called Adela Dzeem at the 2014 Academy Awards — has since become one of the awards show’s blunders of all time.

Anna Smith, host of the Girls on Film podcast and chair of the London Film Critics Circle from 2014 to 2020, was part of the committee that appointed Lowe and Oram. She says choosing a host is key to a successful night: “It’s good to have someone who sets the tone for the event, gives a sense of occasion, and keeps things running smoothly and on time. What organizers are looking for is a familiar face who understands the nature of the awards, and is willing to do their research. They don’t necessarily need to be comedians, but they need to have a sense of humor and charisma. Most importantly, they need to be relaxed in front of a large audience.” Celebrities.

As the Hathaway/Franco and Lumley experience showed, the timing, charisma and comedy that actors can display on screen doesn’t always translate well to the live show environment, where comedians and talk show hosts often seem more at ease. “The thing that sets actors apart is being yourself,” says Lowe, adding: “They often start out glitching in a great way. Comedians, on the other hand, have the prestige of being clowns who are there to tear things up anyway, so it’s okay to be a little rude and ignore the pomp.”

Joke writers — often anonymous behind-the-scenes figures — are an essential part of the process, Lowe says. “It’s not about you. It’s about putting yourself in the other person’s shoes and anticipating what they’re feeling, and comforting them.” But even for comedians well-versed in the art of barbecue, things can go wrong: witness Joe Koy’s disastrous routine at the Golden Globes in 2024, or Seth MacFarlane’s poorly received song We Saw Your Boobs at the 2013 Academy Awards.

While memory may touch upon the catastrophes that awards can bring, an inspiring host can provide a positive cultural experience on a massive scale. A selfie taken by actor and director Bradley Cooper at the 2014 Academy Awards, which included a number of Hollywood stars including Jennifer Lawrence, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and event host Ellen DeGeneres, became the most retweeted item on what was then known as Twitter (now X). Lowe says Jonathan Ross, who officiated at the Bafta Film Awards five times, from 2007 to 2011, is the most impressive host she has ever seen. “It was the way he moved seamlessly from chatting with people and putting them at ease in commercial breaks, to scripted Autocue moments, and then improvised gags in response to unexpected events. Very smooth operator, very relaxed, and that’s the key.”