TV Bafta hosts replaced after 2 years by ‘brilliant’ Hollywood legend
A new host is taking to the stage.
Alan Cumming has been confirmed as this year’s Bafta Television Awards host.
The 60-year-old actor and Traitors US host is poised to replace comedy duo Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan after just two years fronting the iconic ceremony.
The stand-up pair hosted last year’s event, but the Hollywood legend – who has appeared in the likes of GoldenEye, Eyes Wide Shut, Spy Kids and more – will be taking over for the ceremony on May 11.
Emma Baehr, the executive director of awards and content at BAFTA, said: ‘We’re delighted that Alan Cumming will be hosting this year’s BAFTA Television Awards with P and O Cruises.
‘He will definitely bring a playful sense of mischief and fun to the ceremony, so audiences should expect the unexpected at Britain’s biggest celebration of TV on Sunday 11 May.
‘The sheer quality, innovation, and breadth of talent in British television in front of and behind the camera is second to none, and we look forward to honouring and celebrating these talented people at our upcoming awards ceremonies.’
He will replace hosts Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock)The nominations for the TV Baftas will be announced on Thursday.
Alan, whose been hired as ‘brilliant’ and ‘hugely talented’ by fans, impressed viewers with his stint as Claudia Winkleman’s counterpart on the US version of The Traitors.
But in January, the Scottish actor – who became an American citizen in 2008 – revealed that he intends to spend more time in the UK moving forwards.
Alan – who moved to New York in 1998 – said on the How to be 60 podcast: ‘My husband Grant and I are planning to split our time more between here and New York, rather than before we had a holiday home here.
‘I’ve definitely been planning to do that just as a thing in my life, but also my work.
‘I’m now doing The Traitors, so once a year I’m here for a month and I made two films here last year. It’s almost like the universe is pulling me back.’
The Traitors US host has delighted fans (Picture: BBC/Studio Lambert/Peacock/Euan Cherry)He’s also set to be part of the new series of Doctor Who, which will see Ncuti Gatwa back as The Fifteenth Doctor when the beloved sci-fi show returns on April 12.
Alan will feature in the second episode as Mr Ring-a-Ding, ‘a happy, funny, singalong cartoon, who lives in Sunny Town with his friend Sunshine Sally’.
The plot teases: ‘However, in 1952, after years of repeats in cinemas across the land, Mr Ring-a-Ding suddenly looks beyond the screen and sees the real world outside – and the consequences are terrifying.’
Showrunner Russell T Davies said: ‘Only Alan Cumming could give a runaway cartoon so much wit, malice, danger and fun.
‘He makes the whole universe of Doctor Who wilder and madder than ever, and it’s an absolute honour to welcome him on board the TARDIS.’
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