Graham Norton is set to host the 2020 BAFTA film awards, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts announced Friday.
The ceremony will be held at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday Feb. 2, and will feature a performance from Cirque du Soleil. Norton is taking over from “Absolutely Fabulous” actress Joanna Lumley, who hosted the awards for the past two years.
While the British late night host of “The Graham Norton Show” has a long history with the BAFTA Television Awards, having won six of the prizes over the years among 19 nominations that Norton and his shows have racked up, this will mark his debut as the host of the event, which is officially named the EE British Academy Film Awards.
“I’m delighted to be taking the helm of the biggest night in British Film, the audience at the Royal Albert Hall will be the biggest sofa I’ve ever faced. I’m honored to be following in the fabulous footsteps of Stephen Fry and Joanna Lumley,” Norton said in a statement.
“I am absolutely delighted that Graham Norton will host the EE British Academy Film Awards on Sunday Feb. 2, 2020. He will bring his brilliance and unique brand of humor to the role,” Amanda Berry OBE, chief executive of BAFTA said in a statement. “The Film Awards is transmitted around the world, and those audiences know him too. With Graham as our host I have no doubt we will deliver a very special celebration of the very best in film, and pay tribute to the most talented and creative people both in front of and behind the camera.”
“Graham’s wit and charisma has made him one of the U.K.’s most successful television show hosts and I could not think of a better person to pick up the baton from the absolutely fabulous Joanna Lumley,” Kate Phillips, controller of BBC Entertainment said in a statement. “As the BAFTA Film Awards 2020 host I can’t wait for Graham to entertain everyone at home, as well as all the film greats who will be joining him in the very regal and resplendent Royal Albert Hall.”
Nominations for the BAFTAs will be revealed on Jan. 7, 2020 following nominations for the EE Rising Star nominations on Jan. 6. The ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One, BBC One HD and BBC iPlayer.