Taskmaster legend Greg Davies’ brilliant BAFTA debut proves he needs to host more awards shows

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If you think Greg Davies isn’t hilarious, you’ve obviously never watched Taskmaster. Seriously, if you haven’t seen it yet, go check it out!

The announcement that this actor, presenter, and comedian would host the 2026 BAFTA TV Awards was a bit unexpected. However, we immediately thought he’d be fantastic, and it turns out we were right!

Greg Davies joined a long line of talented comedians – including legends like Lenny Henry, popular talk show host Graham Norton, Sue Perkins from The Great British Bake Off, Richard Ayoade, and the comedic pair Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan – when he took the stage at the BAFTAs.

Let me tell you, having a comedian host an awards show just makes sense. They’re used to being on stage in front of tons of people, they’re quick on their feet, and the really good ones? They can just grab the whole audience and take everyone along for the ride. It’s like they create this whole vibe that just works.

Every host brings their own unique sense of humor, but how well that translates on TV really depends on the person. For example, Jack Whitehall sometimes made viewers uncomfortable with his jokes at the BRIT Awards – many still remember his awkward conversation with Danny Dyer about his book, and his inappropriate merchandise comments to Jade Thirlwall while her mother was present. Similarly, Joel Dommett’s comedy at the NTAs hasn’t always appealed to everyone.

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Greg Davies was particularly successful because he connected with the audience by making references they understood and could laugh with, not just at.

Greg’s knack for playfully making fun of himself, combined with his good-natured teasing of others, really livened up the BAFTAs and prevented it from becoming a stuffy, drawn-out awards show.

So, Greg kicked things off with a really funny bit. He joked about how he didn’t want to spend the whole night airing out his personal problems, but then immediately went into how annoyed he was that his friend Romesh got nominated for two awards he didn’t even get a look-in for! It was a great way to start, honestly – totally relatable if you ask me.

Viewers have been consistently amused by Celia Imrie’s on-screen flatulence since Celebrity Traitors first aired last year. Even American actor Seth Rogen joked about it while accepting a BAFTA award for his show, The Studio.

Greg Davies, as the show’s host, playfully teased Celia, saying, “Celia, you can relax—though not too much, of course.”

Greg’s experience really shines through in his comedy. He’s been a professional in the entertainment industry for decades, and that knowledge adds depth and authority to his jokes. He also has a playful unpredictability that keeps things interesting.

The BAFTA ceremony kicked off by acknowledging how people are now watching TV – lots of young people on their phones and tablets! Host Greg Davies then joked about artificial intelligence, praised traditional television, and playfully commented on how overly produced and complex reality TV has become compared to its simpler beginnings.

Hosting an awards show is a difficult job, but Greg Davies did a fantastic job at the BAFTAs – we hope he hosts again soon!

The BAFTA TV Awards 2026 is available now on BBC iPlayer.

The latest issue of Living Legends is now available! This special 100-page, full-color magazine celebrates the incredible life and work of Sir David Attenborough. You can find it at newsstands or order it online.

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2026-05-11 15:50