Ant & Dec have been confirmed to replace James Corden as the hosts of the 2015 BRIT Awards.
Former host Corden recently announced that he was stepping down after his fourth year presenting the awards ceremony, claiming that the Brits could benefit from the “fresh approach” of another presenter.
It is the first time in 14 years that the pair will host the Brits, following on from their last appearance in 2001.
In a statement, the two new hosts said: “We’re really excited to be hosting the Brits again next year, it is undoubtedly the biggest night in the British music calendar. We’re especially excited now we’re Number One recording artists ourselves. We’ll be offering our advice to the fledgling pop stars backstage as to how to have a Number One hit, as long as they’re prepared to wait 19 years for their records to top the chart like ours did!”
Brits Chairman Max Lousada said of the news: “Ant & Dec are two of the most popular TV broadcasters this country has ever produced and it’s a real honour to have them take centre stage once again to host the Brits. It’s great that these two pillars of British TV will be part of a night about celebrating icons in British music.”
James Corden recently criticised the “horrible” people who attended the Brits event. “It was horrid,” Corden said. “It is so much fun the week leading up to it and you get to see the bands, and then it is live and you are in this room full of people that don’t listen to anything you say. People who beg for a ticket turn up and pretend they are too cool to be there. They are all chatting, drinking and eating.”
Corden continued: “It doesn’t feel like there is a TV show going on, it feels like a big social function being watched by the rest of people in the arena. You are doing it and people are walking past you, they know it is on TV.”
The Brit Awards will take place in 2015 on February 25 at London’s O2 Arena.