The popular comedian is presenting the BRITS for the the sixth time
Jack Whitehall is returning to Manchester after attending university in the city(Image: Capital)
BRITS 2026 host Jack Whitehall reveals he’s received ‘emails from ITV lawyers’ over the potentially risky jokes he’s planning on saying at the awards show this weekend.
The annual music awards show is being held on Saturday night (February 28) at Manchester’s Co-op Live, with some of the biggest names in music coming to town to perform and hopefully take a BRIT home with them.
Among those performing on the night is former One Direction singer Harry Styles, who will perform Aperture on live TV for the first time ahead of the release of his new album Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.
On top of this K-Pop Demon Hunters’ HUNTR/X, Olivia Dean, Rosalia and Wolf Alice are just some of the other acts who will be providing the tunes for those in attendance. Leading the nominations this year is Olivia Dean and Lola Young, with five each, with both stars up for British Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Act.
On Tuesday morning (February 24), Jack appeared on Capital Breakfast with Jordan North, Chris Stark and Sian Welby to talk all about the BRIT Awards coming up. During the interview Jack provided an insight into how much preparation goes into his jokes on the night.
“There’s a few roasts and jokes that are planned at the moment, to be fair none of the script has gone off to the ITV lawyers, I imagine by Saturday 50% of that will get cut. In fact they’ve already started to pre-edit me,” he said.
Jack Whitehall will host this year’s BRIT Awards, with a Manchester-inspired trophy created by Matthew Williamson(Image: John Marshall – JM Enternational)
Jack added: “I got an email forwarded over to me that was from the ITV lawyer that was just all about how litigious Donald Trump is. Just a sort of, which is red rag to a bull for me.”
Following Jack’s appearance on the Jonathan Ross Show over the weekend, Chris wanted to know if there was any truth in his tale that he wants to shave Harry Styles during the ceremony.
Jack clarified: “Well no, it was a sketch, not physically shave him to be clear, it was a sketch that involved in some shaving.
“And anyway yeah that got a no, there’s so much stuff that gets rejected but that’s what I love about this week and the build up to the BRITs and all the ideas that are getting thrown around and what makes it to the show and what gets shot down.
“This morning the first message that I texted is ‘can we get a fake Paddington Bear’ because I saw Paddington at the BAFTAs and it would be great to get a Bear and have its legs sticking out from underneath the tables, ‘Paddington’s had a wild night’/ Maybe that will end up in the show, maybe it won’t.”
When asked if he has to come up with plan Bs in case he has to tweak his material on the night, Jack noted: “Very much so.”
Jack is no stranger to Manchester, having studied at the University of Manchester before moving into the world of comedy. He previously stated: “I am so excited to be coming back for this very special Brit Awards in Manchester, a place that is so important to me.
“The city I started my comedy career in, it feels like a real full circle moment returning to host this historic night at the Co-op Live, a venue that is only a stone’s throw away from the comedy club I did my first 10 minute set in all those years ago.”
Listen to Capital Breakfast with Jordan, Chris and Sian 6am – 10am across the UK and on Global Player