Television icons Ant and Dec have firmly stated they will never return to host the Brit Awards, describing the experience as a 'nightmare' and alluding to a disagreement with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. The presenting duo, who helmed the ceremony in 2001, 2015, and 2016, revealed their decision during a candid discussion on their podcast, Hanging Out.
The Hosting Challenges
Ant explained that hosting the Brits is particularly difficult because attendees are primarily focused on enjoying themselves and celebrating, which complicates the task of managing the event. He noted that despite promises from artists for mid-show interviews, these often fall through at the last minute, creating logistical headaches.
Coldplay's Last-Minute Change
Coldplay was specifically mentioned as a band that backed out of a planned interview, leading Dec to joke about 'the beginning of Ant's beef with Chris Martin'. When questioned about potentially hosting the upcoming Brit Awards, Ant laughed and responded, 'No I'm not, are you? Three times. Never again.' He later clarified, 'I should never say never, because it's a weird thing to host,' but emphasized the overall reluctance.
The Madonna Incident
One of the most memorable moments from their tenure was in 2015 when Madonna fell down the stairs after her cape became tangled during her performance. Remarkably, Ant and Dec missed the entire incident live. They recalled feeling relieved at the end of the show, only to discover the news later when they saw headlines about Madonna's fall.
Dec described the feeling of concluding the broadcast as 'landing the plane,' with both presenters celebrating with champagne in their dressing room. Ant added, 'We put on the TV, and like top story on the news, 'Madonna falls at The Brits'. And we're like 'What no she's not she's just performing there?' We missed the whole thing.'
Personal Connections to the Awards
Beyond hosting, Ant and Dec have a personal history with the Brit Awards, having been nominated for Best Newcomer in 1994. They lost to Oasis, with Dec humorously remarking, 'Yeah, they won Best Newcomer that year. I don't think they achieved much. They didn't do anything. If they'd stuck at it they could have been big.' Ant reflected that the awards are 'really good for British music' and enjoyable for nominees, despite their own loss.
Overall, Ant and Dec's insights shed light on the behind-the-scenes challenges of hosting a major awards show, blending humor with candid reflections on their experiences and interactions with high-profile artists like Chris Martin.
