Ant and Dec have disclosed why they have no plans to host the BRIT Awards in the future, mentioning a hint of tension with Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin. The hosting duo, who helmed the ceremony in 2001, 2015, and 2016, described the challenges involved and why they decided to step away from the role.
During their podcast Hanging Out, Ant explained that the atmosphere at the BRITs tends to be lively, with many attendees eager to party, making it difficult to manage the event as hosts. He also noted that artists often promise to give interviews during the show, only to retract those commitments just before going live, complicating the hosting duties.
The Origins of Ant’s Dispute with Chris Martin
Ant specifically called out Coldplay as an example of performers who pull out of interviews last minute. Dec humorously remarked that this behavior marked the
“start of Ant’s beef with Chris Martin.”
Although Ant quickly denied holding any genuine grudge, the episode revealed frustrations faced by the pair while hosting high-profile events.
Regarding future BRITs hosting roles, Ant was clear: when asked if he was returning to host the upcoming BRIT Awards, he replied firmly,
“No, I’m not, are you? Three times. Never again.”
He added a caveat, saying,
“I should never say never, because it’s a weird thing to host.”
Managing the Chaotic Environment of the BRIT Awards
Ant elaborated on the difficulty of balancing the responsibilities during the ceremony. He pointed out that while it’s a fun night for nominees, hosting requires trying to wrangle a crowd that mostly just wants to enjoy themselves and get intoxicated. Meanwhile, attempts to secure interviews with musicians often fall through at the last moment.
As an example, Ant described a situation where Coldplay agreed to a mid-show interview but withdrew minutes before going live:
“Down in the middle of the show Coldplay are going to do an interview with you.”
He continued:
“Great it’s going to be a great show.”
However, shortly before broadcast, they decided that
“Coldplay don’t really want to do an interview before they perform.”
Memorable BRIT Awards Moments Missed by the Presenters
One of the most unforgettable episodes at the BRITs took place during Ant and Dec’s second time hosting in 2015, when Madonna stumbled on stage as her cape caught and pulled her backwards down a set of stairs. Surprisingly, the duo missed witnessing the incident live. Dec recalled the feeling of relief at reaching the end of the show, comparing it to landing a turbulent plane successfully.
He explained,
“We had to hit the Madonna link on zero… We filled a bit of time and then we’re going,
Here to close the show, it’s Madonna.
”
Ant added,
“And we say Madonna on zero. And we turn to each other, we’re like Yes, we’ve landed this plane.”
Dec described their celebratory moment backstage with champagne in hand:
“We turn each other. We fist bump like that. Somebody came over, handed us a glass of champagne each. We went Yes, we did it.”
But shortly after, watching the news revealed the headline about Madonna’s fall. They were shocked since they hadn’t seen it happen:
“What no she’s not she’s just performing there?”
Ant recalled,
“Do you remember? It was the famous bit where they pulled the cape, and the cape was stuck on her and it was meant to come off in one backwards, and she tumbled me backwards down the stairs. It was that year, but we missed it all.”
Past BRITs Nominations and Insights on British Music
Beyond hosting, Ant and Dec also have a history of BRIT nominations, dating back to the 1990s when they competed against Oasis. Ant called the BRIT Awards “really good for British music,” highlighting the excitement of attending as nominees rather than hosts.
Dec recalled their nomination for Best Newcomer in 1994, noting the irony of losing to a now-iconic band:
“You probably never heard of them again,”
to which Ant replied,
“They were a band from Manchester called Oasis.”
Dec joked,
“Yeah, they won Best Newcomer that year. I don’t think they achieved much. They didn’t do anything.”
Ant added humorously,
“If they’d stuck at it they could have been big.”
The Impact of Their Decision and What It Means for Future BRITs
Ant and Dec’s decision to step back from hosting the BRIT Awards highlights the complexities behind managing such a high-profile live event, balancing entertainment and professionalism amid a party-heavy crowd. Their anecdote involving Coldplay underscores the unpredictable nature of celebrity commitments during live shows and hints at challenges hosts face beyond the spotlight.
Their absence might lead to new hosts taking on the ceremony with fresh approaches, while their candid reflections emphasize the demanding nature of live television and the BRIT Awards’ unique atmosphere.
