'You can't say no' – Greg Davies on hosting BAFTA TV awards - RTE
Comedian and actor Greg Davies has said he could not say no to hosting the BAFTA TV awards.
www.rte.ieHere’s the latest on Greg Davies and the BAFTA opening monologue.
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Greg Davies hosted the BAFTA TV Awards in May 2026. He indicated in interviews that taking the hosting job was an opportunity he couldn’t turn down, and he expected his opening monologue to be light and unlikely to provoke controversy. This aligns with early reporting that framed his monologue as a chance to set a playful, accessible tone for the night.[1]
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Coverage from industry outlets praised Davies for marrying self-deprecation with timely references and for engaging the audience with relatable humor, including his opening lines that touched on the evolving nature of TV and the place of “proper telly” in a digital era. A subsequent piece highlighted how the monologue handled contemporary topics (AI, reality TV) with Davies’s characteristic edge while aiming to keep the mood upbeat.[3]
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Viewers’ reaction to the opening varied: some fans and outlets noted strong, on-brand command of the moment and praised Davies’s delivery, while others criticized early sketches or technical aspects of the broadcast. Reports described a mixed reception in real-time social media and on-viewer commentary, with support for Davies’s performance but some critique of the opener’s pace and sketches. This mirrors typical live-television chatter where standout moments are celebrated even as early segments draw mixed reactions.[4]
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For context, prior BAFTA-related clips show Davies delivering sharp, well-timed humor in similar settings, and recent coverage emphasizes his proficiency in balancing roast-style humor with warmth and approachability on stage. These patterns suggest a style that aims to entertain without alienating portions of the audience.[5][7]
If you’d like, I can pull together a quick, shareable summary of the opening monologue’s key jokes and the audience reception as seen in the major outlets, or compare Davies’s BAFTA opening to previous hosts’ openings. I can also search for fresh reactions or clips if you want the most up-to-the-minute take.