Baftas host Richard E Grant takes aim at A-list actors including jab at Will Smith’s Oscars slap
RICHARD E. Grant used his Bafta presenting debut to make a series of withering put-downs — mostly at his own expense.
The star of classic cult comedy Withnail and I took a swipe at Will Smith hitting Chris Rock at last year’s Oscars.
Richard got his biggest laugh when he insisted: “Nobody on my watch gets slapped tonight.”
And he told the star-studded audience at London’s Royal Festival Hall: “I know how difficult it is to get into this room.
"Looking around at all these famous faces, just remember everyone here started with one lucky break.
"I got mine because another performer passed on the role.
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“My part in Withnail and I was turned down by a young actor called Daniel Day Lewis.
“A real Sliding Doors moment because tonight here I am hosting the Baftas — while, in the last ten years, Daniel has only been in two films . . .”
At the start of the show, screened on BBC1, Richard — in a white jacket — was shown asking for advice on a Zoom call with American funnyman Steve Martin.
Steve was heard telling him: “Over years of hosting awards shows I have narrowed it down to 1,000 steps.
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“Do not wear white. Don’t pick a fight with Judi Dench — she will beat the crap out of you.
“Do not invest in Dame Helen Mirren’s crypto currency — she is a scammer.”
Steve’s final piece of advice saw him tell Richard to arrive in the Batmobile.
Sure enough, earlier in the evening Richard was snapped getting out of the muscle car from last year’s Robert Pattinson blockbuster The Batman.
Richard, who was later joined on stage by co-host Alison Hammond from ITV’S This Morning, told the audience: “Why did I take this gig?
“Firstly it is a true privilege to host such a prestigious event.
“And secondly, with so many blinking industry players in one place, it’s a great opportunity to land some acting work.”
The 65-year-old added: “Here’s my résumé — erm, I’m a bit shaky.
"Name? Richard E. Grant. Acting age range? 30 to 50, with a touch of deepfaking.”
He went on: “Like every other actor here tonight I can 100 per cent ride a horse and wrangle a donkey.
"Accents? Cockney gangster, French.”
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Later Richard, whose wife Joan Washington died in 2021, welled up during the “In Memoriam” section.
He was seen off screen wiping his eyes at tributes to late stars including Dame Angela Lansbury, Robbie Coltrane, Olivia Newton John and Raquel Welch, as well as composer Burt Bacharach.
