The definitive ranking of every Brit Award presenter there's ever been

While we bite our nails in anticipation over the inevitable red carpet fails, hilarious acceptance speeches and explosive performances (Ed Sheeran, George Ezra and Sam Smith are all amongst the stars taking the stage) there’s one thing that easily goes overlooked – the host.

While Ant and Dec are making their welcomed return to the awards ceremony, 14 years after they first fronted the show, the Brit Awards have had their fair share of presenters, some worse (okay, a lot worse) than others.

We’ve taken a look at all the ceremony’s hosts, from the very first show in 1977 until the present day, to establish who did our talented nation proud and who, well, didn’t quite manage to…

22. Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood -1989

This was a car-crash like no other.

Despite glaring at the teleprompter as if they were competing in a staring competition, Mick managed to miss all his autocues (Sam fared no better), the duo rambled over each other, rambled about guests that weren’t even on stage and delivered the worst gags the Brit Awards have ever seen.

21. Frank Skinner and Zoe Ball – 2002

This pair were almost as abysmal as the former two.

Zoe looked like she’d have rather been anywhere but at the show while Frank kicked off the proceedings with a 15 minute monologue – he even joked at one point their performance was “like a homage to Fleetwood and Fox”.

Naturally, it was a complete debacle.

20. Jonathan King, 1987

Spare moment of silence for Jonathan King whose skills as an award presenter are long forgotten.

Who knows why? Perhaps it’s the fact he convicted of child sex offences and no one really has the time of day for him. Let’s move on.

19.The Osbournes – 2008

We all expected the worst from this potty-mouthed family with two outlandish parents and their sullen children.

All seemed to be going quite well until Sharon snapped while a suspiciously sloshed-looking Vic Reeves stumbled on stage to present an award, screeching: “Shut up, you’re pissed. Piss off, you bastard.”

18. Noel Edmonds – 1985, 1986, 1988

We’re not quite sure how he managed to get three Brit presenting roles under his belt…

While there was nothing too dire about Noel’s hosting skills, his stint on Eurovision (not his charm, wit and personable air) was probably what clinched the deal.

17. Simon Bates – 1991, 1992

If you thought Simon Bates’ awkward voice-overs were odd, how about the KLF performance which managed to steal the show (but not in a good way).

The band were set to open the awards but secretly planned a sabotage, teaming up with head banging Extreme Noise Terror with a heavy metal performance.

They ended the spectacle by firing blanks from a machine gun then dumped a dead sheep outside the venue. Eww.

16. Cathy McGowan – 1990

There’s really not much to say about Cathy Gowan’s average hosting skills though one thing everyone was talking about was the last public appearance of Queen’s visibly frail frontman Freddie Mercury.

The band had bagged a Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, but unbeknown to the public Freddie had been suffering from AIDS for a few years…

15. James Corden, Matthew Horne and Kylie Minogue – 2009

This was the first appearance of the nation’s favourite James Corden and while the funnyman carried the show seamlessly with Matthew Horne, the same couldn’t really be said for Kylie.

Perhaps she should stick to singing…

14. Tim Rice – 1983, 1984

While Tim Rice clinched the presenting role for two years and did a mighty fine job of it, the 1984 Brit Awards will be forever remembered as the year Michael Jackson’s thriller won the Album of the Year.

13. David Jacobs – 1982

Being a Top of the Pops presenter and a Eurovision voice-over, David Jacobs obviously knew a thing or two about the music industry.

And it shone through in his debonair presenting in what was just the beginning of the Brits as we know it today – it was also the year Soft Cell won Best Single for Tainted Love.

12. Johnny Vaughan – 1999

The radio personality sure brought a whole lot of character to the last show of the 90s.

Despite his computer containing the awards schedule, scripts and list of winners having been stolen days before the awards, Johnny managed to pull it off without a hitch – though there was that controversy surrounding the award indie band Belle & Sebastian bagged.

11. Russell Brand – 2007

Russell Brand, the hit and miss kind of guy, lived up to his reputation spouting a stream of risque quips including the Queen’s “naughty bits”.

While many thought the comedian was distasteful, an equal amount thought he injected just the right amount of energy back into the awards and Russell’s antics managed to pull in an impressive number of viewers.

10. Peter Kay – 2010

Peter Kay pretty much performed as is written on his tin, but if there was one thing that won it for us, it was definitely this.

After Oasis were announced the winners of Best Album of the last 30 Years for (What’s the Story) Morning Glory, Liam Gallagher made a surprise appearance on stage to collect the award.

Thanking everyone BUT his brother Noel, temperamental Liam then handed his award to a fan before hurling his microphone into the crowd.

Peter Kay responded with the wonderful words we were all thinking: “What a knobhead.”

9. Chris Evans – 1995, 1996, 2005, 2006

Chris Evans has made four hilarious stints at the Brit Awards, 11 years apart – he must be doing something right!

The host was full of energy and kept his cool dealing with some of THE most controversial Brit Award moments.

From Jarvis Cocker’s Michael Jackson moon to Oasis and Blur’s heated feud, Chris has taken it all in his stride with an infectious smile.

8. Elton John and RuPaul – 1994

Their performance of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart was quite the spectacle and let’s not forget this was the year The Lion King was released and with that, Elton’s superb soundtrack. So, extra points for that.

7. Davina McCall – 2000, 2003

Of the few females to grace the Brit Awards stage, Davina McCall was a huge breath of fresh air after the likes of Zoe Ball and Samantha Fox.

She earns a whole lotta respect for keeping her cool during that infamous Robbie Williams v Gallagher brothers fiasco in which the former, who had won Best British Single and Best Video for She’s the One, challenged the Gallagher brother to a fist fight.

This wonder woman also remained calm after DJ Brandon Block staggered on to the stage to grab an award (that wasn’t for him) from a bemused Ronnie Wood after being persuaded by his friends it had his name on it.

6. Ben Elton – 1997, 1998

It was the late 90s and all stand-up comedian Ben Elton wanted was for everyone to be jolly, awww.

And a jolly couple of years it was, at the height of the Spice Girls and that Union Jack dress.

5. Michael Aspel – 1977

The original Brit Award host (then known as the BPI Awards) launched the ceremony as part of the commemoration for Queen’s Silver Jubilee.

It wasn’t until a couple of years later the show became an annual thing and you can all thank Michael’s charms for setting the bar so high.

4. Cat Deeley – 2004

How can we forget Cat Deeley and her saucy entrance straddling a champagne bottle.

The nation’s sweetheart Brummie carried out the show as we’d only hoped Sam Fox (and Zoe Ball) could’ve done but there was a part of us wishing she’d have teamed up with Ant and Dec to emulate those SM:TV Live days…

3. Richard O’Brien – 1993

There was no doubt Richard O’Brien kept the audience plastered with perma-grins and his undeniable wit and charm.

“This is the most exciting night of my life,” he gushed.

“Well, second most exciting. The first was a bus shelter in Bournemouth.”

2. Ant and Dec – 2001

This Geordie duo can do no wrong and why it took 14 years to get them back on the Brits, we’ll never know.

The highlight of the show was when Ant rhymed “Sonique” (who was performing her hit on stage) with, erm, “unique”.

Poet and he didn’t even know it.

1. James Corden – 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

James Corden proved to be the most valuable of the earlier trio of hosts and returned to the Brits for an intense four-year string.

His jokes may not have been a hit with many (especially when he attacked Justin Bieber, albeit playfully) but there’s no denying this comedian kept spirits up at the ceremony – especially with his entertaining bantz with Adele.