Jack Whitehall to host BRIT awards 2018

Comedian follows Dermot O'Leary and Emma Willis, who hosted the event in 2017

Comedian Jack Whitehall will host the 2018 BRIT Awards (Getty)

Jack Whitehall will host the BRIT Awards for the first time in 2018, it has been announced.

The comedian takes over hosting duties from Dermot O'Leary and Emma Willis, who presented the 2017 ceremony after Michael Buble was unable to attend.

BRIT Awards chairman Jason Iley said Whitehall would being his "enormous enthusiasm, charisma, fun and passion" to the annual music awards show.

The event will be held at London's O2 Arena on 21 February, where the biggest and best pop acts of the year will be celebrated.

Voting opened for panel members on Friday 8 December. Nominations will be announced in January, with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa and Rag 'N' Bone Man expected to feature.

The Critics' Choice award was announced earlier this week: Jorja Smith was named as the 2017 winner and will be presented with the Anish Kapoor-designed trophy at the event next year.

Whitehall became known for starring in sitcoms such as Bad Education and Fresh Meat, for his appearances on TV panel shows, and as a stand-up comedian.

He said he was "thrilled" to take on the role as host, describing the BRIT awards as "the kind of show you dream of hosting as a kid, so I'm really excited to have been asked".

Whitehall's previous hosting credits include the Britannia Awards in Los Angeles and the Royal Variety Performance.