Baftas 2019: Joanna Lumley returning to host film awards ceremony

The awards ceremony will take place on the 10 February

Joanna Lumley will return to host the Baftas for a second time.

The Absolutely Fabulous actor took over from Stephen Fry last year, and was the first female host since Mariella Frostrup co-presented the ceremony with Fry in 2001.

Director of awards at Bafta, Emma Baehr, said: “We’re thrilled that Joanna has agreed to return as our host for a second year, she was fantastic and we’re looking forward to the ceremony with her once again at the helm.”

The awards ceremony will take place on the 10 February at the Royal Albert Hall and will be broadcast on BBC One.

Cirque de Soleil are set to perform for the third year running, with Daniel Lamarre, President of the entertainment group, saying: “It is with great honor that we will be a part of the Bafta ceremony for the third consecutive year.

“Film, with all of its fascinating facets, continually nourishes and inspires us, and we are thrilled to help celebrate British and international artists from around the world at this year’s Bafta Awards.”

The nominees for EE Rising Star will be announced tomorrow, 3 January, while the full list of the nominations for will be announced on 9 January.