Jack Whitehall's Royal Joke at BRITs Delights Audience Amid Andrew Controversy
Comedian Jack Whitehall, 37, made a triumphant return to host the BRIT Awards for the first time since 2021, delivering a series of sharp jokes that captivated the live audience at Manchester's Co-Op Arena. His performance included pointed humour about the awards show's relocation to Manchester, the recent BAFTAs controversy, and political figures, but it was a quip about disgraced former prince Andrew that particularly resonated with the crowd.
Royal Line of Succession Humour Sparks Applause
As Whitehall introduced musician James Blunt and Love Island host Maya Jama to present the Artist of the Year award, he described Blunt as 'the only man posher than me at the BRITs'. He then delivered the punchline, quipping that James 'was about 30th in line to the throne... might be 29th soon', a clear reference to ongoing calls for Andrew to be removed from the line of succession. The audience responded with enthusiastic applause before Jama and Blunt announced Olivia Dean as the winner in that category.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 on the day of his arrest, is facing serious allegations that he sent confidential government documents to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as a trade envoy from 2001 to 2011. Emails released by the US Department of Justice in January appear to show him sharing reports of official visits with Epstein. Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein and publicly expressed regret over their friendship, but his ties to the sex offender led him to step down from royal duties and lose his royal patronages in January 2022.
Censored Joke About Peter Mandelson
Whitehall also targeted disgraced former Labour grandee Peter Mandelson, who was arrested last week on allegations of leaking sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary. While speaking to Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, Whitehall joked that the BRITs is 'the only party Andy is allowed into these days', mocking Prime Minister Keir Starmer's block on Burnham running as an MP for Labour. He then referenced Mandelson's name in the Epstein Files, saying, 'I think I saw Peter Mandelson on the list, oh no, sorry that's another list!'
However, this joke was censored during the live ITV broadcast, with viewers at home hearing bird noise over Whitehall's comments. Despite being cut from television, the quip was shared on the BRIT Awards' official Instagram account, allowing it to reach a wider audience online.
Mixed Reactions to Manchester Humour
Whitehall's witty one-liners initially went down well, but as the night progressed, some viewers at home criticised him for 'punching down on Manchester'. He addressed the BRITs moving to Manchester by calling the city the 'G spot of the North' and joked about Oasis reuniting as cameras focused on Noel Gallagher in the arena. The comedian also quipped that it had been a 'great year for Manchester's drug dealers', prompting laughter from Gallagher, 58.
In another apparent swipe, Whitehall said the city's idea of black tie was the fashion brand Stone Island, known for its casualwear. Some X users later accused him of making 'classist' jokes, while others noted the irony of a Mancunian—Whitehall studied at the University of Manchester and credits the city for shaping his early comedy career—hosting the awards and then 'proceeding to sh** on Manchester all night'.
Viewing Figures and Hosting History
This marked Whitehall's sixth time presenting the BRIT Awards, having previously hosted in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2025. He stepped away in 2022 when Mo Gilligan took over for two ceremonies, and Maya Jama, Roman Kemp, and Clara Amfo co-hosted together in 2024. It was his first time presenting in Manchester, adding a personal touch to the event.
Despite the buzz, Saturday's show saw BRITs viewing figures drop to their lowest ever, with the biggest awards ceremony in British music drawing only 2.1 million viewers. This represents a drop of over one million since the event was moved to a coveted Saturday night slot in 2023. However, these figures do not include ITVX streaming or access via YouTube. In 2024 and 2025, the show averaged around 2.5 million viewers, which is still 400,000 more than last night's broadcast.
