Comedian Mark Watson Confirmed as Host of 2019 Lovie Awards

The Lovie Awards has announced that award-winning comedian and author Mark Watson will host the eighth annual celebration on Thursday, 15th November 2018 at The British Film Institute, Southbank, London. 

Called “terrifyingly funny” by The Times, Watson is known as the face of BBC Four’s We Need Answers and BBC Radio 4’s Mark Watson Makes The World Substantially Better. He is also known for his award-winning work at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival; and for recent TV appearances, including Taskmaster and Bear Grylls’ Celebrity Island. 

Watson will serve as master of ceremonies at the 8th Annual Lovie Awards, which honours the best of Europe’s Internet culture—from top creative agencies and publishers to brands, cultural and political organisations and individual creators. As host, he will invite Lovie Winners and Special Achievement honourees on stage to deliver a “7 Words of Lovie” acceptance speech: a new tradition this year. This is Watson’s second time hosting The Lovies; he previously hosted the 6th Annual Lovies Awards ceremony.

Nicolas Roope, IADAS Jury Chairman of The Lovie Awards, stated, “We’re proud to have Mark Watson host The Lovie Awards once again following his stellar job in 2016. Mark brings humour and wit—combined with a true understanding of internet culture—that celebrates the European community.”

The 2018 Lovie Award Winners will be announced on 10th October and honoured at a star-studded awards ceremony and celebration at The BFI Southbank in London on 15th November 2018.

The Lovie Awards is presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS), which has over 500 members in the region, a “who’s who” of Europe’s best and brightest in digital. IADAS members include musician Imogen Heap, actor and writer Stephen Fry, “Father of Wi-Fi” Vic Hayes, Yann LeCun (Chief AI Scientist, Facebook), Anna Rafferty (Global Director: Digital Marketing & Digital Studios, BBC Studios), Iain Tait (Executive Creative Director, Wieden + Kennedy London), Mel Exon (CEO, The Sunshine Company), Corinne Vigreux (Co-Founder, TomTom) and Lauren Laverne (DJ & Presenter, Co-Founder, The Pool), among others.

The Lovie Awards is supported by Google for the fifth year running as premiere sponsor, joining the Lovie commitment to shining a spotlight on the European Internet’s best and brightest. Supporting sponsors include WP Engine and The London EDITION.