Jack Whitehall has been criticised for making a number of jokes taking aim at Manchester as the city hosted the Brit Awards for the first time in the ceremony’s history.
The comedian returned to host the annual awards show at the Co-Op Live arena, having previously fronted the ceremony when it was held at the O2 Arena in London.
Some accused the privately educated Whitehall of classism, as he made jokes about drug use in Manchester as well as making digs at people from Preston, while also mocking a man in the audience for his suit, which he suggested was not Prada but rather “100 per cent polyester”.
He also suggested that Manchester’s idea of black tie was the brand Stone Island, known for its casualwear.
“Can Jack Whitehall make a joke that isn’t classist god,” one viewer shared.
Another said: “Jack Whitehall try and not make a joke at the expense of working-class Mancunians challenge (level impossible).”
“Sick of Jack Whitehall coming out with all these poor Manchester tropes,” another viewer posted on X. “It’s classless classism.”
One viewer said: “Get Jack Whitehall off my screen with his weird and bizarre classist Manchester jokes. Rich southern t***.”
The Independent has contacted Whitehall’s representative for comment.
Whitehall faced similar accusations when he hosted last year’s ceremony from singer Becky Hill, after he referred to her as “the Wetherspoons Whitney”.
Hill, who is from Bewdley in Worcestershire, responded by pointing out that many of the stars at the Brits, such as Charli XCX, The Last Dinner Party and Whitehall himself, come from privately educated backgrounds.
“Congratulations to [this year’s Brits winners for] showing that people from ordinary backgrounds can reach the top in pop music, that most egalitarian of art forms. And all presented by Jack Whitehall,” she said.
Elsewhere during Saturday’s ceremony, Whitehall took a took a swipe at the Baftas row involving Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson while presenting the 2026 Brit Awards.
During the event, which is broadcast by ITV, Whitehall assured fans that any swearing would be handled by “the best in the business on the bleep button tonight… it’s the guy who did the Baftas”.
The BBC is currently conducting an investigation into the incident last week in which Davidson, whose life inspired the film I Swear, was heard involuntarily shouting a racial slur while Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented an award.
While host Alan Cumming had explained to the audience that “a person with Tourette syndrome” was in the crowd and that he had “no control over his language”, the racial slur was not edited out of the show when it was broadcast on a delay later that evening.
A BBC spokesperson said on Wednesday 25 February: “The BBC has been reviewing what happened at Bafta on Sunday evening.
“This was a serious mistake and the director-general has instructed the Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) to complete a fast-tracked investigation and provide a full response to complainants.”
In his opening segment, Whitehall referred to singer-songwriter Alex Warren as “Ed Sheeran if you ordered him on Temu” and producer Mark Ronson as “Nick Grimshaw if he learnt to use GarageBand”.
Others suggested that Whitehall’s gags about being obsessed with Harry Styles, which formed the subject of a number of filmed skits at the ceremony, had grown tired.
Meanwhile, an apparent joke about Peter Mandelson was censored by ITV as the comedian stopped to say hello to Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and culture secretary Lisa Nandy.
Fans were left scratching their heads as the sound cut out while Whitehall was observing who else was sitting at the “politicians’ table”.
He apparently said: “I think I saw Peter Mandelson on the list. Oh wait, that was another list...”
The Brit Awards were held this year in Manchester at the Co-Op Live arena, marking the first time the ceremony has been held outside of London.
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