BRITs host Jack Whitehall is criticised for ‘punching down at Manchester’ as viewers grow tired of his ‘painful posh boy schtick’ and beg for a change of presenter next year

Jack Whitehall was criticized for “punching Manchester” at this year’s BRIT Awards as viewers reacted to his “painful cool-boy joke”.

The 37-year-old comedian hosted the ceremony, which marked the awards’ first year outside London, at Manchester Co-op Live Arena.

While Jack seemed to catch fire with his one-liners at the start of the show, audience praise quickly turned to criticism.

He was accused of making digs at the working class during the ceremony and of playing a prank on an audience set that the funnyman claimed was made of low-quality material.

Jack also touched on the BRITs moving to Manchester, describing the city as the ‘G spot of the North’, as well as Oasis reuniting as cameras focused on Noel Gallagher in the arena.

The comedian joked that it was a “great year for Manchester’s drug dealers” before Noel, 58, burst out laughing.

Jack was accused of making digs at the working class throughout the night and making a joke about an audience member’s suit, which he claimed was made of poor quality materials.

In another obvious move, Jack said the city’s idea of ​​black tie is Stone Island, a fashion brand known for its casual wear.

Angry viewers flooded social media, with one writing: ‘Jack Whitehall was hired to host the Brits because of his connection to Manchester and then proceeded to fuck Manchester all night. Right’;

‘Please make this the year Jack Whitehall hosts the #BRITs’; ‘Please get rid of the IRRESSIBLE Jack Whitehall next year’;

‘Can Jack Whitehall make a joke that isn’t a class god?’; ‘Jack Whitehall tries not to joke at the expense of working-class Mancunians (impossible level)’;

‘At what point in tonight’s @BRITAwards does @jackwhitehall get funny? Comedy shouldn’t be painful, and Whitehall’s flamboyant child slapstick is tediously dull and makes an already long evening even more interminable;

‘I’m sick of Jack Whitehall coming out with all these poor Manchester tropes’; ‘Get Jack Whitehall off my screen with his weird and outrageous classist Manchester jokes. Rich southerner ****

Also during the show, ITV bosses were forced to censor Jack after he joked about former Labor deputy leader Peter Mandelson.

The disgraced former minister was arrested last week as part of an investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office, following allegations that he leaked sensitive information to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein during his time as business secretary.

During the ceremony at Manchester Co-Op Arena, Jack appeared to make a reference to Mandelson while speaking to Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.

Happy Monday stars Shaun Ryder and Bez presented this year’s Group of the Year gong – but even the legends weren’t safe from Jack’s pranks

During the ceremony at Manchester Co-Op Arena, Jack appeared to make a reference to Mandelson while speaking to Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.

However, the joke failed to pass ITV censors when viewers watching the ceremony at home heard birds chirping at Jack’s comments.

Jack joked that the BRITs were ‘the only party Andy is allowed into these days’ and mocked the fact that Sir Keir Starmer prevented Andy from becoming a Labor MP.

Referring to Mandelson’s name in the so-called Epstein Files, Jack said: ‘I think I saw Peter Mandelson on the list, oh no sorry that’s another list!’

At the start of the ceremony, Jack took a look back at this year’s Bafta Film Awards and told viewers the BRITs had ‘the best in the business’ on the show’s bleep button – joking that it was the same person who ran the ceremony under fire last Sunday.

He said: ‘We’ve got the best in the business here tonight. [for bleeping swear words]’We’ve got a guy from BAFTA.’

Jack was referring to Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson being heard shouting as black Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the special visual effects award at last week’s ceremony.

Meanwhile, as Harry Styles left the stage, Jack sent the audience into hysterics by comparing watching the Watermelon Sugar singer’s performance to sitting in front of a washing machine for three minutes.

Robbie Williams was also in the firing line when he took to the stage to deliver Song of the Year and Jack couldn’t resist a swipe, telling the packed arena how the hitmaker had ‘more of a comeback than a hairline’.

Happy Monday stars Shaun Ryder and Bez presented this year’s Group of the Year gong; But not even the legends were safe from Jack’s pranks.

Whitehall told the arena how the couple had ‘grown old like gas station flowers’ and assumed they were part of the ‘monument’ VT.

The Bad Education star wore a stylish black tie dress as she approached the leggy model, who looked dazzling in a chic mini dress.

Before Blackpink superstar Rosé and Bruno Mars picked up International Song of the Year for their hit APT, Jack couldn’t help but remark about how the category was “corrupted by the fact that Americans can’t be armed”, flying to the UK to pick up the gong.

In another dig at the Baftas, Jack revealed how they also invited Paddington Bear to their ceremony, before the cameras took a wider angle to show the iconic bear drunk under the table.

The Beckhams’ public feud was also brought up later in the evening when Mark Ronson’s set was introduced by host Jack.

“Get ready to rock like Victoria Beckham for the first dance,” he told the audience; This was a nod to Brooklyn’s harsh statement during his wedding to Nicola Peltz, in which he accused his mother of “dancing inappropriately.”

Before Jack’s ‘classist’ comments, viewers had praised him at the start of the show, with one posting: ‘And the BRIT Prize 2026……Jack goes to Whitehall’;

‘Jack never misses an award ceremony’; ‘Jack Whitehall absolutely nails presenting with his perfectly timed dig at BAFTA’s blood-curdling drama’;

‘Two seconds left on the stage and Jack Whitehall has already called Manchester the ‘G Spot of the North’ and declared Noel Gallagher ‘Manchester’s last boss’.