Elz the Witch on BAFTAs
Elz the Witch will co‑host the BAFTA Games Awards and told Radio Times she’s focused on visibility for women in games, saying “we’re here to stay.” (radiotimes.com). Her presence is a reminder festivals are using diverse hosts to signal industry shifts as awards move from nominee season into event week. (radiotimes.com).
A YouTube creator is stepping onto one of games’ most formal stages next week. BAFTA said Elz will host the 2026 BAFTA Games Awards on Friday, April 17, at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London’s Southbank Centre. (bafta.org) Elz built her audience online, not through television or stand-up comedy. BAFTA’s own announcement described her as a “digital powerhouse” with a following that reaches millions through YouTube and other social platforms. (bafta.org) That makes this host choice different from the last two years. Radio Times reported that comedian Phil Wang had fronted the ceremony for two straight editions before BAFTA switched to Elz for 2026. (radiotimes.com) Elz told Radio Times she sees the job as bigger than reading names off envelopes. In that interview, she said she wants women in games to be “visible” and added, “we’re here to stay.” (radiotimes.com) She gave a similar message to BBC Newsbeat before the ceremony. Newsbeat reported that Elz said she felt “tremendously proud” to represent women in gaming as the show’s host. (yahoo.com) The timing matters because the BAFTA Games Awards are already in motion, not months away. BAFTA announced the 2026 nominations on March 12, with 42 games nominated across 17 categories before the winners are revealed on April 17. (bafta.org) This is also not a side event tucked away from the rest of the calendar. BAFTA says the ceremony is part of London Games Festival, which runs from April 13 to April 19 across the capital. (bafta.org) Awards shows usually signal what kind of industry they think they are by who gets the microphone. By picking a creator who came up through gaming videos and live online audiences, BAFTA is putting the culture around games onstage alongside the developers being honored. (bafta.org)
