David Tennant reckons this weekend's Bafta film awards will be an "evening of generosity and joy" rather than stars being roasted when he hosts the event.
The Scottish actor, 52, will be helming the star-studded ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall in London's Southbank Centre on Sunday, where Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy, will be leading the pack with 13 nominations.
Ahead of the ceremony, he told the PA news agency: "There are some wonderful famous examples, of course, of people making terribly near-the-knuckle comments and some very funny things that we’ve all enjoyed in previous awards ceremonies, that’s not probably my style anyway, and I know that’s not what Bafta are going for.
"We want to have an evening that’s a celebration and that won’t make people feel uncomfortable and won’t have people being roasted in any way, so it will hopefully be an evening of generosity and joy and a love for this industry that is one of the great success stories of this country.
"We’re very good at the arts. There’s lots of things that we we struggle with, but the arts is something that remains one of Britain’s greatest exports, so let’s celebrate it and enjoy that and trumpet it to the world."
Tennant admitted he felt a bit "bewildered" when he was first asked to host, but then thought: "What a laugh, what a lark."
"It just felt like an honour and a privilege to be asked to do something so august", he added.
"It’s just nice to be on that side of it. It’s obviously thrilling for everyone who’s nominated and there’s so many exciting films to be celebrating, but also that’s pretty nerve-racking, I just have to stand up."
Tennant, who has also starred in crime drama Broadchurch and fantasy comedy Good Omens, has previously presented as part of Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day line-up.
He said hosting not being his normal day job has taken some pressure off of him, adding: "I sort of don’t have anything to prove, because this isn’t really what I do.
"It’ll either work and everyone will be terribly nice about it or it’ll be a total disaster and I’ll never be asked again. Either way - it’s fine."
The actor revealed he was feeling "pretty relaxed" ahead of the show but thinks the prospect of it will become more "nerve-racking" in the lead-up to the big night.
The EE Bafta film awards will be held at the Royal Festival Hall on February 18 and broadcast on BBC One.
Source: Press Association
