Joanna Lumley leaves BAFTAs audience in hysterics with pre-show skit featuring Hugh Grant... as her presenting debut wins high praise from fans and former host Stephen Fry
This year Stephen Fry announced he was stepping down after hosting the BAFTAs for 12 years.
Joanna Lumley, 71, took over hosting duties from Stephen Fry on Sunday night, stepping into his shoes as presenter for the BAFTAs 2018.
And the Absolutely Fabulous star's appearance went down a storm, with her opening skit leaving the audience in hysterics and viewers, as well as Fry, taking to Twitter to praise her performance.
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National treasure: Joanna Lumley, 71, took over hosting duties from Stephen Fry on Sunday night, stepping into his shoes as presenter for the BAFTAs 2018
Joanna Lumley immediately had the audience eating from the palm of her hand as she took part in a pre-show skit, leaving the celeb-packed audience in hysterics.
In the routine, Lumley was seen in her living room, making calls to people to tell them she was going to be hosting this year's awards.
As she chatted on the phone, she was inter-cut with snippets from a variety of the nominated movies, featuring scenes with seemingly angry actors on the phone.
The likes of Hugh Grant, Timothée Chalamet, Woody Harrelson and Gary Oldman appeared in clips from their various films [Paddington 2, Call Me By Your Name, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and Darkest Hour respectively].
A natural! The Absolutely Fabulous star's appearance went down a storm, with her opening skit leaving the audience in hysterics and viewers taking to Twitter to praise her performance
One snippet saw Joanna call who she thought was Woody, asking him to join her at the BAFTAs.
But to her shock she was greeted by him, seemingly calling her an 'a**hole' and telling her he was in the middle of a film- a snippet from his film.
The clip evoked much laughter from the audience, before viewers flocked to Twitter to praise her performance.
'Joanna Lumley smashed it tonight; class, humour, humility. Long reign lumley hosting the #BAFTAs', one viewer wrote.
Lady of the evening: 'Here we go,' Lumley said before stepping onto the stage to rapturous applause
Joanna Lumley immediately had the audience eating from the palm of her hand as she took part in a pre-show skit, leaving the celeb-packed audience in hysterics
Another added: 'Fantastic choice of Joanna Lumley to present #EEBAFTAs this year, perfect replacement for Stephen Fry he did a great job'.
And fans appeared happy with the choice of replacement for Stephen, writing: 'Well this years #BAFTAs were great - @JoannaLumley done brilliantly @stephenfry will be proud @BAFTA'.
'An oddly paced #BAFTAs but Joanna Lumley should 100% return next year,' another wrote, while on fan added: 'Absolutely loved #EEBAFTAs this evening Joanna Lumley did a fabulous job as always absolutely smashed it I knew she would. Well done sweetie darling x'.
'Joanna Lumley smashed it tonight; class, humour, humility. Long reign lumley hosting the #BAFTAs': Viewers flocked to Twitter to praise her performance
Great chemistry! Joanna made Jennifer Lawrence blush when she called her 'one of the hottest actresses out there'
And one fan praised Joanna for not 'stealing the limelight', tweeting: 'Have Joanna Lumley present the #BAFTAs hence forth! Very professional, no cringe worthy moments and no constant reference to one's sexuality!! Let everyone else shine!'
Even Stephen Fry took to Twitter to praise his friend, after bowing out of hosting duties this year.
The Brit legend told fans he caught up on the broadcast on Monday morning, tweeting: 'Finally caught up with recording of last nights #BAFTAs – brava bravissima @JoannaLumley – wonderful & charming, you owned the evening xxx'
High praise: Even Stephen Fry took to Twitter to praise his friend, after bowing out of hosting duties this year
Joanna Lumley launched the Baftas with a nod to the suffragettes, in an opening speech laced with her characteristic gags.
The Bafta host's opening speech praised the 'dogged determination' of the suffragettes, and the 'powerful Time's Up movement, and with it, the determination to eradicate the abuse of women all over the world'.
She also pointed out that the 'ravishing' Royal Albert Hall, home to this year's event, was 'bursting at the seams with history' as the very place which hosted 'the first group of British women being given the vote' 100 years ago.
Showmanship: A performance from Cirque du Soleil followed after she opened the show with a nod to the Suffragettes
A Royal delight! Joanna was even joined by Prince William on stage at the much anticipated awards
A performance from Cirque du Soleil followed afterwards, which saw backstage, applying her lipstick, looking at her reflection in the iconic bronze BAFTA statuettes that are handed out to the eventual winners.
'Here we go,' Lumley said before stepping onto the stage to rapturous applause.
When Joanna was confirmed as BAFTA presenter, Lumley said: 'Honestly how exciting is this? It's just so unbelievably thrilling. I always looked at the BAFTA Awards with Stephen Fry there forever more, so who thought I'd turn into Stephen Fry? I said yes indecently quickly. Thank you, thank you, I'll see you on the night.
A list affair! Joanna Lumley, Frances McDormand and Sir Ridley posed together as he won an Academy Fellowship Award
Humerous: Joanna was a natural in front of the cameras as she larked about with Bryan Cranston
After stepping down from his coveted position, Fry- who presented the Awards from 2001 to 2006 and again from 2012 to 2017, said: 'Every one of the 12 BAFTA film award ceremonies that I had the privilege of hosting has a place in my memory.
'The mixture of glamour, glory, drama and - occasionally - embarrassment and hiccup holds a unique place in the British film calendar.
'Over the last two decades I have especially loved watching the emergence of new young film talent behind and in front of the camera. But after so long a time I felt it only right to stand down and let others take the Baftas on to new heights and greater glories.
'I want to thank all the production staff, Amanda Berry and her wonderful Bafta colleagues, the BBC and all those who helped make every year so enjoyable.
'I reserve especial gratitude and imagination for Ivor Baddiel and Phil Kerr, whose work on the scripts was so skillful it made people think I'd written every line myself.
'What fun it will be to watch BAFTA 2018 without my heart hammering, mouth drying and knees trembling.'
Rubbing shoulders! A lister Hugh Grant, seen with his 'pregnant' partner at the event, also appeared in the hilarious openeing skit
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