British singer Beverley Knight and US star Billy Porter will jointly host the 2025 Olivier Awards.
The pair follow 2024 and 2023’s host Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham in presenting the event, which celebrates theatrical productions annually, at the Royal Albert Hall.
Knight is no stranger to the ceremony, having been nominated three times for an Olivier – winning once – and performing during the In Memoriam section during 2019.
She said: “I am so chuffed to be hosting this year’s Olivier Awards. I’m even more excited to be hosting alongside Billy Porter who is a phenomenal talent.
“It is an honour to be asked to hold the reins of such an important and prestigious night of celebrating theatre.”
Cinderella star Porter is an Emmy Award-winner for his role as Pray Tell in Pose, which also earned him three Golden Globe nominations.
Porter has won Tony and Grammy awards, making him just an Oscar shy of the coveted Egot status – bestowed upon those who win the big four entertainment awards for TV, theatre, music and film.
He said: “I am thrilled and honoured to host the Olivier Awards alongside the fantastic Beverley Knight. I’m so grateful for the warm welcome from the London theatre community, and am looking forward to a magnificent evening.”
His first Tony for best actor in a musical came in 2013 for his role as Lola in Kinky Boots, and he won again in 2022 for his producing role on best musical A Strange Loop.
The countdown is on!
There's two months to go until @Beverleyknight and @theebillyporter take to the stage as our iconic hosts of this year's Olivier Awards with @MastercardUK ✨ pic.twitter.com/f9HYsVeWiA
— Olivier Awards (@OlivierAwards) February 6, 2025
Knight received Olivier nods for Memphis The Musical in 2015, and jukebox musical The Drifters Girl in 2022, later winning a best actress in a supporting role in a musical in 2023 for Sylvia – which saw her play the feminist pioneer Emmeline Pankhurst.
Originally from Wolverhampton, the singer has released nine studio albums in total and is regarded as one of Britain’s greatest soul singers, best known for her hit singles Greatest Day, Get Up!, and Shoulda Woulda Coulda.
Last year’s Olivier ceremony saw Succession star Sarah Snook, Sherlock actor Mark Gatiss, The Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger and Dear England playwright James Graham all pick up awards for their work on productions.
The Olivier Awards 2025 take place on April 6.
