The comedian returned to host the annual awards show at the Co-Op Live arena,<\/a> having previously fronted the ceremony when it was held at the O2 Arena in London.<\/p>\n Some accused the privately educated Whitehall <\/a>of classism, as he made jokes about drug use in Manchester as well as making digs at people from Preston, while also mocking a man in the audience for his suit, which he suggested was not Prada but rather \u201c100 per cent polyester\u201d.<\/p>\n He also suggested that Manchester\u2019s idea of black tie was the brand Stone Island, known for its casualwear.<\/p>\n \u201cCan Jack Whitehall make a joke that isn\u2019t classist god,\u201d one viewer shared. <\/p>\n Another said: \u201cJack Whitehall try and not make a joke at the expense of working-class Mancunians challenge (level impossible).\u201d<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Jack Whitehall made a number of gags about Manchester during his sixth stint hosting the Brit Awards (ITV)<\/p>\n \u201cSick of Jack Whitehall coming out with all these poor Manchester tropes,\u201d another viewer posted on X. \u201cIt\u2019s classless classism.\u201d<\/p>\n One viewer said: \u201cGet Jack Whitehall off my screen with his weird and bizarre classist Manchester jokes. Rich southern t***.\u201d<\/p>\n The Independent has contacted Whitehall\u2019s representative for comment.<\/p>\n Whitehall faced similar accusations when he hosted last year\u2019s ceremony from singer Becky Hill, after he referred to her as \u201cthe Wetherspoons Whitney\u201d. <\/p>\n Hill, who is from Bewdley in Worcestershire, responded by pointing out that many of the stars at the Brits, such as Charli XCX, The Last Dinner Party and Whitehall himself, come from privately educated backgrounds.<\/p>\n \u201cCongratulations to [this year\u2019s Brits winners for] showing that people from ordinary backgrounds can reach the top in pop music, that most egalitarian of art forms. And all presented by Jack Whitehall,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Becky Hill, who is from Bewdley in Worcestershire, criticised Jack Whitehall in 2025 for calling her \u2018the Wetherspoons Whitney\u2019 (AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Elsewhere during Saturday\u2019s ceremony, Whitehall took a took a swipe at the Baftas row <\/a>involving Tourette\u2019s campaigner John Davidson <\/a>while presenting the 2026 Brit Awards<\/a>.<\/p>\n During the event, which is broadcast by ITV, Whitehall assured fans that any swearing would be handled by \u201cthe best in the business on the bleep button tonight\u2026 it\u2019s the guy who did the Baftas<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n The BBC<\/a> is currently conducting an investigation into the incident last week in which Davidson, whose life inspired the film I Swear,<\/a> was heard involuntarily shouting a racial slur while Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented an award. <\/p>\n While host Alan Cumming had explained to the audience that \u201ca person with Tourette syndrome\u201d was in the crowd and that he had \u201cno control over his language\u201d, the racial slur was not edited out of the show when it was broadcast on a delay later that evening.<\/p>\n A BBC spokesperson said on Wednesday 25 February: \u201cThe BBC has been reviewing what happened at Bafta on Sunday evening.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was a serious mistake and the director-general has instructed the Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) to complete a fast-tracked investigation and provide a full response to complainants.\u201d<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n John Davidson involuntarily shouted a racial slur during the Baftas (Getty Images)<\/p>\n In his opening segment, Whitehall referred to singer-songwriter Alex Warren as \u201cEd Sheeran if you ordered him on Temu\u201d and producer Mark Ronson as \u201cNick Grimshaw if he learnt to use GarageBand\u201d. <\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Jack Whitehall received a mixed response to his presenting at the 2026 Brit Awards (Getty Images)<\/p>\n Others suggested that Whitehall\u2019s gags about being obsessed with Harry Styles,<\/a> which formed the subject of a number of filmed skits at the ceremony, had grown tired.<\/p>\n![\"Jack](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jack-Whitehall.jpg\")
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<\/p>\n![\"Jack](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2244815369.jpg\")
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