Irish comedian Dara O’Briain is set to host this year’s GAME British Academy Video Games Awards.

As well as being a popular stand up comic, O’Briain has presented a number of TV shows including Live At The Apollo and Mock The Week. He is also a graduate of Dublin’s University College, where he studied Maths and Theoretical Physics.

"I am delighted to be hosting this year's BAFTA Video Games Awards,” said O’Briain.

“As a gamer all my life I can recognise a Golden Age when I'm living in one, and this is probably the greatest era in video game history. These are massive, magical, wondrous worlds created for us to play in; cutting edge technology being made to fly by the most imaginative minds working today. It's only right that BAFTA acknowledge the work of an industry that now attracts the greatest creative talent. And only right that BAFTA send me a copy of everything to play first, so that I look like I know what I'm talking about. Thumbs at the ready!"

Academy chairman David Parfitt added: “We are thrilled that Dara is hosting the Awards this year because he ticks all the boxes - he is a real gamer and also incredibly funny. It will be a great night with Dara at the helm!”