How To Choose An Event Host, And 10 Who Do It Well

Choosing an event host is the decision that quietly determines how the day feels. A good host holds the running order together, recovers a room after a technical failure, and makes every other speaker look better. A weak one turns the agenda into a series of unconnected sessions.

What should you look for in an event host?

Look for live experience, subject familiarity and the ability to improvise. A host who has worked live television or radio has recovered from things going wrong on air, which is the skill that matters when your keynote's laptop dies. Recognition helps, and composure matters more.

Subject familiarity is the second filter. A host who understands your sector can follow up on a panel answer rather than moving politely to the next question, and that difference is obvious to an audience. It is usually worth choosing the broadcaster who knows the field over the bigger name who does not. Our journalist speakers roundup covers correspondents who chair as well as speak.

Five hosts here work across a full agenda, followed by five more with strong specialist backgrounds. Our lists of conference hosts, chairs and facilitators and award ceremony hosts cover more options.

Mark Durden-Smith

Book Mark for

A full-day corporate agenda held together by an experienced television host.

Mark Durden-Smith is an award-winning broadcaster who has spent years hosting corporate events for global brands including O2, Samsung and Nestlé. Corporate hosting is a discipline of its own, involving client sensitivities, complex run sheets and sponsor obligations, and he has done a great deal of it.

His strength is pace. Mark keeps an agenda moving without making the audience feel rushed, handles the transitions between sessions, and improvises when the schedule slips. He suits conferences, awards evenings and internal events where the day needs a single reliable voice.

Learn more and book Mark Durden-Smith →

Christine Lampard

Book Christine for

A trusted broadcast presence for high-profile conferences and charity evenings.

Christine Lampard anchors for ITV across daytime and primetime, including Loose Women, and hosts high-profile charity events. That gives her wide recognition across a UK audience alongside genuine live broadcast credentials.

She works particularly well where the event has an external audience or press presence, since the professional warmth translates directly. Christine also speaks on authentic communication and building audience connection, so she can deliver a session as well as chair the day.

Learn more and book Christine Lampard →

Kate Mason

Book Kate for

Hosting plus a session on communicating under pressure, from a live sports broadcaster.

Kate Mason presents for TNT Sports, won an SJA award for documentary work, made BBC Radio 4 series and covered the Paris Olympics. Live sport gives a broadcaster constant practice at reading a room in real time and adapting when the plan changes mid-broadcast.

That makes her a double booking. Kate hosts, and she also delivers sessions on communication under pressure and real-time decision-making, which suits organisations going through high-stakes change or complex stakeholder engagement.

Learn more and book Kate Mason →

Rob Walker

Book Rob for

An MC who can hold an unpredictable room, from ten Olympic Games and World Snooker.

Rob Walker has 25 years of live broadcasting behind him, including ten Olympic Games and Master of Ceremonies work for World Snooker, and he features on Netflix's Sprint. He has been shortlisted for British Sports Commentator of the Year.

Arena MC work is the closest thing to a live stress test for a host, since the audience is large, the timings move and there is nowhere to hide. Rob brings that composure to corporate stages, and he also delivers performance and storytelling sessions.

Learn more and book Rob Walker →

Swarzy Macaly

Book Swarzy for

An energetic host who can carry a diversity and inclusion agenda credibly.

Swarzy Macaly presents for BBC Radio 1Xtra and has worked with Unilever, Ofcom and NIKE. She combines broadcast experience with a genuine track record on social change, which matters when the agenda includes inclusion sessions.

Booking a host who can speak credibly on the theme prevents the awkward handover where an inclusion panel is introduced by someone with no connection to it. Swarzy brings energy and cultural insight, and works as a moderator as well as an emcee.

Learn more and book Swarzy Macaly →

Five more hosts with a specialism

These five bring a subject background alongside the hosting, which suits sector conferences and events where the chair needs to follow the detail. If recognition matters more than subject depth, see our TV personality speakers.

Iain Carter

BBC Golf Correspondent for two decades with more than 90 majors covered, Iain hosts, moderates and delivers sessions on elite performance. He is the obvious choice for golf days and sport-adjacent corporate hospitality.

Learn more and book Iain Carter →

Emma Freud

A broadcaster, film producer and OBE with credits on Love Actually and Notting Hill, Emma hosts and emcees with a storytelling background. She suits charity events, creative industry conferences and evenings that need warmth.

Learn more and book Emma Freud →

Harry Pinero

A television presenter and digital host who works across sport, music and entertainment for the BBC, Sky Sports, Manchester United and FIFA. Harry brings cultural credibility to brand activations and red carpet formats.

Learn more and book Harry Pinero →

Alex Payne

A rugby broadcaster from Sky Sports who also founded the tech marketplace The Room, Alex hosts live events and understands brand and influencer dynamics from the business side as well as the stage.

Learn more and book Alex Payne →

Dom Inglot

A Davis Cup champion and BBC commentator, Dom hosts awards and corporate events and speaks on teamwork and peak performance. He works well where the host also needs to deliver a short session.

Learn more and book Dom Inglot →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an event host, an MC and a moderator?

A host carries the whole day, introducing sessions and holding the narrative. An MC focuses on energy and transitions, often at awards or arena events. A moderator chairs a specific panel. Many broadcasters do all three, so confirm which you need when you brief.

How much does an event host cost?

Fees depend on profile, day length and preparation required. A host who needs to script links, attend rehearsals and run a full-day agenda costs more than someone introducing a single session. Ask for a quote based on your actual run sheet rather than a headline day rate.

Should our host also deliver a keynote?

It often works well and can reduce the total cost. Kate Mason, Rob Walker and Christine Lampard all deliver sessions alongside hosting. Keep the session away from the opening so the host has established the room first.

How much preparation should we expect from a host?

Expect a briefing call, a review of the run sheet and scripted links for the key moments. Good hosts will ask for speaker biographies, pronunciation notes and the sensitivities in the room. Build a rehearsal into the schedule if the agenda is complex.

💡 Looking for the right speaker for your next event? Let us know what you need and we will find the perfect PepTalk expert for your organisation. Email us at hello@getapeptalk.com or send us a message via the chat. You can also call us on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US). Remember, it's always a good time to get a PepTalk!