YouTuber Elz the Witch has been announced as the host for this year's Bafta Games Awards.
The gaming content creator, known for her popular YouTube channel, will lead the celebration in London next month. This esteemed event honors the best video games released in the previous year and is regarded as one of the most significant ceremonies within the gaming industry.
In an interview with BBC Newsbeat prior to the event, Elz expressed she feels "tremendously proud" to represent women in gaming.
Elz, who prefers to keep her full name private but has disclosed that her first name is Eleanor, has successfully transitioned her online fame into a career as a host. She is a recognized face for fans of the Sidemen Charity Match, having presented it several times, and she is also a frequent contributor on Kiss Xtra and Kerrang Radio.
Despite her extensive experience, Elz confessed to feeling "nervous" upon learning that she would host the Bafta awards. "It's very nerve-wracking and a lot of pressure," she stated, revealing that she was "blown away" by the opportunity to take on this role.
Nonetheless, she views this event as a critical platform to continue her mission of promoting female representation and challenging stereotypes within the gaming community, a goal she has pursued since she began sharing videos. "I was told when I was little: 'Oh, why are you gaming?'" she recounted.
While Elz acknowledges the significant progress made in recent years regarding women's visibility in gaming, she believes there is still substantial work ahead. "There are still so many women, myself included, that receive abuse online when you're gaming," she noted, emphasizing the important responsibility that game developers and social media platforms have in protecting women in the space.
Elz is not the first woman to host the Bafta Games Awards; previous hosts include esports presenter Frankie Ward and television presenter Elle Osili-Wood. However, Elz aspires to inspire others who are interested in pursuing careers in the gaming industry. "You can be a woman and love video games," she affirmed.
Leading this year's nominations is Sandfall Interactive's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, followed by the superhero-themed game Dispatch. Other nominees for the top award include the puzzle game Blue Prince, the PlayStation hit Ghost of Yōtei, and the multiplayer sensation Arc Raiders.
While Elz has not revealed her personal favorites for the top award, she mentioned that she has been "sinking in a lot of hours into some of the games nominated."
"Games were such a key part of just keeping me going, so I really want to meet some of these games companies and just tell them how much it means to me," she expressed.
- The Bafta Games Awards are scheduled for 17 April.
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