NME - COMEDIAN MARK WATSON TO HOST SHOCKWAVES NME AWARDS

COMEDIAN MARK WATSON TO HOST SHOCKWAVES NME AWARDS

Mock the Week panellist Mark Watson has been announced as the host of this year's Shockwaves NME awards.

The comedian, who regularly performs with a Welsh accent despite being from Bristol, is a regular on BBC shows Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Have I Got News for You, and a staple of the Edinburgh Fringe.

The 28-year-old said following in the footsteps of NME awards hosts such as Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and last year's hosts James Corden and Mathew Horne, was an "honour".

"I can't wait to take charge of one of music's only non-s**t awards ceremonies," he added.

"I look forward to saluting some of rock's most exciting, most innovative and drunkest people."

The ceremony, on Wednesday February 25th, will open with Hertfordshire trio Friendly Fires, whose performance will include Latin percussionists and Brazilian show girls, it was revealed today.

Glasvegas, currently headlining the Shockwaves NME awards tour will follow before fellow Scots Franz Ferdinand take to the stage at London's Brixton Academy.

The Cure, who will receive the Godlike Genius award at this year's ceremony, will close the show with a 30-minute set of "era-defining" music.