YouTuber Elz the Witch 'tremendously proud' to be Bafta Games Awards host

YouTuber Elz the Witch has been revealed as the host of this year's Bafta Games Awards.

The content creator, who built up a following on YouTube with gaming videos, will lead the celebrations in London next month.

The awards, dedicated to recognising the best titles released last year, are considered one of the most prestigious ceremonies in the industry calendar.

Speaking to BBC Newsbeat ahead of the event, Elz says she feels "tremendously proud" to represent women in the space.

Elz, who keeps her full name under wraps, turned her online success into a career as a host.

She's a familiar face to fans of the Sidemen Charity Match, which she has presented several times, as well as a regular voice on Kiss Xtra and Kerrang Radio.

Despite that experience, she admits feeling "nervous" when she first learned she'd landed the Bafta awards host gig.

"It's very nerve-wracking and a lot of pressure," she says, adding that she was "blown away" to be considered for the job.

But, she tells Newsbeat, it's a platform for her to continue the goal she set out to achieve when she first started uploading videos - boosting female representation and challenging stereotypes in the gaming space.

"I was told when I was little: 'Oh, why are you gaming?'," she says.

Elz says there have been huge steps forward in recent years, but there is a lot more to do.

"There are still so many women, myself included, that receive abuse online when you're gaming," she says.

"There's a massive responsibility for games companies and also social media platforms to help protect women in the space."
Elz is not the first female host of the Bafta Games Awards - esports presenter Frankie Ward, and TV presenter Elle Osili-Wood have also fronted the ceremony.

But, she tells Newsbeat, she hopes being up on stage herself will inspire others who are thinking of getting into the space.

"You can be a woman and love video games," says Elz.

Sandfall Interactive's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is dominating nominations this year with 12 followed by superhero adventure Dispatch with nine.

Others in the running for the top prize are the puzzle-filled Blue Prince, PlayStation blockbuster Ghost of Yōtei, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and multiplayer hit Arc Raiders.

As host of the awards, Elz isn't giving away who she's backing to take the top prize, but says she's been "sinking in a lot of hours to some of the games nominated".

She says she's excited to meet to some of the people behind the titles she loved last year.

"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 says.

Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here .

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