Star line up for South Bank Sky Arts Awards

Sir Tom Jones, Jason Isaacs, Tracey Emin, Rob Brydon and Sir Tom Stoppard to present South Bank Sky Arts Awards.

“We are delighted that so manyof the most talented people from across the arts in this country are able to join us to celebrate the awards this year,” – Melvyn Bragg.

Sir Terry Pratchett, Imelda Staunton, Wayne Sleep, Lily Cole, Ian Bostridge, and Michael Ball will also present 2012’s South Bank Sky Arts Awards winners with the Anish Kapoor designed trophy.

The awards are one of the world’s most coveted arts awards, with the presenters joining host Melvyn Bragg to honour the best of British culture and achievement across the arts. Each category – visual art, theatre, opera, dance, comedy, classical music, pop, TV drama, literature and film – is traditionally presented by a celebrated talent within that field.

The Times Breakthrough Award, which honours the best new artistic talent, will return for 2012. This year it will be presented by violinist Nicola Benedetti. The award for Outstanding Achievement, in association with The Dorchester,will be presented by playwright Sir Tom Stoppard.

The awards will also see performances by the award-winning trumpeter Alison Balsom, jazz singer Gregory Porter and new opera sensation Noah Stewart to an audience of 300 guests from across the arts.

“It is testament to a particularly strong year for the arts that these performers and presenters are so keen to lend their support, both to the awards and our world class list of nominees. At a time when the arts are under pressure in this country, it’s quite useful to be reminded what a roaring success the whole sector is.” – Melvyn Bragg.

Presenting line up for the show is as follows:

Sir Tom Jones: Pop Music

Alison Balsom: Classical Music

Wayne Sleep: Dance

 Sir Tom Stoppard: The Dorchester Award for Outstanding Achievement

Lily Cole: Film

Rob Brydon: Comedy

Sir Terry Pratchett: Literature

Tracey Emin:Visual Art

Jason Isaacs: TV Drama

Nicola Benedetti: The Times Breakthrough Award

Ian Bostridge: Opera

Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton: Theatre

This year also sees the return of The South Bank Show to screens from 27th May, following the announcement in 2010 that it would no longer air on ITV after they ditched culture from the schedules. This iconic series adds to the growing roster of original British content across Sky’s entertainment channel portfolio.

The awards will broadcast on Sky Arts 1 HD at 9pm on Tuesday 1st May.