Imagine a dystopian future where pop stars and politicians roamed the world unchecked.
Kanye might never let Taylor say anything, ex-Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron might try to start a rock band again, and Naughty Boy would surely only get naughtier.
Read More: Global Citizen Live Is Coming to London — and You Can Be There. Here’s How
That’s why every Global Citizen show needs the best hosts in the game to keep the night in order — and we’ve assembled our squad.
Oh, didn’t you hear? Global Citizen Live is taking over O2 Academy Brixton on April 17 with (deep breath) Emeli Sandé, Professor Green, Naughty Boy, Gabrielle Aplin, Kojo Funds, and Little Simz. All the tickets are free, and you just need to take action on the world’s most challenging issues to earn them. Find out more here.
Entries for #GlobalCitizenLive⭕️ are now *closed* — if you've taken action to earn tickets, THANK YOU! 👏 We're so looking forward to seeing you next Tuesday!! 😍 #BeTheGeneration@O2AcademyBrix@EmeliSande@ProfessorGreen@NaughtyBoyMusic@MayaJamahttps://t.co/Kt45mfpBAw
— Global Citizen UK (@GlblCtznUK) April 12, 2018
Bring on the hosts — including our newest addition, Sandi Toksvig from "The Great British Bake Off" and the Women's Equality Party!
Sandi Toksvig
You’ll recognise Toksvig from The Great British Bake Off and QI — but the Danish-British comedian is so, so much more.
When Toksvig came out as “the only out lesbian in British public life” back in 1994, she was told her career was finished. But in 2014, having refused to be cowed by the haters, Toksvig celebrated her marriage to Debbie Tokvsig. And in 2015, she decided it was “not too late to fight the good fight, after all,” and co-founded the Women’s Equality Party.
The feminist superhero has since then written 20 books, and joins Global Citizen Live as a co-host.
On your marks, get set, break sexist laws!
Happy Int Women's Day. The World Econ Forum says equal pay will be achieved in the year 2234. Just 217 years to wait. Yeah!
— Sandi Toksvig (@sanditoksvig) March 8, 2018
Maya Jama
Fact: everybody loves Maya Jama.
The 23-year-old model and television personality has an enviable CV: Radio 1 DJ, MTV presenter, MOBOs host, Cannonball star — and co-presenter at the BRIT Awards with fellow Global Citizen Live artist Professor Green.
Take Action to Earn Tickets to Global Citizen Live Now
But she’s also our favourite kind of human. Last year she hosted the world’s largest-ever mental health lesson, joining Hussain Manawer (also performing at Global Citizen Live — don’t say we don’t spoil you!) and 500 pupils to break the Guinness World Record.
Oh — we nearly forgot. Stormzy is also her boyfriend. But, honestly, that’s not quite as important is it?
Adwoa Aboah
She’s the model of the moment — but has transcended fashion to enter the world of activism.
Adwoa Aboah founded Gurls Talk — the online platform and safe space for girls to discuss mental health, sexuality, and social media. She’s talked candidly about her battles with depression, addiction, and suicide. And she works hard to project positivity and inclusion in an industry often resistant to it — thriving as British GQ’s Woman of the Year and a British Vogue cover star.
Take Action: Demand World Leaders Change Sexist Laws
But now Aboah is approaching one of her biggest challenges yet: co-hosting a night of pop stars and politicians in our mission to end extreme poverty.
She’s ready.
Ade Adepitan MBE
Paralympic gold medalist, World Cup winner, TV presenter, and activist.
Ade Adepitan was just a baby when he contracted polio and lost the use of his left leg. But that didn’t stop him becoming one of the best basketball players in the country — and fighting to eradicate the disease from the face of the planet.
Take Action: Let’s End This Deadly Disease!
We’re so close to consigning polio to the history books, and Adepitan joins the Global Citizen Live stage to help us urge world leaders to take that final step. The prominent disability campaigner goes way back with Global Citizen, too: he joined us for a wheelchair basketball match in Trafalgar Square with a bunch of MPs last year (who were better on wheels than we thought they’d be).
Neev Spencer
Spencer has been a KISS FM presenter for over a decade — and has won loads of awards.
But she’s also travelled the world supporting artists like David Guetta, toured the London stand up comedy circuit, and is known for being a staunch advocate for gender equality issues.
Take Action: Tell Bangladesh to Close the Loophole on Child Marriage
Want more? You got it: Spencer is an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and the British Asian Trust — and talked to Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, about how “nothing can prepare you” for postnatal depression as part of a mental health campaign called “Heads Together.”
And now she’s helping us host an incredible evening of entertainment-fuelled activism. It’s what she does best.
On April 17, Global Citizen Live will bring musicians, poets, comedians, and world leaders together at O2 Academy Brixton. Tickets are free and can be earned by taking action online with Global Citizen to help end extreme poverty by 2030. Take action now to earn free tickets.