Alex Ranahan – Conference MC & Awards Host Warm, quick-witted Conference MC & Awards Host who brings the room to life

A clear place to host from, good sightlines and access to the latest running order.

For larger rooms, conferences and awards events, a suitable PA system and professional handheld, headset or lapel microphone should be provided so everyone can hear comfortably. I am happy to work with the setup that best suits the event and complete a sound check where required.

Please share the venue name and address, room capacity, audience layout, equipment provided, stage or hosting position and the details of the event or technical contact.

It is also helpful to know about loading arrangements, security or identity checks, dressing-room or holding-space arrangements and anything else that could affect the get-in, so I can arrive prepared and make the day as stress-free as possible for you.

For smaller corporate events and team sessions, I can provide a compact PA and microphone setup by prior agreement.

For larger conferences, awards ceremonies and production-led events, professional sound, lighting, staging and screens should normally be supplied by the venue or production team.

I do not offer a full DJ service, but I can play suitable background music through my own PA at smaller events by prior agreement.

For larger events, I am happy to coordinate with your DJ, venue or production team on walk-on music, stings and other key moments.

Hosting at the IFS 'Licence to Sell' Conference for 1,400 people at InterContinental London – The O2 was a real highlight.

I kept the energy high across the event, from leading challenges on the main stage to interviewing attendees with a camera crew.

I particularly love conferences and awards events where there is something meaningful to communicate or celebrate and the room needs warmth, pace and genuine connection.

There is nothing better than feeling a room come alive while making sure the focus remains on the event, the speakers and the people being celebrated - not on me.

I trained as an actor at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire before moving to China to create and facilitate educational courses.

When I returned to the UK, I developed a proof of concept for a comedy series and sent it to Channel 4...on the very day the country went into lockdown!

While working out what came next, I was head-hunted to facilitate an event and quickly realised I had found something that suited me perfectly: reading a room, reacting in the moment and helping people feel genuinely part of the experience.

That led to more interactive events, international bookings and, eventually, hundreds of live, virtual and hybrid corporate events, with more than 500 five-star reviews along the way.

I’m inspired by Tony Robbins’ ability to move a huge room and create lasting impact and change, Stephen Mulhern's cheeky and light-hearted approach to hosting, and Bruce Forsyth's warmth, quick wit and complete lack of stiffness.

The 1975 are my favourite band, and “If You're Too Shy Let Me Know” is hard to beat—it captures human honesty, that 80s vibe reshaped with a modern tone, and I was there the first time they ever played it live.

I normally arrive 30–60 minutes before the hosted section, depending on the scale of the event and the briefing, rehearsal or sound check required.

Hosting can range from one important segment to a full conference or awards programme, with the timings and responsibilities agreed around your running order.

Absolutely! I have hosted a range of outdoor events and am happy to adapt to the setting.

For larger audiences, I recommend suitable amplification, a safe and level hosting position and some protection from the weather. It is also helpful to agree a clear wet-weather plan in advance so there are no surprises on the day.

Absolutely! Every event is shaped around your audience, objectives, tone and running order.

I work with you on introductions, key messages, audience interaction and important moments so the hosting feels right for your organisation - not like a fixed routine brought to every event.

Clients most often describe me as warm, quick-witted, dependable and easy to work with—but their own words say it better:

“Alex was a phenomenal MC! He flew in like a fresh breath of air and took over the meeting in stride—it was absolutely flawless.”
— 6 Degrees Health

“He kept the energy up and everyone engaged. People are already saying they want to do this again in the future.”
— Funnel Leasing

“It was perfect for encouraging engagement without forcing it.”
— Schneider Electric

Before the event, I get clear on your audience, objectives, tone, speakers and running order, including anything that needs particular care.

On the day, I take ownership of the room, support your speakers, connect the key moments and stay closely aligned with you and the production team.

You should be free to focus on your guests and the bigger picture rather than worrying about what is happening next.

I adapt calmly and keep the audience with me while the plan changes behind the scenes.

Live events rarely run exactly as expected. I work with the organiser and production team, protect the energy in the room and make the adjustment feel as natural as possible to the audience.

I read the room and give people different ways to feel involved.

Some guests naturally want to speak up or take part. Others would rather enjoy the experience without being placed in the spotlight.

I create genuine energy without forced participation, embarrassment or the feeling of compulsory fun.

Yes. I can work from a finished script or help strengthen speaker introductions, transitions, award announcements, interview questions and key audience moments.

I am not there to rewrite your event in my voice. I help make sure your message sounds natural, the important moments land properly and the programme feels connected from beginning to end.

A script tells the audience what is happening. A good host helps them care about it.

I bring warmth, quick wit and an awareness of what the room needs in each moment. That might mean lifting the energy, helping a speaker feel comfortable, creating space for something meaningful or calmly moving the event forward when timings change.

Yes! My background in performance and facilitation helps me put guests at ease, listen properly and keep conversations natural without losing focus.

I can work from agreed questions, follow interesting answers in the moment and ask the question the audience is now thinking - while still keeping the conversation purposeful and on time.

I can also lead a fully improvised interview where the brief allows, letting the conversation develop in the most natural and engaging direction.