Brummie presenter and comedian Adil Ray said he was eager to “shout loud about our great city” after being unveiled as the host of the Birmingham Post Business Awards.

The Citizen Khan star will take charge of proceedings at the event at the ICC on November 12.

The Post business awards has become the premier night for the city’s private sector and Mr Ray, who made his name on the BBC Asian Network, said he was glad to play a part.

The awards are shaping up to be the biggest and best ever after more than 100 applications flooded in from businesses around the region.

Mr Ray said: “I’m very excited about hosting the Birmingham Post Business Awards.

“As a proud Brummie I feel its important that we shout loud about our great city, and the Birmingham Post is instrumental in that.

“Birmingham is turning a
huge corner right now and it is down to the hard work and creativity of its hugely diverse community.

“I feel really privileged that I will be able to play a part in celebrating those who make a real difference.”

Birmingham Post Business Awards 2014 at the ICC
Birmingham Post Business Awards 2014 at the ICC

Mr Ray has shot to national fame with his BBC1 sitcom Citizen Khan, which is about a Muslim family living in Birmingham.

Prior to that, he presented the Asian Network’s breakfast show.

In 2008 The Adil Ray Show won the best radio show category at the UK Asian Music Awards.

He follows in the footsteps of the likes of Natasha Kaplinsky, Lee Hurst and Andrew Neil in hosting the business awards – the Post’s biggest event of the year.

The deadline for nominations for the awards has now passed.

However, there has been huge interest in the ten categories – Business Start-Up and Entrepreneur, Creative, Communications and Digital, Export, Finance, Legal, Manufacturing, Outstanding Professional, People Development, Property and Regeneration and Small and Medium-sized business.

Tables at the event are now available at the early bird price of £795 plus VAT, until October 15, and £995 plus VAT thereafter.

Birmingham Post editor Marc Reeves said the level of interest in this year’s awards reflected a more aspirational region.

He said: “We can all feel it, Birmingham is a city that is going places.

“After the opening of the all new Birmingham New Street and with Grand Central and the Mailbox on the way, the eyes of the world seem to be on us now.

“It has been a hell of a recovery from a deep recession and it is all down to the hard work and skill of the businesses and entrepreneurs of this city.

“On November 12, we will be saying a big thank-you to those who have got this region moving.”

* For more information, visit bpbusinessawards.co.uk.