Scaffolding Excellence Awards unveils 2026 celebrity line-up

By Danny BallPublished On: August 24th, 2026Categories: SCAFFEX, Top Stories

Dara Ó Briain will host the 2026 Scaffolding Excellence Awards, with Rachel Riley, Kym Marsh and former England cricketer Phil Tufnell also confirmed as guests for this year’s event.

The awards will bring together businesses and professionals from across the scaffolding and access sector to recognise achievement across the industry.

Ó Briain, a comedian and television presenter, will lead the ceremony.

Scaffolding Excellence Awards

He is best known for presenting the BBC comedy panel show Mock the Week and has also hosted programmes including Robot Wars, Stargazing Live, Blockbusters and Dara Ó Briain’s Go 8 Bit.

Ó Briain’s live comedy career has included international tours, with his previous show, So… Where Were We?, visiting 173 venues across 20 countries and winning Best Tour at the 2023 Chortle Awards.

His latest show, Re, has toured the UK, Ireland and Northern Europe, with further international dates scheduled during 2026.

Ó Briain is also due to return to television with a new comedy entertainment series, Dara’s Dull Appreciation Society.

Rachel Riley and Kym Marsh join celebrity line-up

Rachel Riley MBE will join Ó Briain at the event. Riley is best known as the numbers expert on Channel 4’s Countdown, a role she has held since 2009, and for appearances on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

Riley was awarded an MBE for her work in Holocaust education and campaigning against antisemitism. She was also awarded the Freedom of the City of London in October 2025.

Actress, presenter and singer Kym Marsh has also been confirmed as a special guest.

Marsh rose to prominence as a member of pop group Hear’Say before moving into acting, including a more than decade-long role as Michelle Connor in Coronation Street. She has also appeared as Nicky Walters in Waterloo Road and presented Morning Live.

In 2026, Marsh has been starring alongside Lisa Faulkner in the stage adaptation of Single White Female, which toured the UK and Ireland during the first half of the year.

Phil Tufnell completes 2026 awards line-up

Former England cricketer and television personality Phil Tufnell completes the line-up.

Tufnell played international cricket for England as a left-arm spin bowler, taking 121 Test wickets. Following his playing career, he moved into broadcasting, appearing on programmes including A Question of Sport and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.

He continues to work as a cricket commentator and pundit and is part of the BBC’s cricket coverage for The Hundred in 2026.

The 2026 Scaffolding Excellence Awards will recognise businesses and individuals across the scaffolding and access industry, with the ceremony taking place alongside the newly confirmed celebrity line-up.