Hosting reality shows has become a very lucrative career option these days. Not only does it give better coverage than serials, the chance of someone else's track gaining limelight is also minimal. Add to that a certainty factor of reality shows continuing till end, as opposed to serials dying an unnatural death every now and then. No wonder celebrities from the small and big screen are rushing to reality shows as hosts. But who's the best and who's the worst host? What does it take to become a good host?

Tellychakkar spoke to a number of television show hosts to find out their views on the best and the worst hosts and what goes into making a good host.

Aamir Ali:
I feel a host should be just what he is in reality and not try to portray or act anything else. The greatest example in our industry is Amitabh Bachchan. The way he represented himself in KBC is unparalleled. It was the first time that a common man was playing a game with such a celebrity on Indian television. I feel no other host can match what he has done in KBC – the way he made contestants feel comfortable on the sets, the way he controlled them and also the way his baritone voice enthralled millions of viewers. This was possible because he was being what he is without acting. I don't think anyother television show host can even reach close to him.

Shruti Seth:
In my opinion, it is not just the host's rapport with the audience, but also his comfort factor with the participants that makes a good host. A good host needs to be very good with linguistics, fluent in Hindi and English and very quick on the uptake. There are many hosts today who are not fluent in Hindi – I am not very comfortable with them. My perfect host would also be comfortable with a multiple camera set up and know where to look when to give the right shot.

My favourite host is Mandira Bedi. I feel she has all the good qualities I would like to see in a good host.

Amit Tandon:
I was a VJ in my earlier avatar and know how difficult it is to host shows. The host has to establish a very good rapport with the audience and also act as a mediator whenever required. You need to be a good entertainer as well! There are many hosts who just announce results and then call the contestants without establishing a rapport with the viewers. That is not what they are for!

I feel Mandira Bedi is one of the finest hosts we have on Indian television today. She has a fantastic dress sense and can really speak well. If I have to take another name, it will be Mini Mathur.

Vineet:
The host is the sutradhar of a reality show. If all they do is read out a script, then the whole fun is lost. Ask any viewer and you will see that in many shows, whenever a host starts speaking viewers decide to take a break. They come back to their seats, only after the competition starts! This is because those hosts read out from a script and do nothing else.

When Rahul Vaidya and I used to host Aaja Mahi Ve, we used to flirt with the participants a lot. There was no other intention apart from unbridled fun. The audience also liked it since it was impromptu and not scripted. A case in point is the way Hussain and Chang are interacting with each other in Indian Idol. They are funny, simple and direct from the heart.

I feel Hussain is a very good host. But if you ask me to name only one host as the best, then it is undoubtedly Mandira Bedi. She brings a show back to live whenever she comes on stage. She is simply unbeatable!

Himani Kapoor:
Spontaneity and confidence – in my humble opinion these are the two must-have qualities in a good television show host. In the recent past two hosts who have shown both these qualities are Mandira Bedi and Aditya Narayan. I really like both their hosting styles a lot. However I also liked Pooja Bedi's don't care attitude in Bigg Boss. She carried the attitude with élan and panache.

The good and the bad!

Since none of the stars agreed to name the worst host Tellychakkar tries its hand at identifying the best and the worst.

Thumbs Up

Amitabh Bachchan – for his stellar hosting of KBC
Hussain – For successfully taking over from Aman Verma in Indian Idol
Mini Mathur – Flawless hosting and camaraderie with contestants

Thumbs Down

Gauri Pradhan – For her anything but natural hosting of Nach Baliye
Karan Patel – For his unfriendly hosting of the friendship game show – Kaho Na Yaar Hai
Shweta Gulati – For lacking the X factor with Karan Singh in Zara Nachke Dikha.