Mike Myers to host MTV Movie show

Myers plays several characters in the Austin Powers franchise

Austin Powers star Mike Myers is to host the 2008 MTV Movie Awards, the broadcaster has announced.

The Canadian comedian will preside over the show's irreverent prizes, which in the past have included best kiss, best fight and best frightened performance.

"Hosting the MTV Movie Awards is like a party, but without having to do beer runs in your mom's minivan," he joked.

"We do beer runs in Will Smith's four-storey motorhome." The awards show takes place in California on 1 June.

Nominees will be announced in May.

Myers, who rose to fame on Saturday Night Live, has created and played such iconic comedy characters as Doctor Evil and Wayne Campbell, of Wayne's World fame.

To children, however, he is probably better known as the voice of animated ogre Shrek.

His latest film, The Love Guru, is due out later this year.

"Mike Myers blew us away last time he hosted the MTV Movie Awards [in 1997]," said Van Toffler, president of the network's Logo and Films Group.

"The Love Guru is sure to spur yet another cultural movement, so we're elated to have Mike back as our host."

While recent years have seen celebrities like Lindsay Lohan and Sarah Michelle Gellar host the award show, last year's ceremony was helmed by cult comedian Sarah Silverman.

Her off-colour jokes and jibes about Paris Hilton, who attended shortly before beginning her jail sentence, drew in more than 20 million viewers.

The ceremony also saw Myers pick up a lifetime achievement award.