Channel 4 gets major boosts and booty at the TV BAFTAs

Beleaguered Channel 4 was repeatedly lauded at Sunday's BAFTA TV Awards and enjoyed a variety of victories at British TV's big night out.

The free-to-air public service television network, which has been targeted for privatisation by the British government, won across a range of genres, from comedy to drama to reality TV.

Surprisingly, Channel 4's highly-praised drama It's a Sin was not among its roster of winners that included Help, Stath Lets Flats and Gogglebox. It had received 11 nominations, more than any other show.

On the night, there were several speeches supporting the station and rubbishing the plans for its privatisation, including Aisling Bea, nominated for This Way Up on Channel 4, who described the proposal as "really scary".

People watching people watching TV... @C4Gogglebox is the show that keeps on giving (and now takes a BAFTA!) 🙌 pic.twitter.com/svdzKO9ODE
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) May 8, 2022

The TV BAFTA for single drama went to BBC show Together starring our own Sharon Horgan (and James McAvoy), which was the closest to an Irish win.

Earlier, Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway claimed the first award of the night for Best Entertainment Programme.

The hugely popular presenting duo took to the stage at the Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank to collect their award, marking the fourth time they have won in the category.

Ant McPartlin said: "What a great start to the night" before Declan Donnelly added: "We were convinced we weren’t going to get it this year so we came for a bit of a party."

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Hosted by comedian Richard Ayoade, the event celebrates the best of British television across multiple awards.

BAFTA chairman Krishnendu Majumdar opened the event with a speech addressing diversity and the changing media landscape, before paying tribute to TV journalists working in Ukraine and Billy Connolly, who received the BAFTA fellowship during the ceremony.

Lorraine Kelly said a speical hello to Boris Johnson

Lorraine Kelly sent a "special hello" to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson as she took to the stage to present the News Coverage Award.

She joked: "Hello and a special hello to Boris. I’m Lorraine. It’s lovely to see you," prompting cheers and laughter from the audience.

Flying the Irish flag - Nicola Coughlan arrives at the TV BAFTAs

Mr Johnson appeared not to know who Kelly was during an interview on Good Morning Britain earlier this week.

The award went to ITV News At Ten for its coverage of the storming of the US Capitol.

Coronation Street actress Sally Dynevor dedicated the ITV series' TV BAFTA for Soap and Continuing Drama to Sophie Lancaster and her mother Sylvia.

Sylvia founded the Sophie Lancaster Foundation in memory of her daughter, who was kicked to death because she was dressed as a goth.

On stage, Dynevor said: "We weren’t expecting this tonight, we really weren’t, so thank you so much BAFTA for this award. Working on this show is just a privilege - and the drama and the comedy go so well on Corrie.

"And one of the most important stories we have told this year was the hate crime story. So we would like to dedicate this to Sophie Lancaster and her mother Sylvia Lancaster."

Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice won the Must-See Moment for their silent dance on Strictly Come Dancing.

EastEnders actress Ayling-Ellis, 27, was the first deaf contestant to compete on Strictly, performing alongside professional dance partner Pernice last year.

Happy ever Bafta! Giovanni Pernice and Rose Ayling-Ellis

Their routine - during which they paused the music and danced in silence as a tribute to the deaf community - won praise from the public.

Ayling-Ellis said: "It is a very special moment for us because hopefully, it showed how powerful TV can be, where it has actually introduced changes."

Pernice added: "When we first thought of the idea to put silence into the dance, we knew it was going to give an impact, but this went bigger than what we thought."

The TV BAFTA for Supporting Actor went to Succession star Matthew Macfadyen, with writer Jesse Armstrong collecting the award and reading out glowing messages from his co-stars.

Time won Best Mini-Series, and actor Stephen Graham, 48, said: "We had a phenomenal cast of young working-class men who were absolutely outstanding, every single one of them.

"It was an absolute joy to be a part of. This is why I wanted to be an actor as a kid… It was a powerful production."

In another win for Time, Sean Bean landed the Best Leading Actor at the BAFTA TV Awards for his role in the drama.

Cathy Tyson, meanwhile, won Best Supporting Actress for Channel 4 series Help, which also stars Jodie Comer and the aforementioned Graham.

The 56-year-old actress struggled to hold back tears as she thanked the broadcaster during her speech.

She said: "I remember as a teenager when Channel 4 was born and it has had many good things to do with diversity and providing a voice for the people who were unheard."

Tyson added: "I stand with Ukraine and the Russian people."

Comer also scooped the BAFTA TV Award for Leading Actress for her role in the Channel 4 drama.

The actress, who won her first BAFTA TV award for her role in Killing Eve, thanked Channel 4 for "believing in the script".

Jodie Comer picked up the Leading Actress BAFTA for Help

She also thanked carers who helped the show with their research and who were "incredibly gracious" with their time.

"The biggest reward is that they felt truly represented with the telling of this story," she added.

Gogglebox picked up its second BAFTA TV Award for Best Constructed Factual.

Cast member Lee took to the stage, accepting the prize for "past and present families who have been on Gogglebox, it is an honour to get it for them," he said.

The chief executive of Studio Lambert, Stephen Lambert, added: "Googlebox might have ended when it started nine years ago as it got modest ratings, but a publicly owned risk-taking Channel 4 believed in it and they stuck with it.

"If the government go ahead with its destructive plan to end Channel 4, these kinds of risks will not be taken and a big part will have ended for no good reason."

Another winner for Channel 4 came when Jamie Demetriou collected the BAFTA TV Award for Best Male in a comedy for his role in the comedy Stath Lets Flats.

The 34-year-old actor thanked Channel 4 for having him as part of their "insane roster" of talent.

Channel 4 comedy enjoyed a further win as Mo Gilligan picked up the Best Comedy Entertainment at the BAFTA TV Awards.

The visibly emotional comedian said the prize "means so much" because Channel 4 took him in when his mental health was struggling in 2017.

He said: "They let me bring black boy joy, I really appreciate it.

"It would not have been possible without Channel 4, I know everyone has said it but it is so important."

The Underground Railroad won the BAFTA for Best International.

The film powerfully depicts slavery in the US antebellum South based on Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel from 2016.

Collecting the award on stage, Sheila Atim, who played Mabel, said: "This is a really amazing moment.

"Thank you Barry (Jenkins) for making this production. I am extremely proud to be a part of it.

"I think it is a seminal piece which will stand the test of time."

Source: Press Association

Channel 4 gets major boosts and booty at the TV BAFTAs

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