Channel 4 is thriving at TV Baftas despite uncertainty about its future
Channel 4 had a successful afternoon at the Bafta TV Awards amid uncertainty about its future, winning a total of five awards.
he event at the Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank in London, which drew a full audience for the first time in two years, won the BBC nine awards and ITV seven awards.
The ceremony, hosted by comedian Richard Ayoade, celebrated the best of British television across multiple categories.
Conclude
Mo Gilligan (Ian West/PA)
A number of winners used their speeches to praise Channel 4’s worth and criticize the government’s plans to privatize the channel.
Jodie Comer received the Lead Actress award for her role in Channel 4’s Help and thanked the channel for “believing in the script”.
Gogglebox won its second TV Bafta for Best Constructed Factual Show, and production company Studio Lambert CEO Stephen Lambert used his speech to voice opposition to the government’s plans.
He said: “Gogglebox may have ended when it began nine years ago, when it received modest ratings, but a risk-taking publicly owned Channel 4 believed in it and stuck with it.
“If the Government goes ahead with its destructive plan to shut down Channel 4, those risks will not be taken and a lot of what makes British television great will come to an end for no good reason.”
Mo Gilligan won Best Comedy Entertainment for his The Lateish Show on Channel 4 and said the award “means so much” because Channel 4 accepted it when his mental health was struggling in 2017.
video of the day
Conclude
Jamie Demetriou (Ian West/PA)
He said: “You let me bring joy to black boys, I really appreciate that. It wouldn’t have been possible without Channel 4, I know everyone said it, but it’s so important.”
Jamie Demetriou won a TV Bafta for Best Male in a Comedy for his role in Channel 4’s Stath Lets Flats.
Although Channel 4’s It’s A Sin topped the nominations this year with a total of seven, the ceremony ended empty-handed.
Among the public broadcasters, the BBC came out on top with nine prizes in various categories.
Sean Bean won the Best Actor award for his role in the gritty prison drama Time.
Producer Simon Maloney read a letter on behalf of the actor, saying he was “overwhelmed” by the award.
Time also won Best Miniseries and co-actor Stephen Graham said of the award ceremony: “We had a phenomenal cast of young, working-class men who were absolutely outstanding, every single one of them.
“It was an absolute pleasure to be there. That’s why I wanted to be an actor when I was a kid… It was a strong production.”
Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice won the must-see moment for their silent dance on BBC One, the Strictly Come Dancing staple.
Conclude
Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice (Ian West/PA)
Their routine – during which they paused the music and danced in silence in tribute to the deaf community – was praised by the public and Ayling-Ellis described it as a “very special moment”.
ITV’s successes included Ant and Dec’s ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’, which won the event’s first prize for Best Entertainment Program and the News Coverage Award, which went to ITV News At Ten for his work on the storming of the US Capitol went.
Bafta Chairman Krishnendu Majumdar opened the event with a speech on diversity and the changing media landscape, before paying tribute to TV journalists working in Ukraine and Sir Billy Connolly, who received a Bafta fellowship.
Ayoade was quick to jibe at Will Smith over his slap at the Oscars, quipping, “Bafta is celebrating 75 years at the heart of our industry.
“In 1955 there were only six categories, barely enough time to get up from your seat and hit someone before the whole ceremony was over.”
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/channel-4-enjoys-success-at-tv-baftas-amid-uncertainty-over-its-future-41628582.html Channel 4 is thriving at TV Baftas despite uncertainty about its future