The BAFTA TV Awards winners have been announced, and it was a big night for Michaela Coel, whose BBC and HBO series I May Destroy You scooped two of the biggest prizes of the evening.
During a pre-recorded ceremony at London’s iconic Television Centre, Coel walked away with best leading actress for her performance as sexual assault survivor Arabella, while I May Destroy You also scooped best mini-series, beating Steve McQueen’s Small Axe.
It follows I May Destroy You’s strong showing last month at the BAFTA TV Craft Awards, which celebrates the work of those working behind the scenes. Coel scored a BAFTA mask for best drama writer and best director at the ceremony.
After winning leading actress on Sunday, Coel collected her award in-person and thanked intimacy coach Ita O’Brien. Coel said O’Brien’s presence meant she could make a series about “exploitation, loss of respect, about abuse of power without being exploited or abused in the process.”
I May Destroy You’s BAFTA success is likely to bode well ahead of the Emmys in September. It also raises further questions about the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s decision to completely overlook the series at the Golden Globes in February.
Other big winners on the night included Paul Mescal, who took home the BAFTA for best leading actor for his turn in BBC Three and Hulu drama Normal People. He beat hotly-tipped rivals including John Boyega (Small Axe) and Josh O’Connor (The Crown).
Indeed, Season 4 of The Crown did not collect a single prize on Sunday night, despite success elsewhere, including the Golden Globes. It was not all bad news for Netflix, however, after the streamer won best specialist factual program for The Surgeon’s Cut, while Aimee Lou Wood won best female performance in a comedy for Sex Education.
Elsewhere, Sky’s Save Me Too triumphed in the best drama series category, while there were prizes for Malachi Kirby (Small Axe) and Rakie Ayola (Anthony) in supporting roles.
The awards were presided over by Richard Ayoade in what was BAFTA’s first major in-person event since the spread of coronavirus last year. Nominees in attendance included Coel, Jodie Comer, Paul Mescal, and Billie Piper. It’s A Sin star and Years & Years singer Olly Alexander opened the show a performance of his new single Starstruck.
Below are the winners in full:
COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM
The Big Narstie Show Obi Kevin Akudike, Nathan Brown, Rina Dayalji, Ben Wicks, Toby Baker – Expectation, Dice Productions Entertainment/Channel 4
CURRENT AFFAIRS
America’s War On Abortion (EXPOSURE) Deeyah Khan, Darin Prindle, Andrew Smith – Fuuse Films/ITV
DAYTIME
The Great House Giveaway Production Team – Chwarel/Channel 4
DRAMA SERIES
Save Me Too Simon Heath, Jessica Sykes, Lennie James, Lizzie Rusbridger, Coky Giedroyc, Jim Loach – World Productions/Sky Atlantic
ENTERTAINMENT PERFORMANCE
Romesh Ranganathan – The Ranganation – Zeppotron/BBC Two
ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM
Life And Rhymes Production Team – CPL Productions, Licklemor Productions/Sky Arts
FACTUAL SERIES
Once Upon A Time In Iraq James Bluemel, Jo Able, Miriam Walsh, Simon Sykes, Andrew Palmer, Will Anderson – Keo Films/BBC Two
FEATURES
Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace Sally Benton, Rosie Schellenberg, Alice Goodyear, Paddy Lynas – Wall to Wall Media/ITV
FEMALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY PROGRAMME
Aimee Lou Wood – Sex Education – Eleven Film/Netflix
INTERNATIONAL
Welcome To Chechnya: the Gay Purge (STORYVILLE) David France, Alice Henty, Askold Kurov, Joy A. Tomchin – Public Square Films/BBC Four
LEADING ACTOR
Paul Mescal – Normal People – Element Pictures/BBC Three
LEADING ACTRESS
Michaela Coel – I May Destroy You – Various Artists, FALKNA/BBC One
Michaela Coel
LIVE EVENT
Springwatch 2020 Production Team – BBC Studios Natural History Unit/BBC Two
MALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY PROGRAMME
Charlie Cooper – This Country – BBC Studios/BBC Three
MINI-SERIES
I May Destroy You Production Team – Various Artists, FALKNA/BBC One
I May Destroy You
NEWS COVERAGE
SKY News: Inside IDLIB Production Team – Sky News/Sky News
REALITY & CONSTRUCTED FACTUAL
The School That Tried To End Racism Production Team – Proper Content/Channel 4
SCRIPTED COMEDY
Inside No. 9 Adam Tandy, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith, Matt Lipsey, Guillem Morales – BBC Studios/BBC Two
Inside No.9
SHORT FORM PROGRAM
They Saw The Sun First Stefan Hunt, Jess Lowe, Adam Gee – Fresh Film, Red Bull Media House/Red Bull TV
SINGLE DOCUMENTARY
Locked In: Breaking The Silence (STORYVILLE) Xavier Alford, Colette Hodges, Sacha Mirzoeff, Poppy Goodheart – Marble Films/BBC Four
SINGLE DRAMA
Sitting In Limbo Production Team – Left Bank Pictures/BBC One
SOAP & CONTINUING DRAMA
Casualty – Simon Harper, Loretta Preece, Sarah Beeson, Jenny Thompson – BBC Studios/BBC One
SPECIALIST FACTUAL
The Surgeon’s Cut – James Newton, James Van Der Pool, Andrew Cohen – BBC Studios/Netflix
SPORT
England Vs West Indies Test Cricket – Production Team – Sky Sports/Sky Sports Cricket
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Malachi Kirby – Small Axe – Turbine Studios, Lammas Park/BBC One
Malachi Krby
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Rakie Ayola – Anthony – LA Productions/BBC One
Rakie Ayola
VIRGIN MEDIA’S MUST-SEE MOMENT (voted for by the public)
Britain’s Got Talent Diversity perform a routine inspired by the events of 2020 – Thames, Syco/ITV
