BBC sees successful night at the BAFTA TV Awards

Sunday saw this year’s BAFTA TV Awards, complete with emotional speeches, laughs and a successful night for reality-based shows.

With a great start for the BBC, gritty drama Happy Valley walked away with best drama and best actress.

In her speech, Sarah Lancashire addressed fellow nominee Claire Foy who played Elizabeth II in The Crown, “Claire Foy, you have given me the best 10 hours under a duvet that I have ever had, thank you.”

BBC drama Happy Valley walked away with two BAFTAs.

Despite its £100 million budget, The Crown walked away from the evening with nothing.

Damilola Taylor’s father gave an emotional speech when the BBC drama Damilola, Our Loved Boy won in the Best Single Drama category.

“I want to appeal to young people on the streets killing themselves. Parents are crying… killing has gone up recently in the city of London. I beg you: stop unnecessary killing of innocent people, spread the message,” he said, dedicating the award to his son’s memory.

Best leading actor went to Adeel Akhtar for his role in the BBC3 drama Murdered By My Father.

Akhtar dedicated his award to his wife and 9 month-old child “who remind me to be kind and compassionate every day”

This year’s best mini-series went to National Treasure, based on sex abuse cases such as Jimmy Savile.

“There seem to have been a lot of people tonight talking about untold stories and this is for those who were brave enough to come forward and those whose scars were too deep to do so,” said writer Jack Thorne.

This year’s prestigious Bafta fellowship was awarded to Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley.

“I’m unbelievably honoured, you don’t even dream of it, you don’t even think of it, then the letter comes and you don’t believe it,” she said to a standing ovation.

“We are lit and furnished with words and costumed and made up, we have stunt performers to make us look better, we have people who feed us and dress us and we arrive and people say ‘you were so funny in that’ and you say ‘yes, thanks'”

“It’s all somebody else.”

 

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