The Netflix hit, Baby Reindeer, snagged an early Bafta win, with Jessica Gunning taking home the best supporting actress prize for her role as a stalker in the series. The show, inspired by the real-life experiences of Scots creator Richard Gadd, follows the character Donny as he is relentlessly pursued by a woman named Martha, played by Gunning, after he offers her a free cup of tea at the pub where he works.
At the Bafta awards ceremony, the limited drama prize was awarded to ITV’s Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, shining a light on the subpostmasters who fought to clear their names in the aftermath of the Horizon scandal. The best supporting actor award went to Ariyon Bakare for his performance in the BBC LGBT+ drama Mr Loverman, based on Bernardine Evaristo’s novel.
In the comedy performance categories, former EastEnders star Danny Dyer won for his role in Sky’s Mr Bigstuff, while Welsh actress Ruth Jones was recognized for her portrayal of Vanessa Shanessa “Nessa” Jenkins in the Gavin And Stacey finale. Gunning triumphed over her Baby Reindeer co-star, trans actress Nava Mau, who played Donny’s girlfriend Teri.
During her acceptance speech at the Royal Festival Hall in London, Gunning expressed her gratitude, saying, “Hello, cheeky chops, gosh, thank you Bafta, wow.” She reminisced about pretending to be a dog in her garden and reflected on how her life had changed since working with Gadd. Gunning has previously received accolades such as an Emmy, Sag award, and Golden Globe for her portrayal of Martha in Baby Reindeer.
The show made headlines when a woman claiming to be the “real” Martha came forward to sue Netflix after its release last year. Meanwhile, Mr Loverman follows Barrington Walker, played by Lennie James, as he contemplates leaving his wife for Bakare’s character.
Accepting his award, Bakare acknowledged those who had paved the way for LGBTQ+ representation in the industry. Mr Bates producer Patrick Spence credited ITV and journalists for their role in bringing the subpostmasters’ story to light and emphasized the importance of holding those in power accountable.
Ruth Jones became emotional as she thanked her writing partner James Corden for their collaboration on Gavin And Stacey. Sophie Willan’s Alma’s Not Normal won best scripted comedy, and The Jury: Murder Trial took home the reality prize.
The BBC’s coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Glastonbury Festival earned awards, along with Atomic People on BBC Two, which highlighted the survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. To Catch A Copper exposed corruption within Avon and Somerset Police, while BBC’s Ukraine: Enemy In The Woods won best single documentary.
The ceremony concluded with American historical drama Shogun winning the international Bafta and EastEnders receiving the best soap award. Host Alan Cumming kicked off the event with a sketch referencing his role on The Traitors US and entertained the audience with jokes about his acting career and a fake children’s book about acceptance speeches.
The night celebrated the best in television, showcasing diverse talent and compelling storytelling across various genres. The winners and nominees demonstrated the power of storytelling to entertain, educate, and inspire audiences worldwide.
