Inside the FIRST EVER virtual TV BAFTAs with Richard Ayoade
Inside the FIRST EVER virtual TV BAFTAs: Socially-distanced presenters, no audience, ‘flat’ banter and no after party… yet fans laud all involved for doing their best amid the ‘beautiful mess’ of COVID-19
- British Academy of Film and Television Awards and the BBC worked to adapt the annual ceremony to adapt to health and safety precautions amid the current COVID-19 pandemic
- Presenters lined up – at a 2 metre distance – to join host of the evening Richard Ayoade on stage for the broadcast, which was filmed in a studio at Television Centre in West London
- Stars up for gongs were beamed into the studio from their homes, via Zoom
- The circumstances allowed host Ayoade and all involved to poke light-hearted fun at the scenario
- Jessica Hynes described BAFTA 2020 as ‘extraordinary’, adding: ‘If you want to know what it feels like it’s somewhere between The Hunger Games and jury service!’
- As the ceremony came to a close, Ayoade rounded things off with the gag: ‘And that was the over-produced Zoom call that was the BAFTAs 2020!’
By Andrew Bullock For Mailonline
Published: 15:40 EDT, 31 July 2020 | Updated: 23:48 EDT, 31 July 2020
Friday saw the first ever virtual British Academy of Film and Television Awards broadcast on the BBC as the ceremony adapted to COVID-19 precautions.
Presenters such as Daisy Edgar-Jones, Paul Mescal and Stacey Dooley lined up – at a 2 metre distance – to join host of the evening Richard Ayoade on stage for the broadcast, which was filmed in a studio at Television Centre in West London, without the ‘vibe’ of a live audience.
Stars up for gongs were beamed into the studio from their homes, via Zoom, some dressed up, others dressed down.
Going solo: Friday saw the first ever virtual British Academy of Film and Television Awards broadcast on the BBC hosted by Richard Ayoade, as the ceremony adapted to COVID-19 precautions
The change of pace was palpable during the broadcast both in the studio and among those joining in from home.
Yet the circumstances allowed host Ayoade and all involved to poke light-hearted fun, with nominee Sian Clifford calling the current health crisis ‘a beautiful mess’ as she accepted her Female Performance In A Comedy Programme.
Viewers at home headed to Twitter to laud those involved for making the best of a bad situation.
Normal People stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal strolled on to present the first award, keeping 2m apart, with no audience applause to accompany them.
![Zooming in: Stars up for gongs were beamed into the studio from their homes, via Zoom [pictured is Tess Daly accepting Strictly Come Dancing's award for Entertainment Programme]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/07/31/21/31426720-8581825-image-m-50_1596225746564.jpg)
Doing things differently: Presenters such as Stacey Dooley [L] lined up – at a 2 metre distance – to join announce winners, while stars up for gongs were beamed into the studio from their homes, via Zoom [pictured R is Tess Daly accepting Strictly Come Dancing’s award for Entertainment Programme]
The bright side: The circumstances allowed host Ayoade and all involved to poke light-hearted fun, with nominee Sian Clifford calling the current health crisis ‘a beautiful mess’ as she accepted her Female Performance In A Comedy Programme
‘Woah! Back it up!’ Ayoade joked, as the pair introduced the nominees.
There were no envelopes used, as is typically the case at glitzy award ceremonies.
On winning her Supporting Actress award for The End Of The F***ing World, Naomi Ackie declared: ‘This makes lockdown so much better!’
Comedian Greg Davies presented an award and joked with Ayoade that they were ‘collatoral damage’ and that, as soon as pandemic is over, Graham Norton will be flown to take over.
When the Female Comedy award was introduced, the four nominees – Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford for Fleabag, Sarah Kendall for Frayed and Gbemisola Ikumelo for Famalam – were seen on their Zoom screens, pretending to pluck their chins.
Corona who? On winning her Supporting Actress award for The End Of The F***ing World, Naomi Ackie declared – ‘This makes lockdown so much better!’
Making light of it: Romesh Ranganathan had pre-recorded himself holding a home-made BAFTA, using a bin for a podium, and pulling cardboard cut-outs of his production team in the background
‘Somewhere between The Hunger Games and jury service!’ Jessica Hynes made her way onto the stage to present the gong for Male Performance In A Comedy Programme, threatening to approach Ayoade. ‘Please! I am not wearing a mask!’ he objected
This clashed slightly with Greg’s attempt at joking around, leading Ayoade to jest sardonically: ‘Zoom is great for banter!’
After Clifford won, she filmed herself emotionally accepting the gong, notably shaking her camera around.
‘That is why you need camera people! Get a grip!’ Ayoade quipped.
The video acceptance method allowed Romesh Ranganathan to play around with his thank you speech.
Accepting the Features gong for The Misadventures Of Romesh Ranganathan, he had pre-recorded himself holding a home-made BAFTA, using a bin for a podium, and pulling cardboard cut-outs of his production team in the background.
Keeping their distance: Normal People stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal strolled on to present the first award, keeping 2m apart, with no audience applause to accompany them
!['An over-produced Zoom call!' The change of pace was palpable during the broadcast both in the studio and among those joining in from home [pictured is Mo Gilligan accepting his award for The Lateish Show]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/07/31/21/31426808-8581825-image-a-79_1596226474552.jpg)
‘An over-produced Zoom call!’ The change of pace was palpable during the broadcast both in the studio and among those joining in from home [pictured L is Mo Gilligan accepting his award for The Lateish Show and R Glenda Jackson winning the Leading Actress gong for Elizabeth Is Missing]
Adrian Lester presented the award for Leading Actress, joking to the bare studio: ‘It’s a long time since I played to a place this empty!’
Jessica Hynes made her way onto the stage to present the gong for Male Performance In A Comedy Programme, threatening to approach Ayoade. ‘Please! I am not wearing a mask!’ he objected.
The W1A actress went on to describe BAFTA 2020 as ‘extraordinary’, adding: ‘If you want to know what it feels like it’s somewhere between The Hunger Games and jury service!’
Hynes announced Jamie Demetriou was the winner. The actor accepted the award via Zoom, simply stating: ‘This is weird!’
His show, Stath Lets Flats, also won the Scripted Comedy award. This acceptance speech was pre-made, featuring Demetriou alongside his co-creators, as cartoon animations.
Dressed down: David Tennant and Michael Sheen appeared in hoodies from their kitchens to present an award, adding to the comedy of the situation
On the bright side: Kermit The Frog and Miss Piggy could present an award, without any issues concealing their puppeteers
Adrian Lester presented the award for Leading Actress, joking to the bare studio: ‘It’s a long time since I played to a place this empty!’
David Tennant and Michael Sheen appeared in hoodies from their kitchens to present an award, adding to the comedy of the situation.
On the bright side, Kermit The Frog and Miss Piggy could present an award, without any issues concealing their puppeteers.
As the ceremony came to a close, Ayoade rounded things off with the gag: ‘And that was the over-produced Zoom call that was the BAFTAs 2020!’
Social media was awash with praise for the ceremony, as they made the best of a tricky scenario.
Job well done: Social media was awash with praise for the ceremony, as they made the best of a tricky scenario
‘I don’t think the #BAFTAS have suffered too much from being slimmed down and concentrating on the awards and moving through things quickly. Brilliantly held together by @RichardAyoade and some nice wins!’ one Twitter user posted.
‘Well done to @BAFTA. I think that really worked tonight. I can’t imagine that was easy. But back to Royal Festival Hall next year please if possible. (And keep Ayoade),’ another gushed.
Some even preferred the revised format: ‘I don’t know about you, but seeing everyone’s reactions live on Zoom is way more intimate than a typical awards show. It’s weirdly emotional.’
Many had high praise for host Ayoade for carrying the ceremony. One person wrote: ‘Richard Ayoade is the only host who can relish and embrace the awkwardness of a virtual ceremony yet still manage to capture the heart and passion of why we all connect through the best TV!’
BAFTA TV Awards 2020: WINNERS
BRITISH ACADEMY TELEVISION AWARDS
COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME
The Graham Norton Show
The Last Leg
Taskmaster – WINNER
The Ranganation
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Growing Up Poor: Britain’s Breadline Kids (Dispatches)
The Hunt For Jihadi John
Is Labour Anti-Semitic (Panorama)
Undercover: Inside China’s Digital Gulug (Exposure) – WINNER
DRAMA SERIES
The Crown
Gentleman Jack
Giri/Haji
The End of the F***ing World – WINNER
ENTERTAINMENT PERFORMANCE
Frankie Boyle for Frankie Boyle’s New World Order
Graham Norton for The Graham Norton Show
Lee Mack for Would I Lie To You
Mo Gilligan for The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan – WINNER
ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME
Strictly Come Dancing – WINNER
The Voice
The Greatest Dancer
The Rap Game UK
FACTUAL SERIES
Crime and Punishment
Leaving Neverland – WINNER
Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting An Internet Killer
Our Dementia Choir with Vicky McClure
FEATURES
The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan – WINNER
Snackmasters
Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back
Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing
FEMALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY PROGRAMME
Phoebe Waller- Bridge in Fleabag
Sarah Kendall in Frayed
Sian Clifford in Fleabag – WINNER
Gbemisola Ikumelo in Famalam
INTERNATIONAL
Succession
When They See Us – WINNER
Euphoria
Unbelievable
LEADING ACTOR
Stephen Graham for The Virtues
Jared Harris for Chernobyl – WINNER
Takehiro Hira for Giri/Haji
Callum Turner for The Capture
LEADING ACTRESS
Jodie Comer for Killing Eve
Suranne Jones for Gentleman Jack
Samantha Morton for I Am Kirsty
Glenda Jackson for Elizabeth Is Missing – WINNER
LIVE EVENT
Blue Planet Live – WINNER
Election 2019 Live: The Results
Glastonbury 2019
Operation Live
MALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY PROGRAMME
Ncuti Gatwa for Sex Education
Guz Khan for Man Like Mobeen
Youssef Kerkour for Home
Jamie Demetriou for Stath Lets Flats – WINNER
MINI-SERIES
Chernobyl – WINNER
A Confession
The Virtues
The Victim
NEWS COVERAGE
Hong Kong Protests – WINNER
ITV News At Ten: Election Results
Prince Andrew & The Epstein Scandal (Newsnight)
Victoria Derbyshire: Men who lost loved ones to knife crime
REALITY & CONSTRUCTED FACTUAL
Celebrity Gogglebox
Race Across The World – WINNER
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK
Harry’s Heroes: The Full English
SCRIPTED COMEDY
Derry Girls
Fleabag
Derry Girls
Stath Lets Flats – WINNER
SHORT FORM PROGRAMME
Anywhere But Westminster
Brain In Gear – WINNER
Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle
toni_with_an_i (Born Digital: First Cuts)
SINGLE DOCUMENTARY
The Abused
The Family Secret
The Last Survivors – WINNER
David Harewood: Psychosis and Me
SINGLE DRAMA
Brexit: The Uncivil War
Elizabeth Is Missing
The Left Behind – WINNER
Responsible Child
SOAP & CONTINUING DRAMA
Coronation Street
Casualty
Holby City
Emmerdale – WINNER
SPECIALIST FACTUAL
8 Days: To The Moon and Back
Seven Worlds: One Planet
Thatcher: A Very British Revolution
Yorkshire Ripper Files: A Very British Crime Story – WINNER
SPORT
2019 RUGBY WORLD CUP FINAL: ENGLAND V SOUTH AFRICA – WINNER
ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP FINAL
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2019 SEMI FINAL: ENGLAND V USA
WIMBLEDON 2019 MEN’S FINAL
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Joe Absolom for A Confession
Josh O’Connor for The Crown
Stellan Skarsgard for Chernobyl
Will Sharpe for Giri/Haji – WINNER
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Helen Behan for The Virtues
Helena Bonham Carter for The Crown
Jasmine Jobson for Top Boy
Naomi Ackie for The End of the F***ing World – WINNER
VIRGIN MEDIA’S MUST-SEE MOMENT (voted for by the public)
CORONATION STREET – The Death of Sinead Osborne
FLEABAG – Confessional scene
GAME OF THRONES – Arya Kills the Night King
GAVIN AND STACEY – Nessa Proposes to Smithy – WINNER
LINE OF DUTY – John Corbett’s Death
LOVE ISLAND – Michael recouples after Casa Amor
SPECIAL AWARD
Idris Elba
BRITISH ACADEMY TELEVISION CRAFT AWARDS
bREAKTHROUGH TALENT
AISLING BEA (Writer) This Way Up – Merman TV/Channel 4
ANEIL KARIA (Director) (episode 3) – Drama Republic/Channel 4 & Top Boy (ep 10) – Cowboy Films, Easter Partisan Films, Dream Crew, SpringHill Entertainment/Netflix
LAURIE NUNN (Writer) Sex Educatiion – Eleven Film/Netflix
SEAN BUCKLEY (Writer) Responsible Child – Kudos, 72 Films/BBC Two
COSTUME DESIGN
CAROLINE MCCALL His Dark Materials – Bad Wolf/BBC One
JOANNA EATWELL Beecham House – Bend It TV/ITV
MICHELE CLAPTON Game Of Thrones – HBO, Bighead, Littlehead, 36 Television, Startling Television/Sky Atlantic
ODILE DICKS-MIREAUX Chernobyl – Sister Pictures, The Mighty Mint, Word Games/HBO/Sky Atlantic
DIRECTOR: FACTUAL
ARTHUR CARY The Last Survivors – Minnow Films/BBC Two
DAN REED Leaving Neverland – AMOS Pictures/Channel 4
MARK LEWIS Dont F*** With Cats – Raw TV/Netflix
ROBIN BARNWELL Undercover: Inside China’s Digital Gulag – Hardcash Productions/ITV
DIRECTOR: FICTION
HARRY BRADBEER Fleabag – Two Brothers Pictures/BBC Three
JOHAN RENCK Chernobyl – Sister Pictures, The Mighty Mint, Word Games/HBO/Sky Atlantic
SHANE MEADOWS The Virtues – Warp Films, Big Arty Productions/Channel 4
TOBY HAYNES Brexit: The Uncivil War – House Productions/Channel 4
DIRECTOR: MULTI-CAMERA
BRIDGET CALDWELL The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance – BBC Studios/BBC One
JANET FRASER CROOK Glastonbury 2019 – BBC Studios/BBC Two
MATTHEW GRIFFITHS Six Nations 2019 – Wales v England – BBC Sport/BBC One
PAUL MCNAMARA ITV Racing: Cheltenham Festival – ITV Sport/ITV
EDITING: FACTUAL
ANDY R. WORBOYS Untouchable: The Rise And Fall Of Harvey Weinstein – Lightbox/BBC Two
JULES CORNELL Leaving Neverland – AMOS Pictures/Channel 4
KIM HORTON 63 Up – MultiStory Media/ITV
MICHAEL HARTE Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer – Raw TV/Netflix
EDITING: FICTION
DAN CRINNION Killing Eve (Episode 4) – Sid Gentle Films/BBC One
ELEN PIERCE LEWIS Giri/Haji – Sister Pictures/BBC Two
GARY DOLLNER Fleabag – Two Brothers Pictures/BBC Three
SIMON SMITH, JINX GODFREY Chernobyl – Sister Pictures, The Mighty Mint, Word Games/HBO/Sky Atlantic
ENTERTAINMENT CRAFT TEAM
AMBER RIMELL, BRONSKI, MISTY BUCKLEY, TIM ROUTLEDGE Glastonbury 2019 (Stormzy) – BBC Studios, Tawbox/BBC Two
DAVID BISHOP, VICKY GILL, ANDY TAPLEY, PATRICK DOHERTY Strictly Come Dancing – BBC Studios/BBC One
MARK BUSK-COWLEY, STEVE KRUGER, IAIN STIRLING, JAMES TINSLEY Love Island – ITV Studios, Motion Content Group/ITV 2
NIGEL CATMUR, PATRICK DOHERTY, KEVIN DUFF, ANDREW STOKES The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance – BBC Studios/BBC One
MAKE UP & HAIR DESIGN
DANIEL PARKER, BARRIE GOWER Chernobyl – Sister Pictures, The Mighty Mint, Word Games/HBO/Sky Atlantic
INMA AZORIN The Trial Of Christine Keeler – Ecosse Films, Great Meadow Productions/BBC One
KIRSTIN CHALMERS Catherine The Great – New Pictures, Origin Pictures/HBO/Sky Atlantic
LOZ SCHIAVO Peaky Blinders – Caryn Mandabach Productions, Tiger Aspect/BBC One
ORIGINAL MUSIC
ADRIAN JOHNSTON Giri/Haji – Sister Pictures/BBC Two
ANDREW PHILLIPS War In The Blood – Minnow Films/BBC Two
DAVID HOLMES, KEEFUS CIANCIA Killing Eve – Sid Gentle Films/BBC One
HILDUR GUDNADÓTTIR Chernobyl– Sister Pictures, The Mighty Mint, Word Games/HBO/Sky Atlantic
PHOTOGRAPHY: FACTUAL
BERTIE GREGORY, HOWARD BOURNE, JOHN SHIER Seven Worlds, One Planet – BBC Studios/BBC One
DOUG ANDERSON, ROGER HORROCKS, GAVIN THURSTON Our Planet (Coastal Seas) – Silverback Films/Netflix
JAMIE MCPHERSON, HECTOR SKEVINGTON-POSTLES, BARRIE BRITTON Our Planet (Frozen Worlds) – Silverback Films/Netflix
PATRICK SMITH, NEIL HARVEY Untouchable: The Rise And Fall Of Harvey Weinstein – Lightbox/BBC Two
PHOTOGRAPHY & LIGHTING: FICTION
ADRIANO GOLDMAN The Crown – Left Bank Pictures, Sony Pictures Television/Netflix
JAKOB IHRE Chernobyl – Sister Pictures, The Mighty Mint, Word Games/HBO/Sky Atlantic
JOE ANDERSON Top Boy – Cowboy Films, Easter Partisan Films, Dream Crew, SpringHill Entertainment/Netflix
SUZIE LAVELLE His Dark Materials (Episode 3) – Bad Wolf, BBC Studios, HBO/BBC One
PRODUCTION DESIGN
LAURENCE DORMAN Killing Eve – Sid Gentle Films/BBC One
LUKE HULL, CLAIRE LEVINSON-GENDLER Chernobyl – Sister Pictures, The Mighty Mint, Word Games/HBOSky Atlantic
MARTIN CHILDS, ALISON HARVEY The Crown – Left Bank Pictures, Sony Pictures Television/Netflix
SAMANTHA HARLEY, MIRI KATZ Sex Education – Eleven Film/Netflix
SCRIPTED CASTING
DES HAMILTON Top Boy – Cowboy Films, Easter Partisan Films, Dream Crew, SpringHill Entertainment/Netflix
LAUREN EVANS Sex Education – Eleven Film/Netflix
NINA GOLD, ROBERT STERNE Chernobyl – Sister Pictures, The Mighty Mint, Word Games/HBO/Sky Atlantic
YOKO NARAHASHI, SHAHEEN BAIG, LAYLA MERRICK-WOLF Giri/Haji – Sister/BBC Two
SOUND: FACTUAL
GRAHAM WILD, KATE HOPKINS Seven Worlds, One Planet – BBC Studios/BBC One
GRAHAM WILD, KATE HOPKINS, TIM OWENS Our Planet (One Planet)– Silverback Films Production/Netflix
NICK FRY, STEVE SPEED, JAMES EVANS, NICK ADAMS Formula 1: Drive To Survive – Box to Box Films/Netflix
SOUND TEAM Battle of the Brass Bands – Two Four/Sky Arts
SOUND: FICTION
DILLON BENNETT, JON THOMAS, GARETH BULL, JAMES RIDGEWAY His Dark Materials – Bad Wolf, BBC Studios, HBO/BBC One
IAN WILKINSON, LEE WALPOLE, FRASER BARBER, STUART HILLIKER A Cristmas Carol – FX Productions in association with the BBC, Minim UK Productions, Scott Free, and Hardy Son & Baker/BBC One
STEFAN HENRIX, JOE BEAL, STUART HILIKER, VINCENT PIPONNIER Chernobyl – Sister Pictures, The Mighty Mint, Word Games/HBO/Sky Atlantic
SOUND TEAM The Crown – Left Bank Pictures, Sony Pictures Television/Netflix
SPECIAL, VISUAL & GRAPHIC EFFECTS
BEN TURNER, CHRIS REYNOLDS, ASA SHOUL The Crown – Left Bank Pictures, Sony Pictures Television/Netflix
FRAMESTORE, PAINTING PRACTICE, REAL SFX, RUSSELL DODGSON His Dark Materials – Bad Wolf, BBC Studios/HBO/BBC One
LINDSAY MCFARLANE, CLAUDIUS CHRISTIAN RAUCH, JEAN-CLÉMENT SORET, DNEG Chernobyl – Sister Pictures, The Mighty Mint, Word Games/HBO/Sky Atlantic
MILK VISUAL EFFECTS, GARETH SPENSLEY, REAL SFX Good Omens – Amazon Studios, BBC Studios, Narrativia, The Blank Corporation/Amazon Prime Video
TITLES & GRAPHIC IDENTITY
ALEX MACLEAN The Durrells – Sid Gentle Films/ITV
ELASTIC Catherine The Great – New Pictures, Origin Pictures/HBO/Sky Atlantic
ELASTIC, PAINTING PRACTICE His Dark Materials – Bad Wolf, BBC Studios, HBO/BBC One
LIGHT CREATIVE Ghosts – Monumental Television, Them There/BBC One
WRITER: COMEDY
DANNY BROCKLEHURST Brassic – Calamity Films/Sky One
JAMIE DEMETRIOU Stath Lets Flats – Roughcut TV/Channel 4
PHOEBE WALLER-BRIDGE Fleabag – Two Brothers Pictures/BBC Three
SAM LEIFER, TOM BASDEN Plebs – Rise Films/ITV2
WRITER: DRAMA
CHARLIE COVELL The End Of The F***ing World – Clerkenwell Films, Dominic Buchanan Productions/Channel 4
CRAIG MAZIN Chernobyl – Sister Pictures, The Mighty Mint, Word Games/HBO/Sky Atlantic
JESSE ARMSTRONG Succession – HBO, Project Zeus, Hyperobject Industries, Gary Sanchez Productions/Sky Atlantic
SHANE MEADOWS, JACK THORNE The Virtues – Warp Films, Big Arty Productions/Channel 4
SPECIAL AWARD
NICKY SARGENT, VIKKI DUNN, founders of post-production house The Farm
