The Virgin Media BAFTA TV Awards is the highlight of the television calendar, recognising the incredible quality and variety of television enjoyed in 2021, with shows such as It’s A Sin, We Are Lady Parts, Landscapers, Help and Time leading the nominations.
The Awards were hosted by Richard Ayoade at the Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank, and featured a red carpet performance by George Ezra. A host of British stars attended the event, including Olly Alexander, Olivia Colman, Mo Gilligan, Sharon Horgan, Suranne Jones, Daniel Mays, Steve McQueen, Graham Norton and many more.
In My Skin won the award for Drama Series. 1. Time won for Mini-Series and Together won the BAFTA for Single Drama. Jodie Comer won the Leading Actress award for her performance in Help. Jodie previously won for her performance as Villanelle in Killing Eve in 2019.
Sean Bean won the Leading Actor award for his performance in Time. This is Sean’s third nomination and second win. Matthew Macfadyen, a first-time nominee, won for his performance in Succession in the Supporting Actor category. Cathy Tyson won in the Supporting Actress category for her performance in Help.
Sophie Willan won in Female Performance in a Comedy Programme for playing the titular character in Alma's Not Normal. Jamie Demetriou won the BAFTA for Male Performance in a Comedy Programme for Stath Lets Flats.
Big Zuu won for Entertainment Performance and Big Zuu's Big Eats won for Features.Gogglebox received the BAFTA for Reality & Constructed Factual – its fourth nomination and second win in this category. The Chase won in the Daytime category. Our Land won the BAFTA for Short Form Programme.
The Underground Railroad, the US series about escape from slavery in the Deep South, won in the International category. This is Barry Jenkins’ third BAFTA nomination and first win. Coronation Street was awarded the BAFTA for Soap & Continuing Drama.
News Coverage was awarded to ITV News at Ten Storming of the Capital, and the award for Current Affairs was presented to Fearless: The Women Fighting Putin (Exposure). Uprising received the BAFTA for Factual Series. My Childhood, My Country – 20 Years in Afghanistan won Single Documentary and The Missing Children won Specialist Factual. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix triumphed in the Sport category, while the award for Live Event was presented to The Earthshot Prize 2021.
The Fellowship was presented to Sir Billy Connolly. The Fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed by BAFTA in recognition of an individual’s outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, television or games across their career.
Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment, the only award voted for by the public, was won by Rose and Giovanni’s silent dance to ‘Symphony’, Strictly Come Dancing.
