Bafta TV Awards 2024: Nominations, Winners & Highlights

The British Academy Film and Television Arts (Bafta) nominations for 2026 have arrived, signaling a potential shift in the landscape of British television awards. While familiar faces like Graham Norton have received recognition, the nominations also highlight a rising generation of talent and a willingness to move beyond established industry mainstays. Perhaps most notably, Ant & Dec, long-time fixtures in the entertainment performance category, are absent from the shortlist this year.

The absence of Ant & Dec, who have dominated the entertainment performance category for much of the millennium, marks a significant moment. According to The Guardian, this is a “clever omission” signaling a potential changing of the guard. Their consistent presence has been a hallmark of the Baftas for years, making their exclusion all the more striking. This year, the category features Claudia Winkleman, nominated for her work on The Celebrity Traitors, suggesting a move towards recognizing newer, popular entertainment formats.

Graham Norton, another perennial Bafta winner, also finds himself without a nomination in the entertainment performance category, though The Graham Norton Demonstrate is nominated for entertainment programme. This adds to the sense that the awards are opening up to a wider range of contenders. The Irish actor Philippa Dunne has been nominated for best actress in a comedy for her performance in the sitcom Amandaland, a spin-off from Motherland. This marks Dunne’s first Bafta nomination, highlighting the emergence of new talent within the comedy genre.

Drama is also well-represented in the nominations. Blue Lights, a BBC police drama set in Belfast, has been nominated for best drama, while Trespasses, Channel 4’s adaptation of Louise Kennedy’s novel, is up for limited drama series. Northern Ireland Screen reports that a sequence from Blue Lights will also compete for the “memorable moments” of the year award, which is voted for by the public.

Leading the field in nominations are Adolescence and A Thousand Blows, indicating a strong showing for both dramas. Adolescence, a Netflix drama, has garnered 11 nominations, though it’s worth noting that the Bafta qualifying period runs from January to December of the previous year, meaning the awards are often presented some time after a show’s initial release. In this case, 14 months will have passed since Adolescence premiered on Netflix by the time the winners are announced in May.

The acting categories appear particularly competitive. Stephen Graham is widely tipped to win leading actor for his role in Adolescence, while Owen Cooper is the favorite for supporting actor, also for Adolescence. Erin Doherty is considered the frontrunner for supporting actress for her performance in A Thousand Blows, praised for her “astonishing stillness” and demanding level of emotional control. Aimee Lou Wood and Erin Doherty have both landed double nominations, with Wood also recognized for her work in The White Lotus.

Beyond the headline categories, the nominations reflect a diverse range of programming. Amandaland is nominated for best scripted comedy, alongside Big Boys, How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge), and Things You Should Have Done. The nominations also include recognition for shows like What It Feels Like For A Girl and I Fought The Law, demonstrating a commitment to showcasing a variety of narratives and perspectives.

The nominations also reveal a trend towards recognizing shows that grapple with complex social issues. Adolescence, for example, explores the themes of misogynistic online influence on young men, while Trespasses delves into the Troubles in Northern Ireland. This suggests a growing appetite for television that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

The Bafta Television Awards are scheduled to be announced in May. The shift away from consistently awarding Ant & Dec and Graham Norton, coupled with the strong showing of newer shows and emerging talent, suggests that this year’s ceremony could mark a turning point for the awards, reflecting a broader evolution within the British television industry. The nominations signal a willingness to embrace fresh faces and narratives, potentially ushering in a new era of recognition for British television excellence.