Channel 4 triumphs at the BAFTAs with eight awards

19 May 2014

In what is invariably described as a ‘glittering’ and ‘star-studded’ ‘bash’ at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane last night, Channel 4 won eight, that’s right, EIGHT BAFTAs, the most of any broadcaster on the night. (Along with ITV – if I could put this bit in a smaller font I would).

Marching at the forefront of this glorious televisual vanguard was The IT Crowd, which picked up two awards, with Richard Ayoade and Katherine Parkinson winning for Male and Female Performance in a Comedy Programme respectively.

In drama, the award for Leading Actor went to Sean Harris, for his extraordinary performance in Southcliffe. The BAFTA for Single Drama was won by the intelligent and powerful domestic terrorism thriller Complicit. In his acceptance speech for Complicit, Kevin Toolis paid tribute to 4 as "not the biggest but the boldest broadcaster in the world". Thanks Kevin, we’ve released your hamster as per the agreement.

And, as usual, the factual team are all smothering each other in eau de smug following a series of wins. Bedlam won for Factual Series; The Murder Trial, which saw cameras placed inside a British court for the entirety of a trial, won for Single Documentary; and Syria: Across the Lines (Dispatches) received the BAFTA for Current Affairs, the tenth BAFTA (across Television and Television Craft) for a Dispatches film.

Gogglebox, in its first series, was successful in the Reality & Constructed Factual category.

On a different note, congratulations to Olivia Colman, for her Broadchurch win. But really, don’t you think it’s time to let someone else have a go now? If you can’t learn to share, it’s the naughty step for you!

 

Notes to editors:

About Channel 4: Channel 4 is excellent.