BAFTA TV Awards 2022: Broadcasters win big at ceremony as stars support BBC and Channel 4 | News about Ant-Man & Art

The government’s plan to sell off Channel 4 is at the heart of this year’s BAFTA TV Awards, as committed stars fight to keep the broadcaster in the hands of the public.

Director Steve McQueen, who won an award for the documentary Uprising, told audiences at the Royal Festival Hall in London that the public should “hold on tight” to the BBC and Channel 4, adding that we should “fight for every inch, every inch and every inch”.

Comedian Holly Walsh, who wrote Motherland, told the audience: “Broadcasting public service is a testament to what makes the BBC and Channel 4 so great.”

Time, Help and Big Zuu: Full list of winners from this year’s TV BAFTA

Channel 4 mainstay Gogglebox picked reality and built the actual award at the ceremony, with the show’s creator using his winning speech to support the broadcaster.

Stephen Lambert said: “Googlebox may have ended when it started working 9 years ago because it had modest ratings but the publicly owned risk-taking Channel 4 believed in it and they stuck with it. .

“If the government goes ahead with its plan to destroy Channel 4, risks of this kind will not be taken and a large part will end without good reason.”

Comedian Mo Gilligan also sang Channel 4’s praises, saying after his Lateish Show win: “They let me bring joy to the little black boy, I really appreciate that there.

“It wouldn’t have been possible without Channel 4, I know people said it but it’s so important.”

The pandemic wasn’t far off people’s minds this year either, as the screenwriter of the COVID TV series Together read a letter to the government, criticizing its COVID-19 response after receiving the award. himself for the single TV series.

Dennis Kelly said: “The UK has seen one of the worst global mortality rates caused by the pandemic. The government response ranged from careless to downright sloppy.

“The lives of our loved ones are treated as consumable damage, collateral.

“The families saved have been ignored, lied to and belittled by a Government that seems too busy partying for us to think, not even dare to tell us they are too busy. to see us or initiate an investigation promptly.”

It was a good night for broadcasters

Elsewhere, public service broadcasters took the spoils of British television’s biggest night.

BBC Time’s prison drama has won two awards, including for best mini series – beating stiff competition from the likes of It’s A Sin, ITV’s Stephen and Sky’s Landscapers.

Sean Bean won Best Actor for his role on the show, saying he was “overwhelmed” in a letter read by the show’s producer.

Channel 4’s drama Help COVID also won a pair of awards, with Cathy Tyson and Jodie Comer going to best supporting actress and lead actress respectively.

Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa took to the stage with loud applause, just hours after it was announced he will be the next Doctor.

Joking with his Aimee co-star Lou Wood, they told a joke, using him as a spearhead, before presenting the scripted comedy award to the BBC sitcom Motherland.

Giovanni Pernice and Rose Ayling-Ellis of Seriously To Dancing won the publicly voted unmissable moment award for the touching couple’s final series, in which they dance a part of the silence, inspired by Ayling-Ellis’ deafness.

Ayling-Ellis said: “It was a very special moment for us because hopefully it showed how powerful TV can be, where it really made the changes. It even made a difference. helped BSL [British Sign Language] recently passed legislation.

“It’s getting people to support sign language more, while also raising deaf awareness and positivity for people. We still have a long way to go, but it’s a great start. We’re very proud of that.” “

Rapper Big Zuu won twice at the ceremony for his show on Dave, Big Zuu’s Big Eats, while Channel 4’s Stath Lets Flats star Jamie Demetriou also won a BAFTA – third of three his year.

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Scottish comedian Billy Connolly was honored to receive a scholarship from BAFTA, when he gave a video address to the audience with his signature Scottish humour.

Big Yin, who has Parkinson’s disease, said: “I’m so proud to receive this. Life is good. I haven’t been on stage for about two years. This is great. It suits me.

“Symptoms-watchers among you may have noticed that my left side is different from my right. It’s just one of these things. Parkinson’s disease. I have this very serious illness.

“My wife puts my clothes on in the morning and takes them off at night. It’s a fun life. I have no complaints.”