The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) unveiled the winners of the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards at a glittering ceremony in London, celebrating the most outstanding television achievements of 2024. Hosted with charm and wit by Alan Cumming, the evening featured powerful performances by Jessie J, Tom Grennan, and violinist Esther Abrami, adding a musical flourish to the prestigious event.
Double Win for Mr Loverman
Leading the night was Mr Loverman, the only programme to take home two awards. Lennie James claimed his first BAFTA for Leading Actor, while Ariyon Bakare also marked his first BAFTA win with the Supporting Actor award. The show’s compelling narrative and powerful performances clearly struck a chord with audiences and critics alike.
New Faces Shine Bright
First-time nominees made a strong impression at this year’s awards. Marisa Abela won Leading Actress for her gripping role in Industry, while Jessica Gunning took Supporting Actress honors for her haunting performance in Baby Reindeer. These wins reflect BAFTA’s ongoing commitment to recognising emerging talent.
In the comedy categories, veteran actress Ruth Jones finally received her first BAFTA for Gavin & Stacey: The Finale, winning Female Performance in a Comedy Programme. Danny Dyer, another newcomer to the BAFTA winner’s circle, was awarded Male Performance in a Comedy Programme for Mr Bigstuff.
Familiar Names and New Categories
Joe Lycett retained his crown in Entertainment Performance for Late Night Lycett, marking a rare back-to-back win. BAFTA also introduced two new children’s television categories this year. The scripted award went to CBeebies As You Like It at Shakespeare’s Globe, and Disability and Me (FYI Investigates) triumphed in the non-scripted category—both recognizing the evolving and vital landscape of children’s programming.
Drama and Documentaries That Moved the Nation
Mr Bates vs The Post Office won Best Limited Drama, continuing its powerful trajectory after receiving a BAFTA Special Award at the Television Craft Awards. Blue Lights earned Drama Series, and EastEnders continued its reign in the Soap & Continuing Drama category.
In factual programming, Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour won Factual Entertainment, while The Jury: Murder Trial clinched the Reality award. To Catch a Copper was recognized for its gripping narrative in the Factual Series category, and Ukraine: Enemy in the Woods won Single Documentary, underscoring the importance of journalism in conflict zones.
Celebrating Public Impact and Excellence
Among the special awards, ITV was honored with the Television Special Award for commissioning Mr Bates vs The Post Office. Presented by Baroness Floella Benjamin, the award highlighted the profound societal impact of public service broadcasting. In a particularly moving moment, Kirsty Wark received the BAFTA Fellowship, recognising her decades-long contribution to news and current affairs.
Meanwhile, the publicly-voted P&O Cruises Memorable Moment Award was won by Strictly Come Dancing, once again demonstrating the beloved show’s cultural resonance.
Winners at a Glance
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Leading Actor: Lennie James – Mr Loverman
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Leading Actress: Marisa Abela – Industry
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Supporting Actor: Ariyon Bakare – Mr Loverman
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Supporting Actress: Jessica Gunning – Baby Reindeer
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Male Comedy Performance: Danny Dyer – Mr Bigstuff
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Female Comedy Performance: Ruth Jones – Gavin & Stacey: The Finale
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Drama Series: Blue Lights
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Limited Drama: Mr Bates vs The Post Office
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Soap & Continuing Drama: EastEnders
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International: Shōgun
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Short Form: Quiet Life
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Live Event: Glastonbury 2024
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Sports Coverage: Paris 2024 Olympics
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Children’s Scripted: CBeebies As You Like It
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Children’s Non-Scripted: Disability and Me
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Entertainment Programme: Would I Lie to You?
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Daytime: Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventure
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Factual Series: To Catch a Copper
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Single Documentary: Ukraine: Enemy in the Woods
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Reality: The Jury: Murder Trial
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Factual Entertainment: Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour
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Specialist Factual: Atomic People
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News Coverage: BBC Breakfast: Post Office Special
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Current Affairs: State of Rage
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Entertainment Performance: Joe Lycett – Late Night Lycett
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P&O Cruises Memorable Moment: Strictly Come Dancing
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Special Award: ITV – Mr Bates vs The Post Office
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Fellowship: Kirsty Wark
The 2025 BAFTA Television Awards not only honored excellence in storytelling and performance but also underscored television’s power to influence and inspire. With both emerging and seasoned talents taking center stage, it was a ceremony that celebrated not just the industry’s finest—but its future.
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