BAFTA Television Awards 2012

reviews, news & interviews

It wouldn't have been theartsdesk's pick of the pops, but ITV1's Fred West drama Appropriate Adult had a great night at the BAFTA Television Awards. Dominic West took Leading Actor, Emily Watson was Leading Actress, and Monica Dolan completed the hat-trick by taking Supporting Actress. This spelt disappointment for Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal of Sherlock, but all was not lost since Andrew Scott (who played Moriarty) took Supporting Actor, while Sherlock's co-creator Steven Moffat was delighted to win the Special Award. It was handed to him by Cumberbatch and Matt Smith, star of Doctor Who which Moffat also writes and produces. Smith described Moffat as "brilliantly cantankerous."

Other highlights of the night included a Fellowship Award to venerable Antipodean Rolf Harris (pictured right), who was described as "a national British treasure" by presenter Robert Lindsay and was hailed in a tribute film which featured luminaries including Russell Crowe. Jennifer Saunders lifted Female Performance in a Comedy Programme for the revived AbFab, while Graham Norton (fresh from the Eurovision Song Contest debacle) claimed the Entertainment Performance award for The Graham Norton Show. Norton pipped Dara Ó Briain's Mock the Week in the process, but BAFTA host Ó Briain said there were no hard feelings because Norton had "spent the last 24 hours comforting Engelbert Humperdinck." Meanwhile Darren Boyd took Male Performance in a Comedy Programme for Sky 1's Spy, and Fresh Meat lost out to Mrs Brown's Boys in Situation Comedy.

On Planet Soap, Coronation Street pinched Soap & Continuing Drama (getting revenge on EastEnders, who won last year), while BBC Three's cult hit The Fades (now cancelled after its solitary series) won Drama Series. Shane Meadows's This Is England '88 (Channel 4) waltzed off with the Mini Series trophy - which sadly meant Top Boy didn't - and C4 scored again with Random, winner in the Single Drama category. The Single Documentary winner was Terry Pratchett's film about euthanasia for BBC Two, Choosing to Die.

The Scandinavian drama boom was acknowledged by Danish political saga Borgen taking the International award, while BBC Three's Our War took Factual Series. The BBC's coverage of Kate and William's Royal Wedding earned the Sport & Live Event award.

Comments

Best sit com is won by "Mrs Brown's Boys", not "Fresh Meat"

Corrected, thank you

Can anybody explain to me why "Sherlock" wasn't nominated for an award? Best drama, for example? It surely deserved at least a nomination.

I was expecting for some awards for "Sherlock" too but totally disappointed. I haven't seen better acting than Sherlock and Watson. Anyway, have some nice voices at http://voice-over.org

There I was, dear reader, walking down from the National, my mind full of the wonder that is Cillian Murphy, and 'bam!' there was Benedict rushing from side to side, being very generous and obviously very hot (interpret that as you will) - the most touching thing being his dash to a group of disabled fans and posing with them, signing God knows what. And then his mum and dad turning up and it looking like he perhaps hadn't seen them since coming back from the US. Even though I was quite close to him, with all the frenzy, I couldn't move or speak but was wondering if he'd like my bottle of water (Ben - FYI - was having a personal Clint Eastwood moment). He seemed very sanguine, down to earth, and brisk - not really bothered about the outcome of the Baftas. Got bigger fish to fry perhaps. Well if, as he says, Sherlock 3 starts filming in Jan we can look forward to a 2013 autumn treat. I wish that he and Matt had done a 'give me sunshine' when they came on. It was almost there. Glad to have you back!