Jodie, the toast of the Baftas (shame she didn’t win one!)
THERE was no red carpet glitz but Jodie Comer ensured there would still be glamour as the Bafta TV awards went ahead last night with a virtual ceremony.
The Killing Eve star, 27, shared a photograph of her posing in a colourful €1,600 Duro Oluwu floral dress holding a glass of champagne.
Ms Comer, who was nominated for leading actress for her role as assassin Villanelle in the hit BBC series, told her 1.6million Instagram followers: ‘Bafta is looking a little different this year. I’ve swapped the Royal Festival Hall for a BBQ in the back garden!’
She revealed that the dress had not been delivered until yesterday morning and added: ‘After saying I was going to wear my pyjamas to this year’s Baftas I nearly got what I wished for.’
Rival nominee Suranne Jones, 41, shortlisted for her role as Anne Lister in Gentleman Jack, also took to Instagram to wish everyone good luck.
She posted several pictures, including one of her in a €450 full-length custom made dress by O Pioneers and €820 Miu Miu shoes. ‘All dressed up for a very different Bafta experience,’ she wrote.
In the event they were beaten to the award by a veteran who won her first Bafta 48 years ago – Glenda Jackson, 84, who played a woman struggling with dementia in Elizabeth Is Missing.
The former UK Labour MP, who took a 27year break from acting to go into politics, said: ‘I am absolutely stunned. Thank you very much indeed. It was a privilege to do this show and even more of a privilege to be linked to these marvellous actresses, there should be four awards tonight.’
The ceremony, which was open and closed by musician Tim Minchin, was hosted by Richard Ayoade at Television Centre in London with no stars, save a few socially distanced guest presenters, and no audience.
Guest presenters in the closed studio included Stacey Dooley, who wore a €1,550 strapless long black dress by Rosario, and Normal People stars Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones – who ensured they adhered to social distancing rules by holding a tape measure between them.
Mescal, 24, who this week was nominated for an Emmy for his portrayal of Connell Waldron in the BBC1 series, wore a grey suit and white T-shirt. Ms Edgar-Jones, 22, who played Marianne Sheridan, looked sophisticated in a thin-strapped black Miu Miu dress with jewels costing around €7,780, and €1,270 Jimmy Choo Thyra 100 sandals.
Several of the nominees – who did not know the winners in advance – had recorded acceptance speeches in the event they had won, while others appeared via videolink.
Fleabag was beaten by her sister, as Sian Clifford, who plays Claire, took the award for best female performance in a comedy ahead of the BBC show’s creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge. A tearful Ms Clifford, 38, said ‘Oh my god!’ as she reacted to her win. She added: ‘I honestly don’t know what to say. We’re all winners here.’
Strictly was named best entertainment programme. Judge Shirley Ballas said: ‘I’m so excited on behalf of everyone at Strictly, everyone was chewing their fingernails.’
‘Everyone chewing their fingernails’
Of the upcoming series, the 59year-old said: ‘You cannot miss it, they have got so many things lined up, it’s one of those.’
The winner of the Must-See Moment award – chosen by the public – was BBC1’s Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special, when Nessa proposes to Smithy. James Corden, who played Smithy, said: ‘Thank you so much to everyone who voted. This is some lovely icing on an already really lovely cake.’
Naomi Ackie beat The Crown’s Helena Bonham Carter to be named best supporting actress for The End Of The F***ing World. The 27-yearold dedicated the win to her father and late mother. The Channel 4 programme also took best drama series, beating The Crown, Gentleman Jack and Giri/Haji.
Emmerdale was named best soap and Chernobyl won best mini-series, with Jared Harris also taking best actor for the Sky Atlantic drama.
The award for best comedy entertainment programme went to Taskmaster, which airs on Dave.
An in memoriam segment featured Nicholas Parsons, Clive James, Gary Rhodes, former Love Island host Caroline Flack, Eddie Large and Roy Hudd, among others.
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