‘Archaic’ rules cost me Bafta, says black TV producer

Winning production team could only nominate four candidates to take home coveted mask trophy

A BLACK television producer has complained he was denied a Bafta trophy and told to buy his own winner’s certificate despite his show winning the award for best drama.

Dominic Buchanan, one of the creators of The End of the F***ing World, the Channel 4 and Netflix show that beat The Crown, Gentleman Jack and Giri/ Haji to the drama prize, described himself as “a winner who has been made to feel like a loser” after being told he would not receive the coveted mask statuette as Bafta rules limited them to four named individuals per drama – and he was not one of them.

He accused Bafta of maintaining “archaic” rules that work against black filmmakers. Bafta said it would review the rules for next year.

In an open letter, Mr Buchanan said:

“Imagine the devastation of being me, with everything I have achieved, and now not being able to get a copy of the actual Bafta award my show won.

“Imagine the furthered trauma of being the only black person on the entire eight-year journey for a successful show… and everyone who is going to get the physical Bafta is white.

“Was the decision to exclude me racist? No, I don’t need to reach for that because that would be untrue. My white colleagues who will get their award actually deserve it.

“But seriously… what madness is this? How can I turn to people, specifically those of colour, and champion Bafta and the awards system?”

Krishnendu Majumdar, Bafta’s new chairman, has vowed to increase diversity and inclusion and this year’s TV awards were praised for the relatively high number of black and ethnic minority winners, including Naomi Ackie, who won best supporting actress on Mr Buchanan’s drama.

The producer was approached in 2012 with the idea of adapting the successful comic strip into a TV series. In 2014 it was made by Clerkenwell Films, with Dominic Buchanan Productions as coproducers, and won instant acclaim.

When Mr Buchanan, pictured left with writer Charlie Covell and producer Andy Baker, contacted Bafta after the ceremony, he was told only the four named for the award would get a trophy. “I couldn’t believe it, they wouldn’t even allow me to buy a copy… Oh, but I could purchase a winner’s certificate if I wanted that instead,” he said. “Filmmakers of colour will never truly feel supported or included until these institutions change.”

A Bafta spokesman said: “The number of candidates is one of the elements under review.”