CROWN JEWEL
Rio Ferdinand and partner Kate Wright BGT’S Dec with pregnant wife Ali Astall
Caroline Flack, 38
The newly engaged presenter made a dramatic entrance in pale pink chiffon one-shoulder gown with floral embellishment. NETFLIX won its first ever TV Bafta when Vanessa Kirby last night collected the Best Supporting Actress gong for her role in The Crown.
The hit show was beaten in the Best Drama Series category by the BBC’S Peaky Blinders, but Vanessa, 30, made history for the streaming service, taking the honour for her role as Princess Margaret.
She said: “I felt like the luckiest person in the world to be playing someone so colourful, vibrant, brave and strong.
“This is for Margaret, wherever she is.”
She also praised her co-star Claire Foy, 34. who played the Queen, describing her as “the best sister in the world” before hastily adding, “apart from my real one”.
Last year The Crown was nominated in four categories but came away empty-handed.
Before the ceremony, Foy said she felt proud if the “embarrassing” revelation that she had earned less than Matt Smith, 35, who played Prince Philip, had helped others.
Foy, nominated for the Leading Actress award, said: “I’ve spoken to people whose pay has gone up as a direct result of what I earn being put everywhere.
“My shame or embarrassment of people talking about my worth, and how much I earn, is nothing compared to the fact that if people are now
Vanessa Kirby Leading Actor: Sean Bean, Broken, BBC1
Leading Actress: Molly Windsor, Three Girls, BBC1. Drama Series: Peaky Blinders, BBC2 (pictured) Entertainment: Britain’s Got Talent, ITV
Comedy Entertainment: Murder in Successville, BBC3
Graham
Norton, BBC1
Soap/continuing Drama: Casualty, BBC1
The Grand National, ITV
The Handmaid’s Tale,
Channel 4
Supporting Actor: Brian F O’byrne, Little Boy Blue, ITV
Netflix John Motson
Vanessa Kirby, The Crown, aware, people are not going to be able to make those mistakes again or make those decisions again.
“If that’s what’s good and comes out of it then I am very proud of it.”
Host Sue Perkins, 48, joked about gender equality as she opened the ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall. She said: “It would be crass and inappropriate to discuss my fee, so let’s just say I’m going to be putting in half the effort.”
She hailed the casting of Jodie Whittaker as the first female Doctor Who with a jibe about Harvey Weinstein. She said: “If anyone has experience of fighting off a grotesque monster it’s an actress.”
The Bafta for best miniseries went to Three Girls, the drama about the Rochdale child sex abuse scandal. Writer Nicole Taylor dedicated the prize to health worker Sara Rowbotham and former detective Maggie Oliver, who exposed the abuse.
She said: “To all the Maggies and Saras who lost your careers and nearly lost your minds trying to get your voices heard, thank you, this is for you.” Best Features award went to Channel 5’s Cruising with Jane Mcdonald. Jane, 55, said: “Mum, look what I’m bringing home.” Retiring BBC commentator John Motson, 72, picked up a Special Award for his “outstanding contribution to sports broadcasting”. Collecting his gong, he said: “I wish I could have had the whole Match of the Day team here with me.” Claire Foy