Putting on the glitz Small Screen Stars Shine again
The Bafta television awards Saw our Favourite telly icons make a welcome return to the red carpet
Celebrities gathered for a night of socially distanced celebrations last week as the TV Baftas honoured the best smallscreen talent. And awards night glamour was back in full force when stars rocked up to the London Television Centre, where Michaela Coel’s wondrous I May Destroy You
reigned supreme.
Years & Years singer Olly Alexander, 30, kicked off proceedings with a stunning rendition of hit Starstruck,
while funnyman Richard Ayoade, 44, was on hand to offer dry commentary as he presented the show. Introducing himself as the “proud face of pandemic broadcasting”, the comedian packed in one-liners as the ceremony got underway.
The Crown, Bridgerton and Normal People were all among the most nominated shows, but it was Michaela Coel’s brilliant I May Destroy You that became the most celebrated. The star beat off competition from actresses including Jodie Comer, Billie
Piper and Daisy
Edgar-jones to pick up the Leading Actress gong, while the show as a whole pipped
Normal People, Small Axe and Adult Material to the Best Mini-series accolade.
Michaela, 33, was met by a round of applause from the small, Covid-secure audience for her powerful acceptance speech. She dedicated her gong to the series’ intimacy co-ordinator Ita O’brien, saying not working with them on productions that deal with consent and abuse is “thoughtless” and shows a “lack of mindfulness”.
Strictly winners Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse presented the award for Soap & Continuing Drama (won by
Casualty) after dancing onto the stage. And Hollywood joined in via Zoom, with Catherine Zeta-jones introducing nominees for Best Single Drama, won by Sitting In Limbo.
Paul Mescal looked shocked when he was called to receive the Leading Actor gong. The Irish star, who caused a stir with his performance of Connell in the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel, admitted he hadn’t prepared a speech as he thanked his parents and co-star Daisy Edgar-jones, 23. He sweetly said of
Normal People, “It’s been pretty nuts… This feels like a very nice way to tie it up in a bow.”
Meanwhile, Diversity’s Ashley Banjo, 32, thanked the thousands of people who complained about the dance troupe’s Black Lives Matter performance on Britain’s Got Talent as the routine was honoured with a TV Bafta.
The win was made even more special as it was the only award voted for by the public. Ashley said, “This is mad. This is so much more than just an award.” Davina Mccall, 53, celebrated with her Long Lost Family: Born Without
Trace team as they took the gong for Best Features. And Location, Location, Location’s Kirstie Allsopp tweeted, “Amazing Show. Well deserved.”
Elsewhere, comedian Romesh Ranganathan, 43, picked up the gong for Best Entertainment Performance for The Ranganation. Fellow nominee, Bradley Walsh, 61, who was up for his work on Beat The Chasers, jokingly heckled Romesh as he walked to the stage. Romesh finished his speech by telling Bradley to “shut up”.
Netflix drama The Crown became the biggest loser despite being nominated in several categories. Both Strictly and Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway also missed out.
Billie Piper, 38, nominated for her turn in I Hate Suzie, oozed sophistication as she walked the much-missed red carpet. Strictly’s Oti Mabuse, 30, kept things classy in a white strapless frock, while Best Supporting Actress nominee Helena Bonham Carter, 55, looked gorgeous in a polka-dot gown. Golda Rosheuvel, 51, who starred as Queen Charlotte in Netflix hit Bridgerton, attended alongside her co-star Nicola Coughlan, 34, who wore bright orange Valentino.
This Country‘s Daisy May Cooper, 34, who arrived on the arm of her dad and uncle, shimmered in a glittering number. And
Killing Eve‘s Jodie Comer, 28, was also among the guests on the red carpet.
Men upped the style stakes this year, with Sex Education’s Ncuti Gatwa, 28, wowing in a silky suit and Normal People’s Paul Mescal, 25, looking dapper in a bow tie. Strictly winner Bill Bailey, 56, brought some of the show’s sparkle with him, teaming his suit with a sequin-adorned face mask.
With a small live audience and a whole lot of glitz and glamour, the biggest night on the small screen certainly packed a punch.
Ruth Langsford is one of the nation’s most successful TV presenters, fronting shows including This Morning and Loose Women. And while she admits she loves her career, Ruth has appreciated being able to spend some rare time at home over the past year.
“A lot of people who work kind of went, ‘This is great. I’m going to watch Netflix and chill.’ And I went, ‘I’m going to get a skip and clear out the shed,’” she says.
While she often works alongside husband Eamonn Holmes, 61, Ruth says she’s able to separate their professional relationship “very easily”. The couple, who have been together for 24 years and married for 11, stepped down from their This Morning presenting duties earlier this year, with Alison Hammond and Dermot O’leary taking over as hosts on Fridays. But Ruth admits the pair are looking forward to returning to the sofa in the summer.
Here, Ruth, 61, opens up to OK! about the secret to a happy marriage and why she loves being a Loose Woman…
Hi Ruth! How’s the past year been for you?
I think we were lucky that we were still working. We were doing a lot less because Loose Women stopped for a while, but I was still doing This Morning. I didn’t have a lot of work on and, to be honest, I enjoyed the time because I’m so rarely at home. I don’t think I washed my hair for a week while clearing out the shed! I literally got up in the morning, put my hair into a scrunchie, shoved on my leggings and off I went. I found great pleasure in doing that. But I did really miss my mum. She’s in an assisted-living home that is five minutes around the corner, but I couldn’t see her. I’ve only just been allowed to bring her to my house now.
That must have been tough...
It was awful. I phoned her every day, but it’s not the same. It was very good talking to her though because it was very grounding. She was six during the war, so she talks a lot about that. Whenever I said something like, “There was a huge queue at the supermarket today it took me two hours to do the shopping,” she said, “Well, you’re lucky to have food. We had rations.” So actually, each time, I thought, “You’re absolutely right. We’re really OK.”
A lot of viewers are missing you and Eamonn on This Morning. Are you pleased to be returning later this summer?
Yes. We’ll be doing seven weeks from July. I’m looking forward to it. Have you spoken to Alison and Dermot?
Yeah. I speak to Alison all the time. She’s a friend of mine.
How do you and Eamonn separate your working relationship from your marriage?
I leave my job at the door because it’s just my job. I love it, but it’s not my life. I don’t discuss work at home.
Have you and Eamonn had disagreements before going live?
Oh, always! People who work with us know that. There are lots of presenting couples who aren’t couples. Phillip and Holly, and Dermot and Alison – they don’t go home together and argue about who has put the milk away or who hasn’t. It’s a completely different dynamic, but I think it’s a dynamic that people relate to because they’ve got relationships themselves. But we don’t argue. Despite what people say – we don’t.
What’s the secret to a long happy marriage?
I would say respect for each other. And laughter. We have a lot of fun Eamonn and I.
Eamonn was struggling with chronic pain after suffering a dislocated pelvis and three slipped discs. How is he doing?
He’s OK. It’s a slow process. He’s just carrying on with his physio and putting the work into that. It’s very difficult when someone is in pain because it’s hard to help them.
As a Loose Woman, what’s your favourite thing about doing the show?
I love that it’s all women because I’m very much a girls’ girl. I love the difference of opinions and the difference of age groups.
Do you ever worry about what you say on camera?
The danger is sometimes you forget you’re on TV. Sometimes you kind of think, “Did I take that a step too far?” You do share an awful lot. But they’re very supportive.
We’re at the Afternoon Tea Party in aid of Breast Cancer Now. Why is the event important to you?
Breast cancer has touched so many people’s lives. If not directly, then indirectly. I think it’s something that always needs awareness. Also, to remind us all to check. I’m not the best at that because I get a bit complacent. And then I might read about somebody with cancer or have friends whose lives have been sadly touched by cancer and I think, “I really must check myself.” It’s not a difficult thing to do and it could save your life.
‘Despite what people say, eamonn and i Don’t argue’