Backlash at Baftas as luvvies whine: Get the Tories out
IT IS meant to be a night spent celebrating the best that British television has to offer.
But Sunday’s Bafta TV awards were last night condemned by MPs as the annual event was used as a platform to make political digs at the Government.
Dennis Kelly, who wrote the television film Together, and Kayleigh Llewellyn, creator of BBC3 drama series In My Skin, both took aim at the Government in their acceptance speeches, while others criticised plans to privatise Channel 4.
Kelly, who collected the accolade for best single drama, criticised the Government’s handling of the pandemic, while Miss Llewellyn, who won best drama series, said: ‘We need to get the Tories out.’
She said: ‘In 2010 the Tory Government slithered into power and ever since then they have cut NHS mental health beds by 25 per cent at a time when need for those beds has risen by 20 per cent. So, we need to get the Tories out.’
Neither speech was broadcast in the final edit of the programme shown later on the BBC. Their words, however, were met with dismay from Tory MPs who described their decisions as ‘irresponsible’ and ‘misplaced’. Former actor Giles Watling, the MP for Clacton, said: ‘It always does happen and one’s sort of used to it.
‘I think people should be careful about taking political stances because they have a platform. I think it’s biased, it’s unfair and there is nobody there to give the other side of the argument.’
Fellow MP Steve Brine said: ‘We can all play to the gallery but it’s all a bit sad and misplaced. If I won a Bafta I’d use the moment to say thank you and celebrate the moment, not make partisan points which, by their very nature, upset half the audience.’ And Bill Cash said: ‘Much of what Bafta does has huge merit but it is self denigrating to allow political interference, political intrusion of this kind.’
The ceremony, which was hosted by comedian Richard Ayoade, was also used by TV makers and stars to address the potential privatisation of Channel 4.
Stephen Lambert, the media executive behind Channel 4’s popular series Gogglebox, criticised the Government’s plan as ‘destructive’.
Accepting the award for single drama, Together writer Kelly read a letter from families bereaved by Covid which criticised the Government’s handling of the pandemic.
Together, starring Sharon Horgan and James McAvoy, follows a family from the first days of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020 to the present day.
Reading from a sheet, he said: ‘The UK has seen one of the worst global death tolls through the pandemic.
‘This Government’s response has ranged from careless to downright negligent. Our loved ones’ lives treated as expendable. We will not rest until we know that everything possible has been done to ensure others are spared this heartbreak and pain.’
Kelly added: ‘Prime Minister, if you are listening, start the Covid inquiry now so we can learn lessons and save lives.’
In a statement, the Government said: ‘Every death from Covid-19 is a tragedy and our sympathies are with everyone who has lost loved ones.
‘We have said there are lessons to be learnt from the pandemic and the Prime Minister has committed to holding a full public inquiry, to be chaired by Baroness Hallett.’