Bafta joy gives reason to cheer
SWANSEA and West Wales had plenty of reason to celebrate with major awards from Bafta Cymru.
The Channel 4 drama It’s A Sin won two awards.
The hit show’s writer and creator, Swansea-born Russell T Davies, won the gong for best writer, while Callum Scott Howells, a member of Llanellibased Loud Applause Rising Stars, picked up the best actor award for his role in the acclaimed series.
Meanwhile, Carmarthen-born Rhod Gilbert received the presenter award for the show Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience, which also won the gong for factual series,
It’s A Sin tells the story of a group of young friends living in London through the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s and its impact on the LGBT community.
Russell Davies said: “I included a Welsh family in It’s A Sin to show that HIV isn’t only a metropolitan issue, and on a happier note, to showcase the vast amount of acting talent in Wales. I’m delighted by my award but especially pleased about Callum’s win.”
Callum is from Pontypridd, but is a regular performer at West Wales venues with Loud Applause Rising Stars.
Cerith Owens, the chairman of the mentoring team at Loud Applause, said: “We’ve seen Callum mature during his years at Loud Applause and we have recently made him an Associate Member in honour of his latest achievements.”
Meanwhile, Gangs Of London – created by Hirwaun-born Gareth Evans – received four awards, Matt Flannery for photography and lighting:fiction, Sara Jones for editing, Tom Pearce for production design and sound team for sound.
Morfydd Clark, raised in Penarth, was named best actress for her role in the critically-acclaimed 2020 horror film Saint Maud, playing a palliative care nurse and recent convert to high Catholicism who becomes obsessed with a former dancer in her care, and believes she must save her soul.
The Pembrokeshire Murders collected the award for television drama and for which Marc Evans, from Cardiff, won director:fiction, making it the eighth win of his career.
Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Amy Dowden won Best Single Documentary for her moving documentary about her life with Crohn’s disease, called Strictly Amy: Crohn’s and Me. Posting to her Instagram Amy thanked those who were part of her documentary, she said: “I am soooo thrilled to win a Bafta for my documentary – this is such an important film for the IBD community and I hope it has helped many more people understand this chronic condition.”
The director:factual award was presented to first-time nominee Liana Stewart for Black & Welsh.
The photography:factual gong was presented to the camera team for Critical: Coronavirus in Intensive Care, while Pawb a’i Farn – Black Lives Matter won the award for news and current affairs.
The make-up and hair award was won by Claire Pritchard-jones for Roald & Beatrix: The Tail Of The Curious Mouse, while Caroline Mccall won costume for her work on His Dark Materials.
The Children’s programme gong was awarded to Deian A Loli for the third time, entertainment programme was won by Dolig Ysgol Ni: Maesincla,
the short film category was won by The Welshman, and feature/television film was awarded to Eternal Beauty.
The Bafta Cymru awards honour excellence in broadcasting and production within film and television in Wales and by the Welsh in UK productions.