This Sunday marks the return of the BAFTA Television Awards as the best of the small-screen battle it out for major honours.
Among the various series looking to claim glory including the swansong outings of Happy Valley, Succession, and Top Boy, as well as the likes of Big Boys, The Last of Us, and The Long Shadow.
Additionally, a number of revered actors will be competing for awards including Bella Ramsey, Brian Cox, David Tennant, Dominic West, Elizabeth Debicki, Helena Bonham Carter, Lesley Manville, Matthew Macfadyen, Sarah Lancashire, Sharon Horgan, Steve Coogan, and Timothy Spall.
Once again, here are my winner predictions….
BEST DRAMA SERIES
THE GOLD
HAPPY VALLEY
SLOW HORSES
TOP BOY
WILL WIN AND SHOULD WIN? – HAPPY VALLEY – It would be an absolute shock to many if the final series of Sally Wainwright’s mighty crime drama lost out here. Alternatively, Slow Horses could offer strong competition after a couple of technical victories at the BAFTA TV Craft Awards.
IGNORED? – BLUE LIGHTS – The Irish cop series was one of the most riveting programmes of 2023 yet was completely snubbed in all categories.
BEST LIMITED DRAMA
BEST INTERESTS
BLACK MIRROR: DEMON 79
THE LONG SHADOW
THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT
WILL WIN? – THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT – A tough call between this and fellow serial killer drama The Long Shadow. However, the three-part miniseries from Sarah Phelps was a compelling watch that kept the story tighter compared to Long Shadow’s longer run of episodes. However, a recent Writer: Drama win for Demon ’79 at the Craft Awards could bring a potential upset.
SHOULD WIN? – BEST INTERESTS – Despite missing out on key nods in writing and directing, the emotional legal drama was marvellous viewing and highlighted the difficulties of parents when faced with challenging life decisions.
IGNORED? – BOILING POINT – The television spin-off of the 2021 film was strongly rated and provided great drama, only to manage one measly nod for Sound.
BEST LEADING ACTRESS
Helena Bonham Carter, NOLLY
Sharon Horgan, BEST INTERESTS
Sarah Lancashire, HAPPY VALLEY
Bella Ramsey, THE LAST OF US
Anne Reid, THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT
Anjana Vasan, BLACK MIRROR: DEMON 79
WILL WIN? – Sarah Lancashire – Yes, she’s won here before for playing our favourite Yorkshire copper, but her performance throughout the final series of Happy Valley was stunning, particularly that intense kitchen showdown in the finale.
SHOULD WIN?– Helena Bonham Carter – Though ‘Dame’ Sarah deserves another BAFTA, it would also be refreshing to see HBC get her due for her magnificent portrayal of Crossroads actress Noele Gordon in Russell T. Davies’s joyful miniseries.
IGNORED? – Vinette Robinson (BOILING POINT) – The Bradford native was terrific in her reprised role as overburdened kitchen chef Carly and one of many appalling BAFTA snubs for Boiling Point.
BEST LEADING ACTOR
Steve Coogan, THE RECKONING
Brian Cox, SUCCESSION
Paapa Essiedu, THE LAZARUS PROJECT
Kane Robinson, TOP BOY
Timothy Spall, THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT
Dominic West, THE CROWN
WILL WIN? – Timothy Spall – In such a tight category, it feels like there’s at least four strong contenders competing for the win here, including farewell turns from Cox and Robinson. However, Spall’s emotional performance as tragic teacher Peter Farquhar could be the Academy’s final chance to reward the versatile actor after a number of previous losses.
SHOULD WIN? – Steve Coogan – Yes, he’s landed a bucket load of BAFTAs before. However, his skin-crawling portrayal of disgraced DJ Jimmy Savile was a remarkable achievement and further prove that the Alan Partridge star can do drama well.
IGNORED? – Michael Sheen (BEST INTERESTS) – An ongoing BAFTA loser (for some strange reason), the former Tony Blair, Brian Clough and Chris Tarrant portrayer delivered a powerhouse performance as a distraught father faced with a difficult life decision.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Elizabeth Debicki, THE CROWN
Siobhan Finneran, HAPPY VALLEY
Jasmine Jobson, TOP BOY
Lesley Manville, THE CROWN
Nico Parker, THE LAST OF US
Harriet Walter, SUCCESSION
WILL WIN? – Elizabeth Debicki – With a SAG Award already under her belt and the possibility of a future Emmy, the Australian actress looks well-positioned to win for her portrayal of the late Princess Diana. However, a split vote with co-star Lesley Manville (as Princess Margaret) could allow another contender to bag the gong.
SHOULD WIN? – Jasmine Jobson – After two previous losses, the London starlet is hoping to make it third time lucky at BAFTA with her farewell performance as conflicted drug dealer Jaq in the final series of the hit Netflix crime drama.
IGNORED? – Hannah Walters (BOILING POINT) – As loyal pastry chef Emily, Walters was sublime in the egregiously-ignored Boiling Point series and proved that she is more than just Mrs. Stephen Graham. She certainly deserved a nod ahead of the likes of Parker and Walter!
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Salim Daw, THE CROWN
Harris Dickinson, A MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD
Éanna Hardwicke, THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT
Jack Lowden, SLOW HORSES
Matthew Macfadyen, SUCCESSION
Amit Shah, HAPPY VALLEY
WILL WIN? – Éanna Hardwicke – The Irish performer produced a chilling turn as convicted killer Ben Field and should benefit from a weakish category. Alternatively, it’s hard to begrudge a third BAFTA success for Macfadyen here.
SHOULD WIN? – Matthew Macfadyen – Though he already has a BAFTA for playing power-hungry CEO Tom Wambsgans, his work in Succession’s final series was tremendous and certainly worthy of another accolade.
IGNORED? – James Norton (HAPPY VALLEY) – Though his series earned multiple nominations, Norton was surprisingly overlooked for his farewell reprisal as sinister criminal Tommy Lee Royce. Without disrespecting Amit Shah, his slot should have gone to Norton.
BEST SCRIPTED COMEDY
BIG BOYS
DREAMING WHILST BLACK
EXTRAORDINARY
SUCH BRAVE GIRLS
WILL WIN AND SHOULD WIN? – BIG BOYS – The second series of Jack Rooke’s acclaimed dark comedy was just as sublime as its predecessor and will seek to win here after losing out to Derry Girls last year.
IGNORED? – GHOSTS – Despite a strong fanbase and solid reviews, the fantasy comedy saw its final series completely snubbed by BAFTA. The spirits will never forget!
BEST FEMALE COMEDY PERFORMANCE
Taj Atwal, HULLRAISERS
Bridget Christie, THE CHANGE
Roisin Gallagher, THE LOVERS
Gbemisola Ikumelo, BLACK OPS
Sofia Oxenham, EXTRAORDINARY
Máiréad Tyers, EXTRAORDINARY
WILL WIN? – Bridget Christie – The comedian actress delivered a terrific performance as a menopausal mother seeking to claim her identity back in the dark comedy series.
SHOULD WIN?– Sofia Oxenham – Though more of a supporting role, Oxenham flourished as a law firm employee with the ability to channel spirits of the dead and even outshone co-star and fellow nominee Tyers.
IGNORED? – Gemma Arterton (FUNNY WOMAN) – Her marvellous turn as an aspiring comic actress was surprisingly overlooked despite the programme’s bright feedback.
BEST MALE COMEDY PERFORMANCE
Hammed Animashaun, BLACK OPS
Jamie Demetriou, A WHOLE LIFETIME WITH JAMIE DEMETRIOU
Joseph Gilgun, BRASSIC
Mawaan Rizwan, JUICE
Adjani Salmon, DREAMING WHILST BLACK
David Tennant, GOOD OMENS
WILL WIN? – Mawaan Rizwan – Having missed out on wins for Best New Talent and Best Writer (Comedy), you do feel that the Pakistani-born British comedian deserves some reward for his wacky performance in a series that I struggled to get into.
SHOULD WIN? – Joseph Gilgun – While Brassic continues to score well with critics and fans, the Chorley native is very much overdue for BAFTA recognition after multiple losses.
IGNORED? – Jon Pointing (BIG BOYS) – After failing to win the category last year, his egregious snub was a major shock given the weaker competition this time around.
BEST INTERNATIONAL
THE BEAR
BEEF
CLASS ACT
THE LAST OF US
LOVE & DEATH
SUCCESSION
WILL WIN? – THE BEAR – The superior second series of the kitchen-based dark comedy was a ratings hit on Disney+ and lavished with awards galore. However, other acclaimed programmes like Beef, Succession, and The Last of Us could spoil in one of the tightest races.
SHOULD WIN? – SUCCESSION – A previous winner of this category, the farewell conclusion to the HBO family saga brought a fitting end to one of the greatest television series of this century so far.
IGNORED? – TED LASSO – Despite its popularity in the UK, the football-based sitcom failed to be recognised by BAFTA throughout its three-series run.
P&O CRUISES MEMORABLE MOMENT
BECKHAM (David teases Victoria about her ‘working class’ upbringing)
DOCTOR WHO (Ncuti Gatwa being revealed as the 15th Doctor)
HAPPY VALLEY (Catherine Cawood and Tommy Lee Royce’s final kitchen showdown)
THE LAST OF US (Bill and Frank’s story)
THE PIANO (13-year-old Lucy stuns commuters with jaw dropping piano performance)
SUCCESSION (Logan Roy’s death)
WILL WIN? – BECKHAM – Though it’s a bit of a daft nomination, the clip was hugely popular on social media and could well hand the football documentary series a win.
SHOULD WIN? – HAPPY VALLEY – The tense confrontation between two old foes had us on the edge of our seats last January. Alternatively, that Succession death was a genuine shocker to many television viewers.
IGNORED? – BLUE LIGHTS (Gerry gatecrashes the operation)
Be the first to comment on "The On-Screen Community’s final 2024 TV BAFTA predictions"