#david carlyle

The BAFTAs were held yesterday and the big upset (to me) was that Russell T. Davies’ IT’S A SIN only won two of its eleven nominations: one in editing and one in direction. It garnered null wins in their five acting categories, best mini-series or the fan favourite category.

Who were the winners in the big categories?

Leading Actress
Denise Gough (TOO CLOSE) 
Emily Watson (TOO CLOSE)
Kate Winslet (MARE OF EASTTOWN)
Lydia West (IT’S A SIN)
Niamh Algar (DECEIT)
Jodie Comer (HELP)**WINNER

This role for Comer and her costar Stephen Graham was an example of sheer actor audacity as, unbeknownst to each other, they both reached out to writer Jack Thorne (HIS DARK MATERIALS). Comer slid into his Twitter DMs to say she wanted to work with him and Graham (who had worked with Thorne on THIS IS ENGLAND and THE VIRTUES), saw Thorne at a party and asked him to write a role for he and Comer - who years earlier - he (Graham) introduced to his agent who quickly took her on.

Leading Actor
David Thewlis (LANDSCAPERS)
Olly Alexander (IT’S A SIN)
Samuel Adewunmi (YOU DON’T KNOW ME)
Stephen Graham (HELP) 
Hugh Quarshie (STEPHEN)
Sean Bean (TIME) **WINNER

Drama Series
The Night Stalker
Unforgotten
Vigil
In My Skin **WINNER

Comedy Programme
Joe Gilgun (BRASSIC)
Samson Kayo (BLOODS)
Steve Coogan (THIS TIME WITH ALAN PARTRIDGE)
Ncuti Gatwa (SEX EDUCATION)
Jamie Demetriou (STATH LETS FLATS)**WINNER

*Demetriou may have taken home the BAFTA but Ncuti (pronounced Shoot-ee) Gatwa gets to have the Tardis. Gatwa was named the new Doctor Who.

Gatwa has had to keep the role under wrap since February.

The coolest Doctor Who actor IMHO.

Female Performance In A Comedy Programme
Aimee Lou Wood (SEX EDUCATION)
Aisling Bea (THIS WAY UP)
Anjana Vasan (WE ARE LADY PARTS)
Rose Matafeo (STARSTRUCK)
Sophie Willan  (ALMA’s NOT NORMAL) **WINNER

Supporting Actress
Céline Buckens (SHOWTRIAL)
Emily Mortimer (THE PURSUIT OF LOVE)
Jessica Plummer (THE GIRL BEFORE)
Leah Harvey (FOUNDATION)
Tahirah Sharif (THE TOWER)
Cathy Tyson, Help **WINNER

Supporting Actor
Callum Scott Howells (IT’S A SIN)
David Carlyle (IT’S A SIN)
Nonso Anozie (SWEET TOOTH)
Omari Douglas (IT’S A SIN)
Stephen Graham (TIME)
Matthew Macfadyen (SUCCESSION) **WINNER

Macfadyen was not present. Their writer Jesse Armstrong accepted on his behalf which included a note from Nicholas Braun who recalled wanting to repeatedly do a scene where MacFadyen’s Tom kisses Braun’s Greg on the forehead.

Honours from Gerri.

Single Drama
Death Of England: Face To Face
Help
I Am Victoria

Together WINNER **Utterly, utterly floored that this won over HELP. Both films deal with the pandemic/lockdown, but TOGETHER is a kitchen sink drama with a gimmick in that the characters constantly break the fourth wall monologuing. HELP is so much richer character study as well as a searing look at the ineptitude of government in assisting care workers in the early months of the pandemic.

International
Call My Agent!
Lupin
Mare Of Easttown
Squid Game
Succession
The Underground Railroad  **WINNER

Mini-Series
It’s A Sin
Landscapers
Stephen
Time WINNER **I loved TIME, another heavy-hitter this about prison life, but versus IT’S A SIN - no competition. The only think I can reason why TIME won out is because, overall, the acting on IAS was almost always panned. So if you’re thinking overall greatness of a series, acting is a factor. But, whatever, I adored IAS. It was transformative, staggeringly brilliant and  gutting and heartbreaking and heartfelt.

The denizens of the Pink Palace are winners in my eyes.