2019 BAFTA TV Awards red carpet report live from Royal Festival Hall in London
I usually start these BAFTA Awards reports by talking about the weather – the favorite topic of talk for any and all Brits, after all – and today is no different. The weather is rather glorious here at the Royal Festival Hall in London, where things are slowly beginning to tick towards the start of this year’s BAFTAs for television.
Typically, for a Brit, I still have something to moan about despite the sun shining down on us here at Southbank. It’s rather sticky weather to be wearing a suit and tie in. And that is pretty obvious for anyone watching the red carpet. All of the well-dressed gents are already clawing at their top buttons and bow ties.
One of those gents is “Avengers: Endgame” star Benedict Cumberbatch, who is nominated for Best Actor in a TV Drama for “Patrick Melrose,” which won Best Drama Writing for David Nicholls at the BAFTA Craft Awards a few weeks back. Also nominated in this category is Hugh Grant, who is widely expected to win but who is sadly not in attendance tonight. Damn. He was the only reason I came to this…
SEE 2019 BAFTA TV Awards: Full winners list [UPDATING LIVE]
Joking, of course! Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the other reason! She looks fabulous in a powder blue dress on the red carpet – “Fleabag” co-star and star of “Sherlock” and “Spectre,” Andrew Scott has arrived with her on the red carpet. Waller-Bridge will be hoping to take home Best Drama Series for “Killing Eve,” which has some tough competition with “Bodyguard” also up for the prize. “Killing Eve” is up for six awards tonight, with four of them being acting bids. Sandra Oh, who is also sadly not in attendance tonight, and Jodie Comer will go head to head in Best Actress while Fiona Shaw and Kim Bodnia will compete in the supporting categories.
Fiona Shaw is quietly becoming a national treasure following her turn in the show – and fans and critics alike expect her to win. That is another tough category, however, with Keeley Hawes from “Mrs Wilson” and Monica Dolan from “A Very English Scandal” also nominated. Hawes is also nominated for Best Actress for her star turn in “Bodyguard,” which somehow failed to pick up a nomination for lead actor Richard Madden – despite his Golden Globe win in January!
That is one obvious glaring omission from this year’s BAFTA TV ceremony but, other than that, it’s a pretty strong year at this year’s ceremony and the theme of night, hosted by Graham Norton once again, will very much be about praising the strength of British television this year.
And with that, it is time for me to head inside to the winner’s press conference and see who enters holding a BAFTA. I remain impartial, of course, but I want Phoebe Waller-Bridge to win everything. Even the categories she isn’t nominated in. Just give her the lot.
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Be sure to make your Emmy predictions today so that Hollywood insiders can see how their TV shows and performers are faring in our odds. You can keep changing your predictions as often as you like until just before nominees are announced on July 16. And join in the fun debate over the 2019 Emmys taking place right now with Hollywood insiders in our television forums. Read more Gold Derby entertainment news.