| 68th British Academy Television Awards | |
|---|---|
| Date | 8 May 2022 |
| Site | Royal Festival Hall |
| Hosted by | Richard Ayoade |
| Highlights | |
| Best Comedy Series | Motherland |
| Best Drama | In My Skin |
| Most awards | Big Zuu's Big Eats /Help /Time (2) |
| Most nominations | It's a Sin (7) |
| Television coverage | |
| Channel | BBC One |
The2022 British Academy Television Awards were held on 8 May 2022 at theRoyal Festival Hall inLondon, to recognise the excellence in British television of 2021.[1][2] The nominations were announced on 30 March 2022 alongside the nominations for the2022 British Academy Television Craft Awards.[3] The nominees forMust-See Moment, voted on by the public, were announced on 23 March 2022.[4]
It was the first awards ceremony since the2019 edition to be held with an in-person audience.Richard Ayoade returned as host for the third consecutive year.[2][3]
It was also the first awards ceremony to be held in its usual May slot.
ThoughIt's a Sin was nominated for the most awards, with seven, including three in the same category (Best Supporting Actor), it won none. Three series won multiple awards:Big Zuu's Big Eats,Help, andTime each won two.[5] IncludingCraft Awards,Landscapers was also nominated for seven awards; it won three (all Craft).[6][7]
In October 2021, theBritish Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) announced several changes in its rules and voting system:[1]
The nominations were announced on 30 March 2022.[8]
Source:[5]
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The 2022 British Academy Television Awards were held at theRoyal Festival Hall in London, returning to a fully in-person event with a full audience for the first time since theCOVID-19 pandemic,[9] with a traditionalred carpet.[6] Located in theSouth Bank, fans were also allowed to gather on theHungerford Bridge pedestrian bridges to watch the red carpet.[10] As well as nominees and others from the television industry, celebrities including sportspeople and musicians attended the ceremony. There were also actors portrayingSquid Game characters in red suits.[6] It was hosted by actor and comedianRichard Ayoade, for the third time; Ayoade revealed that he always reads a novel at the ceremony to keep calm, and this year was reading one byJohn Updike.[3][11]
TheBAFTA Fellowship award was given to SirBilly Connolly. He joked that he is "such a happy man getting these good attendance medals now my career is out the window."[9]
ActorNcuti Gatwa, nominated for his role inSex Education, had been announced as thefifteenth incarnation ofThe Doctor inDoctor Who, a much-anticipated casting announcement, shortly before the ceremony. He presented an award with co-star and fellow nomineeAimee Lou Wood, during which the pair joked about the casting.[12]
Strictly Come Dancing, specifically dancerGiovanni Pernice and actress partnerRose Ayling-Ellis, won the "Must-See Moment" award for a moment of silence representing Ayling-Ellis'deafness during their dance to "Symphony". In their acceptance speech, aBritish Sign Language interpreter joined them on-stage. It was reported that some viewers complained to theBBC that this accessibility measure was only brought on stage at this moment, rather than throughout the show.[13] The ceremony was also held at the end of deaf awareness week, with Ayling-Ellis saying that the timing of the award could reinforce the awareness campaign's intention "to educate people about how we can be more inclusive for deaf people all year round, because we're deaf all the time."[14]
Celebrity chefBig Zuu won two awards, with his acceptance speeches being rambling and exuberant.[9]Sophie Willan gave an "expletive-laden" acceptance speech.[10] These were in contrast to some more serious speeches at the ceremony this year, including several referencing the COVID-19 pandemic as series about it won awards. Most acceptance speeches praised alternative public networkChannel 4, following the government announcement that it is to be privatised.[9][10]British Academy of Film and Television Arts chair Krishnendu Majumdar also gave a speech criticising the privatisation to open the ceremony; it also praised the television workers covering theRussian invasion of Ukraine, and called for more diversity.[10]