BAFTA has today confirmed new dates for this year’s Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards.
Originally scheduled for spring 2020, they were both postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Television Awards will now take place on Friday 31 July and will be broadcast as-live on BBC One that evening, while the British Academy Television Craft Awards will take place on Friday 17 July and will be broadcast as-live through BAFTAs social channels including at www.youtube.com/bafta.
Nominations for both Awards will be announced on 4 June. The nominations for Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment – the award voted for by the public – will be announced on 3 June.
Both Awards will take place as closed studio, socially-distanced shows, with nominees invited to accept their awards virtually.
Richard Ayoade will take the helm as host of the Television Awards.
Stephen Mangan returns to host this year’s Television Craft Awards for the ninth time, which will be broadcast as-live online via BAFTA’s social channels.
Richard Ayoade said: “I am as surprised as you are that this is still going ahead.”
Stephen Mangan said “I’m absolutely delighted to be hosting the BAFTA Craft Awards again – handing out our industry’s highest accolades to the people who make this country’s television world-leading. The format might have to change a little this year but nothing will stop me putting on black tie and celebrating their success.”
Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive at BAFTA, said: “We are delighted to confirm the new dates and formats for both the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and the British Academy Television Craft Awards this year. We want to celebrate and reward the talented individuals who make up the television industry, both behind and in-front of the camera, many of whom have continued to entertain and inform the nation in recent weeks. I am thrilled that Richard Ayoade will be hosting the Television Awards for the first time, with Stephen Mangan joining us for a ninth time to host the Television Craft Awards, with them at the helm both events are set to be great entertainment. Following the success of the online British Academy Games Awards in March, we are proud to be delivering a further two Awards shows during this difficult time.”
Kate Phillips, Commissioning Controller Entertainment at the BBC said: “I’m really pleased we’re able to bring the BAFTA TV Awards 2020 to BBC One next month. As always they will celebrate the best of British TV throughout the year, as well highlight the great programming and memorable moments that have entertained so many throughout recent tough times.”
The Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards 2020 will be produced by BAFTA Productions and Done and Dusted for BBC One. It was commissioned by Katie Taylor, commissioning editor for entertainment at the BBC, and is executive produced by Clare Brown, director of production at BAFTA and Lisa Clark for Done and Dusted.
Jon Creamer
Share this story
