BAFTA Television Awards 2024: Mollie King leads crimson carpet arrivals

The great and good from the world of British TV were out in force as they attended the star-studded red carpet for the 2024 British Academy Television Awards at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday.

Leading the glamorous arrivals, Mollie King, Elizabeth Debicki, Frankie Bridge and Eleanor Tomlinson and Maura Higgins showed the rest how it’s done as they arrived in a range of showstopping looks.

BBC Radio 1 presenter Mollie, 36, showed off her cleavage in a plunging cream gown with long sleeves and a small train, showcasing every inch of her incredible figure on the red carpet.

The Crown’s Elizabeth exuded elegance as she arrived for the ceremony, where she was nominated for her portrayal of Princess Diana but lost out to Top Boy’s Jasmine Jobson.

Ahead of her Best Supporting Actress nod for Netflix‘s royal drama, Elizabeth displayed her incredible figure in a sleeveless leather-effect jumpsuit.

Consisting of a tight corset in a black metallic fabric with a diamante-encrusted bra poking out the top, the gown was finished with a full skirt flowing out from the hips. 

Meanwhile, Loose Women panellist Frankie 35, showed off her toned abs in a pale pink satin crop top and a matching skirt as she arrived for the star-studded awards event.

Styling her brunette tresses into a flicked bob, the presenter joined her co-stars following their nomination in the Daytime TV category, however they later lost out to Scam Interceptors.

Eleanor showed off her svelte physique in a dramatic black tulle gown with a fan-effect front and a layered skirt.

The Poldark star was joined by her co-star Stephen Merchant, after the pair appeared in the BBC series The Outlaws together. 

Maura cut a glamorous figure in a gorgeous black peplum gown with a sexy plunging front as she made an early entrance ahead of the glitzy ceremony.

Her dress boasted a fitted flowing skirt with a peplum top, with the off-the-shoulder neckline highlighting her flawless decolletage.

Hannah Waddingham cut a glamorous figure as she posed for a slew of stunning snaps on the red carpet.

The acclaimed actress, 49, showed off her sensational figure in a black skin-tight gown adorned with sparkling crystals.

The star, whose Home For Christmas Apple TV+ show has been nominated for best entertainment programme, flashed her dazzling white smile for the cameras

Tess Daly exuded glamour in an off-the-shoulder white gown as she cosied up to her dapper husband Vernon Kay.

The presenter, 55, looked stunning in the sophisticated number as she posed up a storm at the star-studded event, completing the look with pointy heels to boost her height and accessorised with gold hoop earrings. 

Vicky Pattison showed off her incredible figure in an eye-catching pearl-studded sheer gown as she arrived for one of the glitziest events in the TV calendar.

The former Geordie Shore opted to bring her Josh Must Win co-star Pete Wicks as her date for the evening, with the TOWIE star opting for a sharp blue velvet suit jacket. 

Emily Atack put her blossoming baby bump on full display in an etheral powder blue gown as she hit the red carpet in style. 

The Inbetweeners star, 34, who is expecting her first child with her scientist boyfriend Alistair Garner, looked jaw-dropping in the elegant ensemble. 

The long-sleeved dress showcased her fabled expectant mother glow as she wowed while posing in front of vying admirers and cameras. 

She wore her blonde locks piled into an elegant chignon while sashaying down the red carpet with a dainty white clutch bag in hand. 

Ever the joker, Emily doubled over and appeared to grapple with her bump while heading into the star-studded event in style.  

Ashley Roberts flaunted every inch of her incredible figure in the sizzling ensemble comprising black lace and racy cut-outs. 

She was sure to show off her taut abs thanks to the scooped-out detail at the stomach of the gown which made the most of her ripped shape. 

Not content with showing off just her stomach, a vast slash along the length of the leg also flaunted her lithe legs to perfection. 

Sophie Habboo cut an edgy figure in a bold silver metallic gown adorned with oversized studs as she arrived for the event with her husband Jamie Laing. 

She showed off her incredible figure in an edgy silver metallic gown which featured chain straps and was adorned with oversized studs. 

Avoiding an awkward run-in with ex-flame Anton Danyluk, Georgia Harrison exuded confidence in her colourful dress, teamed with a matching clutch bag and heels.

The reality star showed Anton what he was missing as she flashed her toned abs in a pink satin gown, with a silver embellished belt. 

Meanwhile, Anton looked dapper in a dark grey tuxedo as they posed separately on the red carpet before the ceremony. 

Ashley James also amped up the glamour in a satin olive green gown as she posed for snaps on the red carpet ahead of the ceremony.

Laura Whitmore put on a dazzling display in a navy sequinned gown that boasted a plunging front and back that flowed into a gorgeous fitted skirt.

The former Love Island host enjoyed a date night at the awards with her husband Iain Stirling, who put on a dapper display in a sharp black tuxedo.

Olivia Bowen showed off her eye-popping curves in a fun red backless gown adorned with a heart print, that boasted a flowing train.

Jessica Gunning and Richard Gadd seemed in high spirits as they posed on the red carpet following the real-life ‘Martha’ Fiona Harvey’s explosive interview. 

It comes after Baby Reindeer’s real-life ‘Martha’ hit back at the Netflix hit’s ‘untrue’ facts, claiming Richard is ‘obsessed’ with her and that she has been in a relationship with a lawyer for five years.  

The explosive interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored sparked a row as viewers branded the TV chat ‘highly irresponsible’ and suggested Fiona Harvey ‘was ‘exploited for sensationalism and poor taste’.

Happy Valley and Top Boy were the big winners at the ceremony itself, which took place at The Royal Festival Hall in London.

Sarah Lancashire scooped the Leading Actress Award for her iconic role as Sergeant Catherine Cawood in the BBC’s Happy Valley – which follows the dramas of policing in Yorkshire – and broke down on stage accepting the award.

Meanwhile in a shock, The Crown star Elizabeth Debicki missed out on the Best Supporting Actress gong – in a mark of a disappointing night for the Netflix series which left empty-handed despite eight nominations. 

Top Boy’s Jasmine Jobson picked up the award instead for her incredible role as Jaq in the gritty Netflix drug dealing series.

It was a good night for Top Boy as the show also won in the Drama Series category – beating favourite Happy Valley, The Gold and Slow Horses.

Elsewhere Timothy Spall won for Best Actor Award on the night for his role in The Sixth Commandment – a true crime series based on the murders of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin. 

Accepting her Best Actress Award Sarah, 59, said: ‘I feel very, very privileged to have been surrounded by these brilliant actors. Thank you to the BBC for giving this very British drama a very British home.’

Sarah beat Anne Reid (The Sixth Commandment), Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us) and Helena Bonham Carter (Nolly) to win in the Leading Actress category. 

The Memorable Moment Award also went to Happy Valley for Catherine Cawood and Tommy Lee Royce’s final kitchen showdown on BBC One. 

Meanwhile accepting her Supporting Actress award, Top Boy’s Jasmine, 29, said: ‘Oh my goodness, my dress is making me slide everywhere. I don’t know what to say, I’m so overwhelmed, I was not expecting this.’

Then, sweetly shouting out her niece, she said: ‘My baby girl, Auntie Jasmine did it, I did it! The girl finally brought it home.’

She looked stunning in a silver dress as she later posed backstage with her award and was every inch the proud star. 

She also beat the likes of Siobhan Finneran for Happy Valley and Lesley Manville for The Crown in the Best Supporting Actress category. 

Later Top Boy won in the Drama Series category – where Happy Valley was widely expected to win. 

Accepting the prize, producer Charles Steel thanked Netflix and the production team for the show. 

Jasmine jumped in to say thank you on stage, saying it is important to stand out. ‘Top Boy you changed my life. We got two,’ she shouted. 

Timothy Spall, 67, won the Leading Actor award for his performance in The Sixth Commandment.

Accepting the BAFTA, he joked to viewers to look on IMDB for details of those involved in the show because he hadn’t prepared a speech.

He added: ‘I’m over the moon about this. So often the bridesmaid, today I caught the bouquet.

‘It’s lovely to win. When you keep losing awards you think they’re a load of b*****ks. But acting is a dodgy, shaky and insecure profession that we sometimes congratulate ourselves on. And this is a very old award and it’s a privilege.’

Matthew Macfadyen won the Best Supporting Actor gong for his role in the hugely-popular series Succession.

He scooped the gong – which was presented by Helena Bonham Carter – beating the likes of Amit Shah for Happy Valley and Jak Lowden for Slow Horses.

Elsewhere Strictly Come Dancing won the Best Entertainment Bafta, defeating shows including Hannah Waddingham: Home For Christmas.

Ted Lasso and West End star Waddingham, 49, could be hilariously seen swigging from a hip flask as the camera cut to her.

Collecting the gong, Strictly host Tess Daly said: ‘We are properly and genuinely overwhelmed. Thank you Bafta for making it worth putting on Spanx on the hottest day of the year. We have been on for 20 years, so this is the best birthday present.’

Strictly also beat Michael McIntyre‘s Big Show and Later with Jools Holland in the Entertainment category. 

The Memorable Moment Award went to Happy Valley for Catherine Cawood and Tommy Lee Royce’s final kitchen showdown on BBC One.

They beat the Netflix Beckham documentary where David teases Victoria about her ‘working class’ upbringing and Logan Roy’s death in Succession. 

Also during the ceremony Joe Lycett accepted the Entertainment Performance Award for Late Night Lycett and wore a quirky regal silver outfit on stage. 

Elsewhere Squid Game: The Challenge won the Reality gong, while The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 won the award for Live Event Coverage.

Hannah Waddingham, who co-hosted the contest in Liverpool last year, accepted the trophy.

She said: ‘The week we had this time last year was, I know for everybody here, the most exceptional, stressful week but so fabulous.’

Mawaan Rizwan accepted the Male Performance in a Comedy Programme Award for Juice and looked thrilled as he headed up onto the stage. 

Meanwhile the Female performance in a Comedy Programme Award went to Gbemisola Ikumelo for her role in Black Ops – a BBC series which follows two hapless community support police officers who are unexpectedly recruited into an off-the-books undercover operation.

The Sixth Commandment won the Limited Series Award – which was presented by Baby Reindeer stars Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning.

The BBC One show is based on a real-life story about a teacher who is courted by a student, triggering a criminal case. 

Elsewhere hosts Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett accepted the Comedy Entertainment Award onstage. 

Lockerbie on Sky Documentaries won the Bafta for Best Factual Series. The award was presented by Anita Rani.

It looked at the true story of Britain’s deadliest terrorist atrocity and the most fatal terrorist attack on America before 9/11: the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 in 1988. 

Mobility on BBC Three – a comedy short about disabled teenagers from Huddersfield – won the Short-Form Bafta, while White Nanny, Black Child won the specialist factual prize.

Casualty won the Soap gong, beating Emmerdale and EastEnders, after Coronation Street was snubbed in the nominations this year. 

Such Brave Girls – which follows a single mother and her two daughters attempt to piece their lives back together after their husband and father leave – won the Scripted Comedy Award.

The show beat Channel 4’s Big Boys and Dreaming Whilst Black on BBC Three.

The Shamima Begum Story on BBC Two won the Current Affairs Award. The show beat the likes of Inside Russia: Traitors And Heroes (Storyville) on BBC Four and  Russell Brand: In Plain Sight (Dispatches) on Channel 4.

Cheltenham Festival Day One won the Sports Coverage Award beating Wimbledon and the Women’s World Cup in the category. 

The Best International Award went to Netflix’s Class Act and the News Coverage gong went to Inside Gaza: Israel And Hamas At War (Channel 4 News).

The Factual Entertainment Award went to Celebrity Race Across The World – a series which follows stars on an epic 10,000km race from Africa to the Arctic.

Awards hosts Rob and Romesh kicked off the ceremony by issuing stern instructions to the star-studded audience.

Beckett said: ‘We are back for a second year as hosts. There were a few mistakes made last year so if you win, we love a good acceptance speech – but keep it tight.’

Ranganathan added: ‘Actually don’t say anything at all. Producers, you can come up to the stage if you must, but please stand at the back and let the famous people talk.

‘To the actors, it’s impossible to ‘fall in love with a script’ – you read it, you liked it and thought it would make you some money.’

Beckett continued: ‘If you have got to make a political point, remember we have got to follow you – so keep it light.’

The Single Documentary gong went to Ellie Simmonds: Finding My Secret Family on ITV.

As she accepted the award, Ellie said she hadn’t planned anything to say, but started by thanking both her adoptive and birth parents.

‘I don’t know if you’ve watched it, but I cry a lot,’ she added as she thanked a number of her team members.’If you want to adopt, adopt different disabilities,’ she said. 

Also during the ceremony Lorraine Kelly won the Special Award.

Accepting the BAFTA, the TV show host said it was an ‘amazing’ honour and took a moment to thank everyone she had worked with over the years.

‘I never ever take it for granted that so many people trust me with their stories,’ she said. 

‘I would just say don’t pull up the ladder… I just want everyone to have the best opportunities.’