BAFTA bosses placing ‘a hoop of metal across the ceremony’ after YouTube prankster gatecrashed the stage in 2024

BAFTA bosses are reportedly putting a ‘ring of steel’ around this year’s ceremony after a YouTube prankster gatecrashed the stage in 2024. 

Last year’s event saw chaos as online influencer ‘Lizwani’ was seen standing in the background behind Oppenheimer actor Cillian Murphy, the movie’s director Christopher Nolan and Back To The Future star Michael J Fox who had just handed over the Best Picture prize.

The self-proclaimed ‘influencer’ who goes online by the name of Lizwani smirked while stood behind producer Emma Thomas – Nolan’s wife – as she delivered her acceptance speech.

However, it’s reported that this time around, bosses are pulling out all the stops to ensure this doesn’t happen again, with extra security and checks for everyone attending, including the VIPs.

Stars including Ariana Grande, Demi Moore, Jeff Goldblum and Timothée Chalamet will be descending upon London’s Royal Festival Hall for the glitzy annual film event, hosted by David Tennant.

A source told The Sun: ‘The Baftas are taking no risks after last year and security at tomorrow’s event has never been tighter.

‘Everyone going in and out of Festival Hall will be checked and there are more security guards on call.

‘It’ll basically be the safest place to be in London because of the amount of eyes on it.’

The insider added that on stage security has also been ‘upped’ and amid all the extra measures in place, no one who isn’t ‘officially invited’ will be allowed in, with bosses ‘taking no chances’.

MailOnline have contacted BAFTA representatives for comment. 

Following last year’s debacle, BAFTA said: ‘A social media prankster was removed by security last night after joining the winners of the final award on stage.

‘We are taking this very seriously, and don’t wish to grant him any publicity by commenting further.’

BAFTA organisers were confronted with serious security questions in 2024 after the YouTube prankster walked on stage with the cast of Oppenheimer.

Lizwani, in a dark suit and black tie, was seen by millions of TV viewers dashing on to the stage – having not sat with the Oppenheimer team in the auditorium

The prankster has been documenting the experience on his Instagram stories, and claimed police had confiscated some of his footage from the awards – but a Met Police spokesperson said the force was not aware of the incident.

He later posted a screenshot of himself during the BBC broadcast on his Instagram stories and wrote: ‘Here’s me and Cian Murphy receiving our award.’

It comes as the British Academy Film Awards confirmed their A-list attendees in behind-the-scenes snaps ahead of Sunday’s ceremony.

This year’s BAFTA awards will see Doctor Who star David, return as the host for the second year running to celebrate another tremendous year for film.

In the new pictures from London’s Royal Festival Hall staff can be seen setting out place holders marking where the big stars will sit on the big night. 

Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Jeff Goldblum are confirmed to be in attendance and could be sitting next to each other on the big night as they hope to take home a gong each – however, co-star Cynthia Erivo will seemingly be a few rows behind.

Ariana, 31, is going up against the likes of Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldana, Jamie Lee Curtis and Italian-born US star Isabella Rossellini in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Although some of the celebrity pictures change location on each photo as final seating decisions are made, it looks like Zoe could be sitting on the front row in the middle of Marisa Abela and Mikey Madison, who are both nominated for the Rising Star award.

It is the only award voted for by the British public and is presented annually to a performer who has demonstrated exceptional talent early in their career. 

While it looks like it could be a seating plan, a spokesperson for the BAFTAs confirmed to MailOnline that the pictures have been placed at random.

Just behind them could be Demi Moore who is nominated in the The Leading Actress category for her role in The Substance, alongside Cynthia, Mikey, Karla Sofía Gascón, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and Saoirse Ronan.

However, Karla is not on the guest list, which comes after her controversial tweets were dug up online where she criticised Islam, the Oscars and the late George Floyd.

US-born Irish actress Saoirse is confirmed to be attending the glitzy ceremony and according to the pictures, she will be nearby Hugh Grant.

Best Actor nominees Timothee Chalamet and Sebastian Stan will also be in attendance in London.