Drama erupts at the 2025 Baftas as betrayal, gay affairs, and government scandal dominate top awards
The 2025 Bafta Television Awards descended into a night of outrage, emotion, and hard-hitting drama as Mr Bates vs the Post Office and Mr Loverman swept the top categories, shaking the Royal Festival Hall with thunderous applause—and disbelief.
ITV’s Mr Bates vs the Post Office, a searing dramatisation of Britain’s worst ever miscarriage of justice, won Best Drama Series. The programme ignited national fury over the wrongful convictions of sub-postmasters. As the show triumphed, its producers made sure to aim fire where it mattered.
“This story only hit home because viewers stood up and raged,” declared producer Patrick Spence, voice shaking with passion. He didn’t hold back. “The public cannot abide liars and bullies… Our show didn’t change the law—the people of this nation did that.” The audience roared.
ITV received a special award recognising the drama’s real-world impact. Kevin Lygo, ITV Studios’ managing director, called the programme part of a “long tradition” that shines a light on “corruption, criminality, and miscarriages of justice”—but admitted Mr Bates had effects beyond anything TV had seen in years.
Strikingly, stars Monica Dolan and Toby Jones were snubbed in the acting categories. Those honours instead went to Mr Loverman, a tale of long-held secrets and forbidden love between two elderly men. Lennie James won Best Actor and Ariyon Bakare picked up Best Supporting Actor for their performances.
“I didn’t think this was coming my way,” said a stunned James. He gave heartfelt thanks to author Bernardine Evaristo, whose novel inspired the series. “Thank you for trusting us with your characters.”
Bakare’s speech cut deeper. “This award stands on the shoulders of those afraid to be themselves,” he said, honouring generations who suffered in silence.
Marisa Abela took home Best Actress for her role in Industry, beating out heavyweights like Billie Piper and Anna Maxwell Martin. The actress, who shot to fame portraying Amy Winehouse in Back to Black, looked visibly stunned. “I got cast when I was still in drama school,” she said, voice trembling. “This is insane.”
Over in comedy, Ruth Jones made her entrance as Nessa to collect the Best Female Comedy Performance award for Gavin & Stacey: The Finale. In character, she announced: “I won a Bafta before, of course I have—in 1976. The Barry Arcade Fruit Technician Award.” The crowd howled.
Danny Dyer won Best Male Comedy Performance for Mr Bigstuff, joking: “So my acting was so bad, it was funny?” In a colourful, swear-filled speech, he hailed co-star Ryan Sampson and promised, “You won this for me, mate.”
Meanwhile, Baby Reindeer’s Jessica Gunning snagged the only award for Netflix, taking Best Supporting Actress. She paid tribute to Richard Gadd: “You changed my life. Happy birthday, nipple.” The audience didn’t know whether to cry or laugh.
BBC’s Blue Lights took Best Drama Series. EastEnders, celebrating 40 years, claimed Best Soap. But Channel 4’s Jury: Murder Trial beat The Traitors in the reality category, leaving the hit BBC show completely empty-handed.
Other winners included Alma’s Not Normal for Best Scripted Comedy, and Would I Lie To You? for Best Entertainment Programme—its first win after eight nominations. Host Rob Brydon joked that the new sponsor, P&O Cruises, may have had a hand in it. “The whiff of scandal hangs heavy,” he quipped.
Strictly Come Dancing’s emotional waltz by blind comedian Chris McCausland won the public-voted Memorable Moment award, with dance partner Dianne Buswell accepting on his behalf: “Chris told me to say he insisted on driving himself here.”
Finally, broadcast veteran Kirsty Wark received Bafta’s highest honour, the Fellowship, for her decades of journalism. “It takes a village to raise a programme,” she said, reflecting on years of interviews with “politicians, painters… and a few monsters.”
