British Academy Television Craft Awards will be streamed online on Friday 17 July, hosted by Stephen Mangan, and the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards on Friday 31 July by Richard Ayoade.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (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 Virgin Media British Academy 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 Thursday 4 June, at 7:30am (BST). The nominations for Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment – the only Award voted for by the public – will be announced on Wednesday 3 June, at 8am BST
In accordance with current restrictions, both Awards will take place as closed studio, socially-distanced shows, with nominees invited to accept their awards virtually.
“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.”
Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive at BAFTA
“I’m really pleased we’re able to bring the BAFTA TV Awards 2020 to BBC One in July. 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.”
Kate Phillips, Commissioning Controller Entertainment at the BBC
BAFTA and the BBC are also delighted to announce that for the first time Richard Ayoade, the presenter, comedian, writer, actor and director, will take the helm as host of the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards.
Richard Ayoade said: “I am as surprised as you are that this is still going ahead.”
Richard won a BAFTA for Best Male Performance in a Comedy Programme for The IT Crowd, and has been nominated for a BAFTA on two other occasions – once in the British Academy Film Awards, for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for Submarine, and again for Travel Man, which was also nominated for Best Feature in the Television Awards in 2017.
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.
“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.”
Stephen Mangan, Presenter, Comedian
Stephen first hosted the BAFTA Craft Awards in 2011, and this will be his ninth year as master of ceremonies for the event.
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.
