The 2025 Television Bafta awards delivered a mixed bag of results, with several questionable choices overshadowing the deserved winners. Among the most contentious was Danny Dyer taking home best male performance in a comedy for his role in Mr Bigstuff. Critics argue the actor, while generally beloved, delivered a formulaic performance in a show that failed to showcase his range.
In contrast, the ceremony rightly recognised Jessica Gunning’s extraordinary turn as a stalker in Baby Reindeer, awarding her best supporting actress. However, the series lost best limited drama to ITV’s Mr Bates vs the Post Office, a choice few could fault given the latter’s societal impact. Joe Lycett also secured a well-deserved win for best entertainment performance with Late Night Lycett, and Shōgun triumphed as best international series.
Yet other decisions raised eyebrows. Blue Lights taking best drama over stronger contenders like Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light seemed off-target, while Ruth Jones winning best female comedy performance felt like a nod to familiarity over fresher talent such as Sophie Willan or Kate O’Flynn. The Baftas, ever idiosyncratic, once again demonstrated that while they can get it right, they are equally capable of baffling choices.
