This year's BAFTA TV Awards, now 71 years old, celebrate the best of British television. While David Attenborough just turned 100 and BBC TV marks its 90th anniversary, the ceremony remains a key event, though predicting winners is never straightforward.
The Frontrunner: Adolescence
Jack Thorne's drama about toxic masculinity, Adolescence, leads with 11 nominations. However, its chances may be affected by the qualifying period (shows aired between 17 and 5 months ago). Since Netflix dropped it on 13 March last year, some voters might feel it has already been sufficiently honoured. At last month's Craft awards, it surprisingly lost the Writer category to Slow Horses.
Each panel is sequestered, so jurors don't know likely winners in other categories. But some may vote against highly nominated shows like Adolescence, A Thousand Blows, or The Celebrity Traitors, assuming they've already won elsewhere. With the same two actresses nominated in both best and supporting sections, such second-guessing could cause upsets.
Predictions and Preferences
Limited Drama
Channel 4's Trespasses and ITV's I Fought The Law are strong contenders, but Adolescence is the clear favourite. If it fails to win, it would be a major upset.
Drama Series
Disney+'s A Thousand Blows faces potential snobbery against streamers, but it should beat BBC's Blue Lights.
Leading Actor
Stephen Graham, involved in both predicted winners, delivers a viscerally immersive performance in Adolescence that jurors will find hard to vote against.
Leading Actress
Sheridan Smith, as campaigner Ann Ming in I Fought The Law, should win for her raw portrait of grief turned to social purpose.
Supporting Actor
16-year-old Owen Cooper deserves the award for his pivotal role in Adolescence, setting him up for a formidable career.
Supporting Actress
Erin Doherty's performance as forensic psychiatrist Briony in Adolescence is a masterclass in stillness and intelligence.
Scripted Comedy
Female comedy in Amandaland and Things You Should Have Done faces male humour in How Are You? It's Alan and Big Boys. Lucy Punch's show edges out on freshness.
Best Actress in a Comedy
With three nominees from Amandaland, the vote may split, helping Diane Morgan win for Mandy.
Best Actor in a Comedy
An open category. Mawaan Rizwan for Juice could be a popular winner.
Entertainment
Prime Video's Last One Laughing is the smart choice, though Michael McIntyre's Big Show might finally win.
Entertainment Performance
Claudia Winkleman for The Celebrity Traitors benefits from the show's visibility.
Reality
The Celebrity Traitors is a shoo-in, given its cultural impact.
Factual Entertainment
ITV's The Assembly is the interesting choice, as jurors shy away from dislikable concepts.
Soap
Coronation Street should win for freshness over EastEnders and Casualty.
Daytime
BBC One's Scam Interceptors offers public service over ITV's The Chase.
International
Netflix's The Diplomat is the best political drama since The West Wing.
Current Affairs
Gaza: Doctors Under Attack has a compelling narrative that may sway jurors.
Specialist Factual
Apple's Vietnam: The War That Changed America could symbolise streamer dominance.
Single Documentary
Louis Theroux's The Settlers is the one to beat, but One Day In Southport could give Channel 4 a win.
News Coverage
Sky News's Gaza: Fight For Survival vs. Channel 4 News's Israel-Iran: The Twelve Day War.
P & O Cruises Memorable Moment
Adolescence (Jamie snaps) or The Celebrity Traitors (Alan Carr wins) are favourites.
The BAFTA Television Awards 2026 airs on BBC One at 7pm, Sunday.
