2026 BAFTAs: Adolescence Dominates with Four Awards, Highlights Key Triumphs in British Television

The 2026 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTAs) awards occurred on Sunday, May 10, in London, celebrating significant achievements in British television. The evening was marked by the remarkable success of Adolescence, which secured four of the most prestigious awards. Additionally, the long-standing soap EastEnders won the title of Best Soap, while the celebrity edition of the popular reality show Traitors claimed victory in the Best Reality category.

Drama Series

The award for Best Drama Series was presented to Code Of Silence on ITV1. The nominees in this category included:

• A Thousand Blows (Disney+)
• Blue Lights (BBC One)
• This City Is Ours (BBC One)

Limited Drama

In the Limited Drama category, Adolescence from Netflix was awarded Best Limited Drama. Other contenders included:

• I Fought The Law (ITV1)
• Trespasses (Channel 4)
• What It Feels Like For A Girl (BBC Three)

Leading Actor

For the Leading Actor award, Stephen Graham won for his role in Adolescence (Netflix). The nominees in this category included:

• Colin Firth – Lockerbie: A Search for Truth (Sky Atlantic)
• Ellis Howard – What It Feels Like for a Girl (BBC Three)
• James Nelson-Joyce – This City is Ours (BBC One)
• Matt Smith – The Death of Bunny Munro (Sky Atlantic)
• Taron Egerton – Smoke (Apple TV)

Leading Actress

The title of Leading Actress was awarded to Narges Rashidi for her performance in Prisoner 951 (BBC One). Other nominees were:

• Aimee Lou Wood – Film Club (BBC Three)
• Erin Doherty – A Thousand Blows (Disney+)
• Jodie Whittaker – Toxic Town (Netflix)
• Sheridan Smith – I Fought The Law (ITV1)
• Siân Brooke – Blue Lights (BBC One)

Supporting Actor

Owen Cooper took home the award for Supporting Actor for his role in Adolescence (Netflix). The nominees included:

• Ashley Walters – Adolescence (Netflix)
• Fehinti Balogun – Down Cemetery Road (Apple TV)
• Joshua McGuire – The Gold (BBC One)
• Paddy Considine – MobLand (Paramount+)
• Rafael Mathé – The Death of Bunny Munro (Sky Atlantic)

Supporting Actress

The Supporting Actress award was presented to Christine Tremarco for her performance in Adolescence (Netflix). Other nominees included:

• Aimee Lou Wood – The White Lotus (Sky Atlantic)
• Chyna McQueen – Get Millie Black (Channel 4)
• Emilia Jones – Task (Sky Atlantic)
• Erin Doherty – Adolescence (Netflix)
• Rose Ayling-Ellis – Reunion (BBC One)

Scripted Comedy

The Best Scripted Comedy award went to Amandaland (BBC One), while other contenders included:

• Big Boys (Channel 4)
• How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge) (BBC One)
• Things You Should Have Done (BBC Three)

Best Actor in a Comedy

Steve Coogan received the award for Best Actor in a Comedy for his role in How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge) (BBC One). Nominees in this category were:

• Jim Howick – Here We Go (BBC One)
• Jon Pointing – Big Boys (Channel 4)
• Lenny Rush – Am I Being Unreasonable? (BBC One)
• Mawaan Rizwan – Juice (BBC Three)
• Oliver Savell – Changing Ends (ITV1)

Best Actress in a Comedy

Katherine Parkinson won the Best Actress in a Comedy award for her role in Here We Go (BBC One). Other nominees included:

• Diane Morgan – Mandy (BBC Two)
• Jennifer Saunders – Amandaland (BBC One)
• Lucy Punch – Amandaland (BBC One)
• Philippa Dunne – Amandaland (BBC One)
• Rosie Jones – Pushers (Channel 4)

Entertainment

The award for Best Entertainment Program was given to Last One Laughing (Prime Video). Other nominees included:

• The Graham Norton Show (BBC One)
• Michael McIntyre’s Big Show (BBC One)
• Would I Lie To You? (BBC One)

Reality

The Celebrity Traitors (BBC One) won the Best Reality award, beating out nominees such as:

• The Jury: Murder Trial (Channel 4)
• Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix)
• Virgin Island (Channel 4)

Soap

EastEnders (BBC One) secured the Best Soap award, with other nominees including:

• Casualty (BBC One)
• Coronation Street (ITVX)

International

The winner of the International award was The Studio (Apple TV). Other nominees were:

• The Bear (Disney+)
• The Diplomat (Netflix)
• Pluribus (Apple TV)
• Severance (Apple TV)
• The White Lotus (Sky Atlantic)

Factual Series

See No Evil (Channel 4) won the Best Factual Series award, with nominees including:

• Bibaa & Nicole: Murder in the Park (Sky Documentaries)
• Educating Yorkshire (Channel 4)
• The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed (ITV1)

Current Affairs

The award for Best Current Affairs program was awarded to Gaza: Doctors Under Attack (Channel 4). Nominees included:

• Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel’s War (Exposure) (ITV1)
• The Covid Contracts: Follow the Money (ITV1)
• Undercover in the Police (Panorama) (BBC One)

Single Documentary

Grenfell: Uncovered (Netflix) won the award for Best Single Documentary. Other nominees in this category were:

• Louis Theroux: The Settlers (BBC Two)
• One Day In Southport (Channel 4)
• Unforgotten: The Bradford City Fire (BBC Two)

BAFTA Fellowship

The BAFTA Fellowship was awarded to Dame Mary Berry.

As reported by www.mojeh.com.