At the 2023 British Academy Television Awards presented by P&O Cruises, notable winners included Kate Winslet, Ben Whishaw, and The Traitors, the event taking place at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Sunday.
British TV’s most accomplished talents gathered in the capital city for the glamorous event, hosted by Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan.
Kate Winslet received the Best Actress award for her outstanding role in I Am Ruth, and during her acceptance speech, she honored her on-screen daughter and off-screen co-star, Mia Threapleton.
The Traitors, a runaway hit, was one of the big winners of the award ceremony, receiving the Reality And Constructed Factual award. Additionally, Claudia Winkleman, the show’s host, won the Entertainment Performance award.
Anne-Marie Duff bagged the Supporting Actress award for Bad Sisters, while the viewer-chosen BAFTA, The P&O Cruises Memorable Moment Award, was bestowed for the scene where Paddington Bear shared tea with The Queen during her Platinum Jubilee concert.
Claudia Winkleman, in her BAFTA TV Awards attire, subtly acknowledged her award-winning show, The Traitors.
On receiving her award, an emotional Kate said, “(I am) guaranteed to be the one of the night to cry, I can’t see (my speech).”
She emphasized that ‘small British television dramas can be mighty’ and mental health narratives like this ‘need to be heard.’
She stated: “If I could break it in half, I would give the other half to my daughter Mia Threapleton, we did this together, kiddo.”
Winslet urged: “To people in power, please criminalise harmful content, we don’t want it… to any young person long person listening please ask for help, It will be there just ask for it.”
Earlier, Kate and Mia shared the stage when I Am Ruth was honored with the Best Single Drama award.
Ben Whishaw, who earned praise for his portrayal of NHS junior Adam Kay in This Is Going To Hurt, claimed the Best Actor award, outdoing competitors including Gary Oldman, Martin Freeman, Cillian Murphy, and Chaske Spencer.
During his acceptance speech, the 42-year-old actor said: “Oh goodness me, I really didn’t think that would happen and I love so much the actors in this category.”
Whishaw also expressed his gratitude by saying ‘everybody in the show is just mind-blowing’ and “most of all thank you, Adam Kay, for writing this wonderful role. I’m very humbled, and blessed.”
The drama series is adapted from Kay’s book This Is Going To Hurt: Secret Diaries Of A Junior Doctor, detailing his experiences as a trainee doctor in the NHS.
The evening also celebrated Sir Mo Farah’s victory for his BBC One documentary The Real Mo Farah, which exposed his illegal trafficking to the UK during his childhood.
The four-time Olympic champion was awarded the best single documentary prize, which he dedicated to “children who are being trafficked.”
During his speech, he stated: ‘The kids have no say at all, they are just kids and no child should ever go through what I did, I hope my story shows they aren’t alone, we are in it together.’
