BAFTA TV Awards: Behind the scenes

The second half of the British Emmys — the BAFTA TV Awards — are about to kick off. The first segment took place at the end of April when the BAFTA TV Craft Awards gave out gongs for below-the-line artists nominated for their work in this year’s best TV shows. Now, the main ceremony is taking place. This one is where all the big stars rock up as the acting categories are presented tonight in what is a live, televised ceremony broadcast from the Royal Festival Hall on London’s South Bank.

The stars are decorating the red carpet thickly and fastly while the sweat drips from the brows of our journalists just as thick and fast. It’s sweltering here in London. Props, then, must go to “The Hobbit” star Richard Armitage, who dons a pink velvet suit jacket. Velvet is a brave choice in such hot weather but he looks dashing as anything. As does Jeff Goldblum, who is a surprise attendee here. The A-lister is getting a lot of attention on the red carpet, as is fellow movie star Helena Bonham Carter. Carter is nominated for Best Drama Actress for “Nolly.”

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Meanwhile, “Doctor Who” boss Russell T. Davies is bubbly and buoyant as he chats to red carpet reporter Michelle Visage about what Whovians can expect from the upcoming season starring Ncuti Gatwa as the new Doctor. Speaking of Doctors, former Doctor David Tennant, who hosted the BAFTA film awards earlier this year, sparkles in the May sunshine in a black jacket encrusted in flower-patterned jewels. He is nominated for Best Male Comedy Performance.

Meanwhile, “Juice” creator Mawaan Rizwan rejoices in the news that his show has just been renewed for a second season. He celebrates with co-star Russell Tovey, who represent “Juice” here at the BAFTAs. Rizwan is also up for Best Male Comedy Performance

Will Smith (no, not that one), the writer and creator of “Slow Horses,” towers above the majority of attendees on the red carpet. His show is nominated for Best Drama Series alongside “Happy Valley,” “The Gold,” and “Top Boy.” Gary Oldman, surprisingly, wasn’t nominated for Best Drama Actor, but the category is stacked nonetheless. His “Harry Potter” co-star Timothy Spall received a bid for “The Sixth Commandment,” as did Steve Coogan (“The Reckoning”), Paapa Essiedu (“The Lazarus Project”), Kane Robinson (“Top Boy”), and Brian Cox (“Succession”). Coogan and Essiedu have both just been spotted on the red carpet.

And now Goldblum takes center stage as he talks to Visage. Visage tells him she’s loved him since she was a kid. Goldblum asks her what her name is. Goldblum, by the way, is here to present an award — though he hasn’t revealed which one. Goldblum instead praises the cast of his upcoming TV show “Kaos,” the Netflix flick in which he will play Zeus. The ever-charming Goldblum lights up as he discusses his excitement at the show.

Visage and co-red carpet host Tom Allen then hand over to ceremony hosts Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett, who return to host once again after they MCd the event last year, too. Us journalists are then herded into the winner’s press conference room, where we’ll be hoping to speak any winners who grace us with their presence backstage here at the 2024 BAFTA TV Awards.

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