It’s a night to celebrate the best films, actors and filmmakers of the past year, and 2023’s BAFTA Film Awards gave us a re-vamped ceremony, not one but two-hosts, and a brand-new venue.
German anti-war film All Quiet On The Western Front stole the show – bagging half of its 14 awards – and the best actor winner proved a surprise with Elvis’s Austin Butler taking the gong rather than The Banshees Of Inisherin’s Colin Farrell as expected.
There were plenty of silly moments throughout the night, including a skit kicking off the show featuring host Richard E Grant having a laugh with Hollywood comedy legend Steve Martin on Zoom, before jumping into a Batmobile and zooming through the streets of London to host the awards in the new venue, Elizabeth Hall on London’s Southbank.
Grant then continued his comedy routine on stage, donning a long, white cape and labelling himself a “fashion icon” to dish out a joke revolving around “late trains”, before a gag about last year’s Oscars – telling the audience: “Nobody on my watch gets slapped tonight,” before slapping himself, twice (a reference to Will Smith’s infamous slapping of Chris Rock at last year’s Oscars).
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Grant also wore two watches to the ceremony, in a nod to the complicated timings of the show tonight – the show was broadcast on the BBC from 7pm but with a delay, however the live event caught up with the broadcast by the end (as some bits were cut) and the final four awards went out live.
Last year’s best supporting actor winner, Troy Kotsur, also dished out some laughs, pulling on a massive, bendy glove, and giving a special wave to best supporting actress nominee Jamie Lee Curtis – in the style of Everything, Everywhere All At Once.
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Image: Troy Kotsur and Kerry Condon
A bit you won’t have seen on the TV…
While it may have been a sparkling evening, there was a little hiccup in the night’s proceedings – and let’s face it, everyone loves a mistake.
As Oscar-winner Kotsur announced the second prize of the night – best supporting actress – via sign language, a miscommunication on the part of the translator resulted in Carrey Mulligan’s name wrongly being called for her performance in She Said.
The announcer quickly corrected the call and announced The Banshees Of Inisherin star Kerry Condon as the winner, who went on to accept her award. It was explained to the press at the event, that while Kotsur and the British Sign Language (BSL) translator had got it right, the American Sign Language (ASL) translator had made the slip up.
Event host Richard E Grant joked later that he had a defibrillator for Mulligan.
With a Carrey and a Kerry in the same category, it’s easy to see how a slip could happen in the heat of the moment. And we can all remember the Oscar mix up when La La Land was wrongly announced as best picture winner instead of Moonlight.. Thanks to the magic of a TV delay and editing, this mistake did not make it to the TV cut.
Image: Nominees Ke Huy Quan and Michelle Yeoh
A political flavour to the night
The first award of the night, best adapted screenplay, also went to All Quiet On The Western Front (a trend that continued through the night), with director Edward Berger paying tribute to those fighting in Ukraine.
Cinematographer James Friend said the film showed how a generation of young German men were “poisoned by right-wing nationalistic propaganda” and he stressed that the film’s message remains “relevant” nearly a century on.
Screenwriter Ian Stokell said the project had been “worth the wait” because the film is anti-war.
Navalny – a film which follows Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his close-knit team as they navigate the months after his poisoning – won best documentary.
Sky News spoke to Navalny’s daighter Dasha Navalny on the red carpet, saying: “It’s a weird feeling being here while he is in prison”.
She said her father is aware of the programme’s BAFTA and Oscar nominations, adding that “he told us to tell him all about it in the letters we were allowed to send”.
On stage, the filmmakers say the documentary was made under “constant surveillance”.
Actress Odessa Rae paid tribute to investigative journalist Christo Grozev who could not be at the ceremony due to “a public security risk”.
“He gave up everything to tell this story, and other stories that need to be told,” Rae said.
Grozev subsequently Tweeted: “Wow.”
Cate Blanchett, Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis were among the stars wearing a blue ribbon to show their solidarity and support for refugees and displaced people around the world, including those affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and other events such as the Turkey-Syria earthquake over the past year.
Colin Farrell, Daryl McCormack, Paul Mescal, Bill Nighy and Angela Bassett all showed their support and pinned on a blue ribbon too.
A spokesperson for the organisation said: “The wearing of the blue #WithRefugees ribbon on the red carpet sends a powerful visual message that everyone has the right to seek safety, whoever, wherever, whenever.”
Image: Ariana DeBose performs on stage
Is diversity an issue once again?
Representation is always a big talking point come awards season, following previous controversies around diversity at both the BAFTAs and the Oscars.
This year, while the Oscars was criticised for failing to nominate any black women in the best actress category, the BAFTAs made changes to voting which ensured more diversity in their nominations across the board.
However, the winners of all four performing categories were white actors, which is likely to raise further questions as to whether enough is being done to improve the diversity and inclusion of our biggest awards shows.
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‘We want to be acknowledged for our skill’
Live music amid the luvvies
Ariana DeBose gave the first performance of the night, singing Sisters with backing performers.
In a contemporary rap, inspired by the 2023 BAFTA nominees, she referenced nominated actresses like Michelle Yeoh, Viola Davis and Jamie Lee Curtis by mentioning their names in her performance.
While she wore a bright pink jumpsuit for her performance, the dress that DeBose wore on the red carpet – a bejewelled nude outfit by Fendi – had plenty of sparkles but left little to the imagination as it was almost entirely sheer, except for a skin-coloured bodysuit underneath.
DeBose later told Hammond she often never watches her performances back, as she gets “a bit judgy [about herself],” but was thrilled “the Brits loved it”.
Rapper Little Simz performed near the end of the show, along with special guest singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading – who showed off her impressive guitar skills live on stage – accompanying Simz in Heart On Fire.
Speaking after the performance, Simz said: “This is my first time [at the BAFTAs] and with the legendary Joan Armatrading… We have great chemistry on stage… When I was 17, I wrote a song called Joan Armatrading so it’s full circle.”
Singer Dylan performed Nothing Lasts Forever ahead of the show’s final four prizes, which helped bridge the gap between the pre-recorded majority of the show, and the final big gongs going out live – the rising star award, best actor and actress and best film.
Image: Olivia Newton-John died in August 2022
An emotional farewell
The In Memoriam section of the night is always emotional, but this year possibly even more than most with host Richard E Grant becoming visibly tearful as he introduced the section commemorating all the stars and filmmakers who died in the last 12 months.
Stars including Angela Lansbury, Burt Bacharach, Anne Heche, William Hurt, Leslie Phillips, Olivia Newton-John and Robbie Coltrane were all included in the segment.
Grant lost his wife Joan Washington, a dialect coach, in 2021.
Other stars in the audience who also looked visibly moved included Dame Emma Thompson, Martin Freeman, Naomi Ackie and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Image: Cate Blanchett and Sandy Powell (R-L)
It’s all about the clothes
For the first time, a costume designer – Sandy Powell – took home the prestigious BAFTA fellowship award.
She dedicated her award to the first teacher who taught her how to sew and “to my mum, and mother’s everywhere”.
She did it all in a show-stopping black and white tailored ensemble, proving her win was well and truly well-deserved.
Blondie drummer Clem Burke has died at the age of 70
The band said Blurke had been diagnosed with cancer, and described his death as a “profound loss”.
He featured on all the Debbie Harry-fronted group’s studio albums since joining a year after their formation in 1975.
Blurke was with the band from their self-titled debut, through their 1978 classic Parallel Lines, to 2017’s Pollinator.
Image: Drummer Burke.
Pic: Reuters
In a statement on Blondie’s Instagram, Harry and the band’s guitarist, Chris Stein, said: “It is with profound sadness that we relay news of the passing of our beloved friend and bandmate Clem Burke following a private battle with cancer.
“Clem was not just a drummer, he was the heartbeat of Blondie.
“His talent, energy, and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable.
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“Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage. His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
“Clem’s influence extended far beyond Blondie, a self-proclaimed ‘rock and roll survivalist’, he played and collaborated with numerous iconic artists.”
Image: Burke in his performance at Festival Estereo Picnic 2023.
Pic: AP
Burke featured on Iggy Pop’s 1982 album Zombie Birdhouse and also performed with Bob Dylan, The Ramones, The Who guitarist Pete Townshend and Joan Jett.
The statement went on to say Burke had left an “indelible mark on every project he was part of”.
It added: “We extend our deepest condolences to Clem’s family, friends, and fans around the world. His legacy will live on through the tremendous amount of music he created and the countless lives he touched.”
Burke, who performed on classic tracks such as Call Me, Heart Of Glass and One Way Or Another, made his final live appearance with Blondie last year.
Image: Blondie performing during Glastonbury Festival in 2023.
Pic: Invision/AP
Among those paying tribute to him was Kinks guitarist Dave Davies, who said: “I feel saddened that Clem Burke was taken from us so soon.
“May he rest in peace, spectacular drumming, we were friends.”
Nancy Sinatra said: “My heart is shattered. Clem became an icon as a member of Blondie, but he was also an important part of my band, the K.A.B. I was blessed to call him my friend.
“If I ever needed him, he was there. Always. Sending healing prayers and comfort to his widow, Ellen, his family, and all who loved him.”
British star Lesley Manville and American actor John Lithgow have won the acting categories at this year’s Olivier Awards, which recognise excellence in London theatre.
Lithgow, 79, played Roald Dahl in Giant, which is about the children’s author wondering whether to make a public apology.
While accepting his award he appeared to reference the current controversy over Donald Trump’s second term as US president.
The Conclave star quipped: “It’s not always easy to welcome an American into your midst, and at this particular moment, it’s probably a little more complicated than usual.”
He also told the audience at the Royal Albert Hall that the “special relationship is still firmly intact”, despite Mr Trump imposing tariffs on British exports to the US.
His co-star, English actor Elliot Levey, took best actor in a supporting role.
Giant was also named best new play.
Image: Lesley Manville was best actress. Pic: PA
Manville, 69, was honoured for her performance in the Greek tragedy Oedipus at the Wyndham’s Theatre.
She said she felt “emotional” while accepting her statuette because it was a production she had “felt very strongly about being” in.
Manville, who played Princess Margaret in The Crown, added that she was taking an early flight to Dublin on Monday to do some filming, and would not be getting “much sleep tonight”.
Image: Romola Garai was best actress in a supporting role. Pic: PA
Best actress in a supporting role went to Romola Garai for her performance in The Years, based on a memoir by French writer Annie Ernaux.
Garai, whose film credits include Scoop and Atonement, was nominated in the same category for Giant.
Image: Elliot Levey was best actor in a supporting role. Pic: PA
Dame Imelda Staunton won a fifth Olivier, for best actress in a musical for the London revival of classic musical Hello, Dolly!
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button won best new musical, a best actor musical award for Lark Rise To Candleford actor John Dagleish, and the outstanding musical contribution award.
The annual event was co-hosted by British singer Beverley Knight and Pose star Billy Porter.
Despite The Who’s Quadrophenia being set over 60 years ago, Pete Townshend’s themes of identity, mental health, and modern masculinity are just as relevant today.
The album is having a renaissance as Pete Townshend’s Quadrophenia A Mod ballet is being brought to life via dance at Sadler’s Wells East, and Sky News has an exclusive first look.
As Townshend puts it, the album he wrote is “perfect” for the stage.
Image: Pete Townshend
“My wife Rachel did the orchestration for me, and as soon as I heard it I said to her it would make a fabulous ballet and we never really let that go,” he tells Sky News.
“Heavy percussion, concussive sequences. They’re explosive moments. They’re also romantic movement moments.”
If you identify with the demographics of Millennial, Gen Y or Gen Z, you might not be familiar with The Who and Mod culture.
But in post-war Britain the Mods were a cultural phenomenon characterised by fashion, music, and of course, scooters. The young rebels were seen as a counter-culture to the establishment and The Who, with Roger Daltry’s lead vocals and Pete Townshend’s writing, were the soundtrack.
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Quadrophenia the album is widely regarded as an essay on the British adolescent experience at the time, focusing on the life of fictional protagonist Jimmy – a young Mod struggling with his sanity, self-doubt, and alienation.
Townshend sets the rock opera in 1965 but thinks its themes of identity, mental health, and modern masculinity are just as relevant today.
He says: “The phobias and the restrictions and the unwritten laws about how young men should behave. The ground that they broke, that we broke because I was a part of it.
“Men were letting go of [the] wartime-related, uniform-related stance that if I wear this kind of outfit it makes me look like a man.”
Image: Paris Fitzpatrick and Pete Townshend. Pic: Johan Persson
This struggle of modern masculinity and identity appears to be echoing today as manosphere influencers like Andrew Tate, incel culture, and Netflix’s Adolescence make headlines.
For dancer Paris Fitzpatrick, who takes on the lead role of Jimmy, the story resonates.
Image: Paris Fitzpatrick, who takes on the lead role of Jimmy in the ballet
“I think there’s a connection massively and I think there may even be a little more revival in some way,” he tells Sky News.
“I love that myself. I love non-conforming to gender norms and typical masculinity; I think it’s great to challenge things.”
Despite the album being written before he was born, the dancer says he was familiar with the genre already.
“I actually did an art GCSE project about Mods and rockers and Quadrophenia,” he says.
“I think we’ll be able to bring it to new audiences and hopefully, maybe people will be inspired to to learn more about their music and the whole cultural movement of the early 60s.”
In 1979, the album was adapted into a film directed by Franc Roddam starring Ray Winstone and Sting but Townshend admits because the film missed key points he is “not a big fan”.
“What it turned out to be in the movie was a story about culture, about social scenario and less about really the specifics of mental illness and how that affects young people,” he adds, also complimenting Roddam’s writing for the film.
Perhaps a testament to Pete Townshend’s creativity, Quadrophenia started as an album, was successfully adapted to film and now it will hit the stage as a contemporary ballet.
It appears that over six decades later Mod culture is still cool and their issues still relatable.
Quadrophenia, a Mod Ballet will tour to Plymouth Theatre Royal from 28 May to 1 June 2025, Edinburgh Festival Theatre from 10 to 14 June 2025 and the Mayflower, Southampton from 18 to 21 June 2025 before having its official opening at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London on 24 June running to 13 July 2025 and then visiting The Lowry, Salford from 15 to 19 July 2025.