BAFTA TV Awards 2025: Post Office drama and Mr Loverman among big winners
Mr Bates Vs The Post Office and Mr Loverman were among the big winners at this year’s BAFTA TV awards – with Danny Dyer and Ruth Jones picking up comedy prizes.
After Mr Bates was named the winner of the TV BAFTA for best limited drama, ITV was also given a special award for commissioning a show that “brought dynamic change”.
The four-part series, which aired in January 2024, depicted how former subpostmasters and subpostmistresses were held liable by the Post Office for financial discrepancies thrown up by its computerised accounting system, Horizon – shining a light on one of the widest miscarriages of justice in UK legal history.
Producer Patrick Spence said the show could never have been made without ITV, as well as the journalists who covered the wrongful convictions, and those who campaigned about the scandal.
“Our show didn’t change the law, the people of this nation did that,” he said.
Lennie James was named best actor for Mr Loverman. Pic: PA
Marisa Abela won her prize for Industry. Pic: PA
Mr Bates stars Toby Jones and Monica Dolan missed out on prizes in the acting categories, with Marisa Abela named best actress for her performance in Industry and Lennie James named best actor for Mr Loverman, a series based on the novel of the same name by Booker Prize winner Bernadine Evaristo.
Both winners seemed shocked to receive the gongs, with first-time nominee Abela saying: “Oh my god, I really wasn’t expecting that at all… This is insane.”
James described the win as a “fantastic honour”.
Earlier in the night, his co-star Ariyon Bakare took home the prize for best supporting actor, while Baby Reindeer’s Jessica Gunning picked up the gong for best supporting actress.
Ruth Jones with her comedy performance gong. Pic: PA
Danny Dyer won his BAFTA for Mr Bigstuff. Pic: PA
Elsewhere, Dyer got one of the night’s biggest cheers as his first ever BAFTA was announced – the award for male performance in a comedy, for his role in Sky’s Mr Bigstuff – while Jones’s final performance as Nessa in the long-awaited Gavin & Stacey: The Finale earned her the female comedy performance gong.
Accepting his prize, Dyer said “the acting was so bad it was funny”, before he swore several times despite being warned about the rules. He also thanked his family, and writer and actor Ryan Sampson, whom he called the “best thing to come out of Rotherham”.
“I’m not going to lie, this is immense,” said Jones as she collected her award. “The person I would like to thank most his my dear, dear talented friend James Corden.”
She said without British actor Corden, her co-creator and co-star, “Vanessa Shanessa Nessa’ Jenkins would not exist”.
Read more:
The full list of winners
The red carpet in pictures
TV Awards – as it happened
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Stars on the red carpet
Wins for other shows included best drama for Blue Lights, best soap for EastEnders, best scripted comedy for Alma’s Not Normal, best entertainment performance for Joe Lycett’s Late Night Lycett, and best entertainment programme for Would I Lie To You?
This year’s BAFTA Fellowship, the highest accolade given by the organisation, in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, games or television, was presented to broadcaster Kirsty Wark for her “unwavering dedication and unmatched legacy in the world of news and current affairs broadcasting”.
Two new categories celebrating children’s television were also introduced this year with CBeebies As You Like It at Shakespeare’s Globe taking home the inaugural prize for best children’s scripted, and Sky’s Disability and Me (FYI Investigates) winning the non-scripted prize.
The main ceremony, which was hosted by actor and presenter Alan Cumming at London’s Royal Festival Hall, came two weeks after the BAFTA craft ceremony for technical awards – where Baby Reindeer, Rivals and Slow Horses each picked up two prizes.
Full list of winners
SUPPORTING ACTRESS – Jessica Gunning – Baby Reindeer – Clerkenwell Films / Netflix
Katherine Parkinson – Rivals – Happy Prince, ITV Studios / Disney+
Maxine Peake – Say Nothing – FX Productions, Color Force / Disney+
Monica Dolan – Sherwood – House Productions / BBC One
Nava Mau – Baby Reindeer – Clerkenwell Films / Netflix
Sue Johnston – Truelove – Clerkenwell Films / Channel 4
SUPPORTING ACTOR – Ariyon Bakare – Mr Loverman – Fable Pictures / BBC One
Christopher Chung – Slow Horses – See-Saw Films / Apple TV+
Damian Lewis – Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light – Playground Entertainment, Company Pictures / BBC One
Jonathan Pryce – Slow Horses – See-Saw Films / Apple TV+
McKinley Belcher III – Eric – SISTER, Little Chick / Netflix
Sonny Walker – The Gathering – World Productions / Channel 4
REALITY – The Jury: Murder Trial – Production Team – ScreenDog Productions / Channel 4
Dragon’s Den – Production Team – BBC Studios Factual Entertainment Productions / BBC One
Love Is Blind UK – Production Team – CPL Productions / Netflix
The Traitors – Production Team – Studio Lambert / BBC One
LIMITED DRAMA – Mr Bates Vs The Post Office – Patrick Spence, James Strong, Gwyneth Hughes, Chris Clough, Natasha Bondy, Joe Williams – ITV Studios, Little Gem / ITV1
Baby Reindeer – Richard Gadd, Weronika Tofilska, Petra Fried, Matt Jarvis, Ed Macdonald, Matthew Mulot – Clerkenwell Films / Netflix
Lost Boys And Fairies – Rebekah Wray-Rogers, Jessica Brown Meek, Libby Durdy, Daf James, James Kent, Adam Knopf – Duck Soup Films / BBC One
One Day – Nicole Taylor, Molly Manners, Roanna Benn, Jude Liknaitzky, David Nicholls, Nige Watson – Drama Republic, Universal International Studios, Focus Features / Netflix
SCRIPTED COMEDY – Alma’s Not Normal – Sophie Willan, Andrew Chaplin, Gill Isles, Nerys Evans – Expectation / BBC Two
Brassic – David Livingstone, Danny Brocklehurst, Ben Gregor, Joseph Gilgun, Jim Poyser – Calamity Films / Sky Max
G’Wed Danny Kenny, Mario Stylianides, Akaash Meeda, Penny Davies – Golden Path Productions / ITV2
Ludwig – Mark Brotherhood, Robert McKillop, David Mitchell, Kenton Allen, Kathryn O’Connor, Georgie Fallon – Big Talk Studios, That Mitchell & Webb Company / BBC One
CHILDREN’S: NON-SCRIPTED – Disability And Me (FYI Investigates) – Matt Peacock, Marshall Corwin – Fresh Start Media / Sky Kids
BooSnoo! Production Team – Visionality, Mackinnon & Saunders / Sky Kids
Operation Ouch! Production Team – Maverick TV / CBBC
Reu & Harper’s Wonder World – Andy Mundy-Castle, Emine Yalchin – Doc Hearts / Channel 5
CHILDREN’S: SCRIPTED – CBeebies As You Like It At Shakespeare’s Globe – Production Team – BBC Studios Kids & Family / CBeebies
Horrible Histories – Production Team – Lion Television / CBBC
Ready Eddie Go! – James Murphy, Joseph Morpurgo, Justin Lowings – Hocus Pocus Studio / Sky Kids
Tweedy & Fluff – Corrinne Averiss, Chris Randall, Martin Tapley – Second Home Studios, Stitchy Feet / Channel 5
SPORTS COVERAGE – Paris 2024 Olympics – Production Team – BBC Sport / BBC One
Euro 2024 – Production Team – BBC Sport / BBC One
Wimbledon 2024 – Production Team – BBC Sport, Wimbledon Broadcast Services / BBC One
SHORT FORM – Quiet Life – Production Team – Open Mike Productions / BBC Three
Brown Brit – Jay Stephen, Ralph Briscoe – The Romantix / Channel 4
Peaked – John Addis, Ada Player, Bron Waugh – Boffola Pictures / Channel 4
Spud – Siobhán McSweeney, Pippa Brown, Leah Draws – Lookout Point TV / BBC Three
SPECIALIST FACTUAL – Atomic People – Benedict Sanderson, Megumi Inman, Morgan Matthews, Otto Burnham – Minnow Films / BBC Two
Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story – Production Team – Silverback Films / National Geographic
Children Of The Cult – Maroesja Perizonius, Alice McShane, Victoria Hollingsworth, David Modell, Ella Newton, Ben Ferguson – DM Productions / ITV1
Miners’ Strike 1984: The Battle For Britain –Tom Barrow, Christian Collerton, Zora Kuettner, Neil Crombie, Joe Evans, Miriam Walsh – Swan Films / Channel 4
LIVE EVENT COVERAGE – Glastonbury 2024 – Production Team – BBC Studios Music Productions / BBC Two
D-Day 80: Tribute To The Fallen – Production Team – BBC Studios / BBC One
Last Night Of The Proms – Production Team – Livewire Pictures / BBC Two
FACTUAL SERIES – To Catch A Copper – Hugo Pettitt, Ashley Francis-Roy, Bruce Fletcher, Peter Beard, Colette Hodges, Martin Thompson – Story Films / Channel 4
American Nightmare – Bernadette Higgins, Fiona Stourton, Rebecca North, Alasdair Bayne, Anton Short, Felicity Morris – RAW / Netflix
Freddie Flintoff’s Field Of Dreams On Tour – Andrew MacKenzie-Betty, Naomi Templeton, Annie Hughes, Anna Strickland, Peter Benn, Drew Hill – South Shore Productions / BBC One
The Push: Murder On The Cliff – Anna Hall, Josephine Besbrode, Luke Rothery, Tom Whitaker, Kate Reid, Josh Carpenter – Candour Productions / Channel 4
MALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY – Danny Dyer – Mr Bigstuff – Sky Studios, Water & Power Productions / Sky Comedy
Bilal Hasna – Extraordinary – Sid Gentle Films / Disney+
Dylan Thomas-Smith – G’Wed – Golden Path Productions / ITV2
Nabhaan Rizwan – Kaos – SISTER / Netflix
Oliver Savell – Changing Ends – Baby Cow Productions / ITV1
Phil Dunning – Smoggie Queens – Hat Trick Productions / BBC Three
FEMALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY – Ruth Jones – Gavin & Stacey: The Finale – Fulwell Entertainment, Tidy Productions, Baby Cow Productions / BBC One
Anjana Vasan – We Are Lady Parts – Working Title Television / Channel 4
Kate O’Flynn – Everyone Else Burns – Jax Media, Imagine Entertainment, Universal International Studios
Lolly Adefope – The Franchise – Neal Street Productions, Dundee Productions, HBO / Sky Comedy
Nicola Coughlan – Big Mood – Dancing Ledge Productions / Channel 4
Sophie Willan – Alma’s Not Normal – Expectation / BBC Two
SOAP – EastEnders – Production Team – BBC Studios / BBC One
Casualty – Production Team – BBC Studios / BBC One
Coronation Street – Production Team – ITV Studios / ITV1
SINGLE DOCUMENTARY – Ukraine: Enemy In The Woods – Jamie Roberts, Kate Spankie, Jonathan Smith, Claire Walker, Stanislav Strilets – Hoyo Films / BBC Two
Hell Jumper – Paddy Wivell, Adriana Timco, Colin Barr, Rupert Houseman, Jane Nicholson, Clancie John-Pierre – Expectation/ BBC Two
Tell Them You Love Me – Production Team – Mindhouse Productions / Sky Documentaries
Undercover: Exposing The Far Right – Production Team – Marking Inc, Tigerlily Productions / Channel 4
CURRENT AFFAIRS – State Of Rage – Marcel Mettelsiefen, Ahisha Ghafoor, Stephen Ellis, Ismail Hussam Banighorra, Aviya Shar-Yashuv, Mayte Carrasco – Duskwater Films / Channel 4
Life And Death In Gaza (Storyville) – Natasha Cox, Lara El Gibaly, Haya Al Badarneh, Sarah Keeling, Simon Cox, Mustafa Khalili – BBC World Service, BBC Eye / BBC Two
Maternity: Broken Trust (Exposure) – Laura Warner, Becky Southworth, Tom Keeling, Emma Lysaght, Lewis Albrow, Martin Kayser-Landwehr – Pulse Films / ITV1
Ukraine’s War: The Other Side (Exposure) – Sean Langan, Leslie Knott, Matt Scholes – Sean Langan, Tiger Nest Films / ITV1
NEWS COVERAGE – BBC Breakfast: Post Office Special – Production Team – BBC News / BBC One
Channel 4 News: Inside Sednaya – The Fall Of Assad – Production Team – Channel 4 News / Channel 4
Channel 4 News: Undercover Inside Reform’s Campaign – Production Team – Channel 4 News / Channel 4
INTERNATIONAL – Shogun – Justin Marks, Rachel Kondo, Michaela Clavell, Jonathan van Tulleken, Eriko Miyagawa, Hiroyuki Sanada – FX Productions / Disney+
After The Party – Helen Bowden, Dianne Taylor, Robyn Malcolm, Peter Salmon, Liz DiFiore, Jason Stephens – Lingo Pictures, Luminous Beast / Channel 4
Colin From Accounts – Production Team – CBS Studios, Easy Tiger Productions / BBC Two
Say Nothing – Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Joshua Zetumer, Patrick Keefe, Monica Levinson, Michael Lennox – FX Productions, Color Force / Disney+
True Detective: Night Country – Production Team – Peligrosa, Neon Black, Anonymous Content, Parliament of Owls, Passenger, HBO / Sky Atlantic
You Are Not Alone: Fighting The Wolfpack – Almudena Carracedo, Robert Bahar, Katie Bryer, Samuel R. Santana – Lucernam Films / Netflix
SPECIAL AWARD – ITV, for commissioning Mr Bates vs The Post Office
ENTERTAINMENT – Would I Lie To You? – Peter Holmes, Rachel Ablett, Barbara Wiltshire, Jake Graham, Zoe Waterman, Charlotte Bracey-Curant – Zeppotron / BBC One
The 1% Club – Dean Nabarro, Andy Auerbach, Richard van’t Riet, Clare Barton, Hennie Clough – Magnum Media / ITV1
Michael McIntyre’s Big Show – Production Team – Hungry McBear / BBC One
Taskmaster – Andy Devonshire, Andy Cartwright, James Taylor, Alex Horne, Jon Thoday – Avalon UK / Channel 4
MEMORABLE MOMENT AWARD (voted by the public) – Strictly Come Dancing – Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell Waltz to ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ – BBC Studios / BBC One
Bridgerton – “THE” carriage scene where Colin admits his true feelings for Penelope – Shondaland / Netflix
Gavin & Stacey: The Finale – Smithy’s Wedding: Mick Stands Up – Fulwell Entertainment, Tidy Productions, Baby Cow Productions / BBC One
Mr Bates vs The Post Office – Jo Hamilton phones the Horizon helpline – ITV Studios, Little Gem / ITV1
Rivals – Rupert Campbell-Black and Sarah Stratton are caught in a game of naked tennis – Happy Prince, ITV Studios / Disney+
Traitors – “Paul isn’t my son… but Ross is!” – Studio Lambert / BBC One
DAYTIME – Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventure – Des Henderson, Emma Parkins, Ed Stobart, Jane Magowan, Denis Minihan – Alleycats TV / BBC Two
Loose Women – Production Team – ITV Studios Daytime / ITV1
Morning Live – Production Team – BBC Studios / BBC One
Richard Osman’s House Of Games – Tamara Gilder, Breid McLoone, John Smith, Anna Blakemore, Abby Brakewell, Tom Banks – Remarkable TV / BBC Two
FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT – Rob And Rylan’s Grand Tour – Rob Rinder, Rylan Clark, Lana Salah, Simon Draper, Gwyn Jones, Joseph Fell – Rex, Zinc Media / BBC Two
In Vogue: The 90s – Liesel Evans, Jonathan Smith, Hugo MacGregor, Vikki Miller, Charlotte Permutt, Matthew Hill – RAW, Vogue Studios / Disney+
Race Across The World – Production Team – Studio Lambert / BBC One
Sort Your Life Out – Production Team – Optomen / BBC One
BAFTA FELLOWSHIP – presenter and journalist Kirsty Wark
DRAMA SERIES – Blue Lights – Stephen Wright, Louise Gallagher, Declan Lawn, Adam Patterson, Jack Casey, Amanda Black – Two Cities Television, Gallagher Films / BBC One
Sherwood – James Graham, Clio Barnard, Juliette Howell, Tessa Ross, Harriet Spencer, Kate Ogborn – House Productions / BBC One
Supacell – Rapman, Mouktar Mohammed, Steve Searle, Joanna Crow – Netflix, New Wave Agency, It’s A Rap / Netflix
Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light – Peter Kosminsky, Noëlette Buckley, Susanne Simpson, Peter Straughan, Lisa Osborne, Colin Callender – Playground Entertainment, Company Pictures / BBC One
ENTERTAINMENT PERFORMANCE – Joe Lycett – Late Night Lycett – Rumpus Media, My Options Were Limited / Channel 4
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly – Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway – Lifted Entertainment, Mitre Studios / ITV1
Claudia Winkleman – The Traitors – Studio Lambert / BBC One
Graham Norton – The Graham Norton Show – So Television / BBC One
Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett – Rob & Romesh Vs – CPL Productions / Sky Max
Stacey Solomon – Sort Your Life Out – Optomen / BBC One
LEADING ACTOR – Lennie James – Mr Loverman – Fable Pictures / BBC One
David Tennant – Rivals – Happy Prince, ITV Studios / Disney+
Gary Oldman – Slow Horses – See-Saw Films / Apple TV+
Martin Freeman – The Responder – Dancing Ledge Productions / BBC One
Richard Gadd – Baby Reindeer – Clerkenwell Films / Netflix
Toby Jones – Mr Bates vs The Post Office – ITV Studios, Little Gem / ITV1
LEADING ACTRESS – Marisa Abela – Industry – Bad Wolf, HBO / BBC One
Anna Maxwell Martin – Until I Kill You – World Productions/ ITV1
Billie Piper – Scoop – The Lighthouse Film and Television, Voltage TV / Netflix
Lola Petticrew – Say Nothing – FX Productions, Color Force / Disney+
Monica Dolan – Mr Bates vs The Post Office – ITV Studios, Little Gem / ITV1
Sharon D Clarke – Mr Loverman – Fable Pictures / BBC One
The Edinburgh Fringe, the world’s largest arts festival, is getting under way, and the conflict in Gaza seems to be feeding into what’s happening.
From shows cancelled to artists divided, it’s no joke.
Rachel Creeger has had a distressing start to her stand-up run.
Two weeks ago, out of the blue, she says the venue Whistle Binkies rang her and fellow Jewish comedian Philip Simon to cancel their slots.
Rachel Creeger says her Edinburgh shows have been cancelled by the venue
She told Sky News it’s come down to “what we bring to that venue by being ourselves”.
The pair were allegedly given three reasons for the cancellation.
One was linked to a “vigil for IDF soldiers” that she says the venue initially claimed had been held during her performance last year but, according to Creeger, later had to admit hadn’t taken place.
“That never happened,” she insists.
Rachel says she was told her previous performances there had resulted in the venue having to pay for graffiti to be removed from toilet doors every three days.
“Again, we didn’t see evidence of that at all,” she says.
“We’re not the ones writing it… but if it was bothering them and they worried it was bothering us, then maybe we’d have volunteered to help them – or to help clean it.”
She claims she was also told the venue was responding to staff concerns about their own safety should Creeger’s show go ahead.
“It’s a pub in Edinburgh, it’s a music venue, they themselves have bouncers most evenings… And perhaps they might say if there’s a concern about extra risk, we should do all we can to make our performers safe.”
‘More unites us than divides us’
Creeger says her show is in no way political.
“It’s based around the idea that a Jewish mother can answer any question, solve any problem… I will make it better for you, the audience gets to write a question and put it into a chicken soup pot… The reason I kind of love it is because by the end of it people leave feeling actually more unites us than divides us.
“We’re not the people making the trouble,” she adds.
“I’ve certainly never started a protest, I’ve never done graffiti, I’ve never caused harm anywhere; my show doesn’t do that, my show is lovely.”
As Britain’s only touring comedian who is also a practising Orthodox Jew, she says since the 7 October attack she and other Jewish comedians are experiencing a significant increase in antisemitism while performing.
“We’re not Israeli, we’re British Jews,” says Creeger.
“The situation there is horrendous and distressing and painful for people of any number of religions and races… To be kind of scapegoated with dog whistles around that is clearly very, very unpleasant.”
The Fringe Society has said its role is to provide support and advice to all participants at the festival “with a vision to give anyone a stage and everyone a seat”.
A spokesperson explained they don’t manage or programme venues and “we understand that the show cancellations have been a choice made by the venue”.
Whistle Binkies hasn’t responded to multiple requests for comment.
Police Scotland told Sky News it hasn’t “received any reports of concern” about Creeger’s show.
There are, of course, huge sensitivities when it comes to discussing what’s going on in the world right now.
American stand-up Zainab Johnson is making her Fringe debut this year.
While her show Toxically Optimistic is all about putting a positive spin on life’s challenges, she doesn’t shy away from tackling the serious stuff if it comes up.
Zainab Johnson says her show doesn’t shy away from tackling serious issues
‘Shows becoming serious is a part of life’
“If I’m doing a show and somebody wants to yell out Free Palestine, well let’s talk about it,” she tells Sky News.
“I am the comedian where, if the show has to become serious, it becomes serious. That’s a part of life, you know?”
Johnson adds: “I’m from the United States and they talk about free speech all the time, but then you find out free speech ain’t really free because the moment you say something that is contrary to what the majority feels or wants to be heard, then you can be penalised…
“But isn’t that the beauty of this festival? So many people just telling their story, whatever their story is.”
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Comedian Andy Parsons has had a long-standing career in satire, appearing regularly on shows like BBC2’s Mock the Week.
While he has the likes of Elon Musk and Nigel Farage in his sights for his stand-up show, Please #@!$ Off to Mars, they’re not his only focus.
Andy Parsons says comedians ‘should be able to talk about anything’
He says stand-ups “should be able to talk about anything and find a way to get that to work, including Israel and Gaza”.
He explains jokingly: “I’ve got some stuff about Israel in the show and obviously it can work both ways. It can give you some publicity and obviously it can get you cancelled.”
Irish-Palestinian comedian Sami Abu Wardeh – a clown comic – is the only Palestinian doing a full run of a comedy show at this year’s Fringe.
“My show is clowning, it’s storytelling, it’s even got a bit of stand-up and it’s heavily inspired by the comedian Dave Allen, who is one of my comedy heroes,” says Wardeh.
“It felt really important that I come and just exist in this space, as a Palestinian, and speak my words and have my voice heard.
“I’ve used all of these skills to make a show that is about really what’s going on in this country and in the world at the moment.
Irish-Palestinian comedian Sami Abu Wardeh is the only Palestinian doing a full run at this year’s Fringe
“I think most people in this country are going to recognise that Britain is in a very dark place… and I’m hoping to reach those people and to give a voice to the dissatisfaction.”
‘Plans in place’ for disruption
He’s had to consider the possibility of protests and take steps to “make sure that the audience and myself are safe and secure”.
“We have plans in place to know how to deal with people who are disruptive,” he says. “And particularly anybody who wants to bring any kind of bigoted views into the room.”
As one of the very few Palestinians at the festival, Wardeh says it is “not only my duty” but “an honour to be here and to represent my people”.
He also feels it’s wrong that Rachel Creeger has had her venue cancelled.
“I sincerely support free speech and I think everyone should be able to get on the stage and say what they want, within reason obviously,” says Wardeh.
Rachel says she hopes to confirm a new venue for her show on social media in the coming days.
“We’ve thankfully had a number of venues approach us to say that they have space available, so I’m hopeful that I’ll get – if not a full – then at least part of the run for the show.”
Since arriving in Edinburgh she’s been overwhelmed by how many hugs of support she’s received.
“To have super high-profile comedians put their heads above the parapet to say ‘this is wrong’, it means so much…In a way the story is that someone’s done something very hurtful… But look at all the love, that’s amazing.”
Sami Abu Wardeh’s Palestine: Peace de Resistance is at the Pleasance Dome in Edinburgh until 24 August
Andy Parsons’ Please #@!$ Off to Mars is at Pleasance Courtyard’s Cabaret Bar until 10 August
Zainab Johnson: Toxically Optimistic is at Pleasance Courtyard until 24 August
Entertainment
Flintoff praises NHS staff who treated him after crash, as doctor says his injuries were ‘among most complex’ he’s ever seen
Andrew Flintoff has praised the “love and compassion” of “superhero” staff in a visit to the hospital that treated him after his crash.
The cricket legend was seriously injured during the incident on the Top Gear track in Surrey in December 2022.
He was airlifted to St George’s in Tooting, with a surgeon calling Flintoff’s injuries some of the most complex he’s seen.
“I just want to say a massive thank you to all the staff at St George’s,” Flintoff said, as he returned to the London hospital.
“I came here probably the lowest I’ve ever been, in need of help and the expertise, the love, the compassion they showed me was incredible.
“I’ll be eternally grateful – absolute superheroes.”
Maxillofacial surgeon Jahrad Haq said Flintoff’s case was very complex. Pic: PA
Jahrad Haq, a maxillofacial surgeon, said he knew immediately the case was something out of the ordinary.
“I was on call that day and received a phone call from the emergency department consultant,” said Mr Haq.
“A lot of injuries are managed at a more junior level before escalating, so I knew this one was serious.
“Of all the trauma cases I’ve seen in over 20 years, this was among the most complex.”
The ex-cricketer with nurses Linda Holden (left) and Sonia Steer. Pic: PA
Flintoff was also pictured on his visit meeting lead dental nurse Linda Holden and principal orthodontic nurse Sonia Steer.
Shamim Umarji, who also treated the 47-year-old, said it was “wonderful to see Freddie again and his visit gave staff a real boost”.
“He spent a lot of time chatting to everyone and it meant a lot,” added the trauma and orthopaedic surgeon.
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Flintoff previously described how he thought he had died in the accident – which saw him “pulled face-down on the runway” for about 50m under a three-wheel car.
The incident led to the BBC pulling the plug on Top Gear and it remains unclear if it will ever return.
Hollywood actor Brian Cox has told Sky News that Donald Trump is talking “bollocks” after suggesting there should be 50 or 75 years between Scottish independence referendums.
The US president said a country “can’t go through that too much” when questioned by reporters during his visit to Scotland this week.
The Emmy-winning star, who is an independence supporter, has hit back, branding him “that idiot in America”.
The 79-year-old told Sky News: “He’s talking bollocks. I’m sorry, but he does. It’s rubbish. Let’s get on with it and let’s get it [independence] done. We can do it.
“It’s been tough as there’s a great deal of undermining that has gone on.”
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Trump responds to Sky question on Israel
SNP fraud probe causing ‘harm’
Mr Cox said the police fraud investigation examining the SNP’s finances has done “enormous harm” to the party and wider independence movement.
Nicola Sturgeon was arrested as part of the long-running police probe but cleared of any wrongdoing earlier this year.
The former first minister’s estranged husband Peter Murrell, who was SNP chief executive for two decades, appeared in court in April to face a charge of alleged embezzlement. He has entered no plea.
Brian Cox is preparing to return to the Scottish stage for the first time in a decade in a play about the Royal Bank of Scotland’s role in the 2008 financial crash.
Ahead of the Edinburgh festival performances, the veteran actor told Sky News: “I think it’s a masterpiece. It’s certainly one of the best pieces of work I’ve been involved in.
Brian Cox speaking to Sky’s Connor Gillies
‘My friend Spacey should be forgiven’
The Succession star was also asked about his “old friend” Kevin Spacey.
The former House of Cards actor, 65, was exiled from the showbiz world in 2017 after allegations of sexual misconduct.
Spacey has admitted to “being too handsy” in the past and “touching someone sexually” when he didn’t know they “didn’t want him to”.
Spacey stood trial in the UK for multiple sexual offences against four men in July 2023 but was acquitted on all counts.
Kevin Spacey
Mr Cox told Sky News: “I am so against cancel culture. Kevin has made a lot of mistakes, but there is a sort of viciousness about it which is unwarranted.
“Everybody is stupid as everybody else. Everybody is capable of the same mistakes and the same sins as everybody else.”
Asked if he could see a return to showbiz for Spacey, Cox replied: “I would think so eventually, but it’s very tough for him.
“He was tricky, but he has learnt a big lesson. He should be allowed to go on because he is a very fine actor. I just think we should be forgiving.”
He concluded: “What is the joy you get out of kicking somebody in the balls when they are down? That is what I cannot stand.”
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