Top Boy and Happy Valley were the big winners at this year’s TV Baftas, where Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett were on presenting duties and Lorraine Kelly and Floella Benjamin were both honoured for their careers in broadcasting.
But let’s be honest… we all know that big awards shows like this are as much about those surprising and unpredictable moments than anything else.
On that note, for those who missed this year’s ceremony, here are 23 must-see moments from the TV Baftas…
Let’s start on the red carpet, where it’s always a total joy to see Hannah Waddingham
And the same has to be said for David and Georgia Tennant
It’s fair to say Joe Lycett went all out (after losing a bet on his Channel 4 show, apparently)
There was also a reunion for Baby Reindeer’s Jessica Gunning and Richard Gadd on the red carpet
Richard was seen wearing a pin in support of We Are Survivors, a charity who help male survivors of sexual abuse
Hosts Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett kicked things off with a monologue that definitely raised a smile (we particularly enjoyed Romesh reminding the actors in attendance that it’s ‘impossible to fall in love with a script’)
Opening the show, our wonderful hosts Rob & Romesh! 👏#BAFTATVAwards with @pandocruisespic.twitter.com/PgCPmWgRhk
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) May 12, 2024
The first winner of the night was Top Boy’s Jasmine Jobson – who clearly wasn’t expecting her win
Hannah Waddingham had us howling with her reaction to losing out in the Best Entertainment Programme category
#BAFTATVAwards#Baftas#Baftas2024 HANNAH WADDINGHAM’s reaction to losing to Strictly was just amazing pic.twitter.com/O6cZEeVBJ4
— Lee Hood (@Mofoman360) May 12, 2024
And Claudia Winkleman wrapped up Strictly Come Dancing’s victory speech brilliantly, with a gag about how she and Tess Daly are ‘in a throuple with Dave Arch’
This led into a dance performance inspired by Peaky Blinders that we don’t think anyone could have seen coming
Mawaan Rizwan’s face suggested he definitely hadn’t anticipated picking up the Best Male Comedy Performance award
And he ended his speech with one of the best lines of the night: ‘Thank you to my therapist. We literally had a conversation this week about how I need to stop relying on external forms of validation. Bad timing!’
Meanwhile, Gbemisola Ikumelo ended her Best Female Comedy Performance speech with an important message about picking up and carrying on after setbacks
Danny Dyer joked that he and Aidan Turner looked ‘like a before and after picture’ when they made an unlikely presenting duo
We absolutely loved Liz Carr joking that her TV habits include watching reruns of herself on Silent Witness
Liz Carr, #SilentWitness star and hilarious presenter with the nominees for single documentary at the #BAFTATVAwards with @pandocruises | #BritBoxpic.twitter.com/ZkQOkjmFyC
— BritBoxUS (@BritBox_US) May 12, 2024
And how great was it to see Ellie Simmonds winning the Best Single Documentary prize?
The ‘In Memoriam’ tributes included a special mention for Matthew Perry that moved Friends fans to tears
#BAFTATVAwards#Baftas#baftas2024 That Matthew Perry Moment had me in tears RiP Matthew we miss you 😥😥😥 pic.twitter.com/8XwMaajs87
— Lee Hood (@Mofoman360) May 12, 2024
Who knew Succession’s Brian Cox was such a Lorraine Kelly fan, eh?
And after being given the Special Award, Lorraine’s speech summed up everything that’s made her such a TV favourite in the last four decades
Meanwhile, Floella Benjamin’s Bafta Fellowship acceptance speech was equal parts powerful and joyous
Baroness Floella Benjamin, winner of the #BAFTATVAwards with @pandocruises Fellowship Award. #BritBoxpic.twitter.com/BUNLkxjDIe
— BritBoxUS (@BritBox_US) May 12, 2024
Joe Lycett thanked his mum and dad ‘Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII’ as he joked: ‘I lost a bet, hence this. I’m so hot and I need a piss.’
After being caught short without a speech, we loved Timothy Spall telling people to ‘look it all up on IMDB and you’ll see who was involved’
And what better way can there be to end a TV awards show than a speech from Sarah Lancashire?
Sarah Lancashire wins the #BAFTATVAwards with @pandocruises award for Leading Actress for #HappyValleypic.twitter.com/wkHTxyGah7
— BritBoxUS (@BritBox_US) May 12, 2024