BAFTA

Multiple award chances for Adolescence and A Thousand Blows plus Amandaland, Celebrity Traitors, Blue Lights and Last One Laughing

Stephen Graham came out on top of the BAFTA TV nominations with a total of 11 for his Netflix drama Adolescence and another seven for his Disney+ series A Thousand Blows. If both dramas win in all the categories in which they are nominated the actor, who both stars and executive produces both shows, could come away with a share in 18 gongs.

Adolescence, about the online influence of toxic masculinity on youngsters, was shortlisted in the limited drama category and saw Graham nominated as leading actor plus Owen Cooper and Ashley Walters for best supporting actor and Christine Tremarco and Erin Doherty for supporting actress, with the other nominations coming in the craft awards which reward technical excellence.

A Thousand Blows, about boxing during the Victorian era, was nominated for best drama series and also got a nod for Erin Doherty in the leading actress category, plus five more in the craft sections.

It was also a good day for Amandaland, which received multiple nods including in the best actress category for Jennifer Saunders, Lucy Punch and Philippa Dunne, along with The Celebrity Traitors, nominated as the best reality show and in the entertainment performance category for Claudia Winkleman.

But the main BBC series, The Traitors, did not get a look in. And there are also no gongs on the horizon for Emmerdale – missing from the soap category – Strictly Come Dancing, snubbed in the entertainment list, and This Morning, missing from the daytime section.

New series Last One Laughing, on Prime Video, has landed Bob Mortimer with his first performance Bafta nomination, with the show also nominated in the entertainment catetory, where it faces competition from Graham Norton’s chat show and Rob Brydon’s panel series Would I Lie to You – but not from juggernauts Strictly on BBC1 or ITV’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.

Amanda Holden is also up for her first Bafta in a performance category, alongside Alan Carr, for their BBC renovation series The Spanish Job.

Overall, in the performance categories 21 of the 44 nominees were receiving their first BAFTA nomination, including Walters, Cooper and Tremarco for Adolescence, Punch and Dunne for Amandaland, Doherty for Adolescence and A Thousand Blows plus James Nelson-Joyce for This City is Ours, Jim Howick for Here We Go, Jodie Whittaker for Toxic Town, Rose Ayling Ellis for Reunion and Sian Brooke for Blue Lights.

BBC comedy Here We Go landed two nominations in the main awards for leading actors Jim Howick and Katherine Parkinson, who play husband and wife. Police drama Blue Lights, set in Belfast, is nominated for best drama along with a best actress chance for Brooke, who plays social worker turned cop Grace.

Romesh Ranganathan found he was competing against himself in the entertainment performance category, where he is listed for both his series Rob and Romesth Vs plus his other show for Sky Max Romesh – Can’t Knock the Hustle. And Aimee Lou Wood also found herself nominated twice, in the best supporting actress category for The White Lotus and also in the leading actress category for BBC3’s Film Club, which she also co-wrote.

While the BBC dominated the nominations at the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises with a total of 73 across both the TV and craft awards, there was also 28 for Netflix, 25 for Channel 4, 17 for Disney+, 16 for ITV, and 15 for AppleTV+. The ceremony will be hosted this year by Taskmaster’s Greg Davies, on Sunday 10 May.

BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip said last year had been an “exceptional year for television” which was reflected in the 124 nominated programmes nominated across the board. “They highlight the strength and originality of British storytelling – from powerful documentaries and standout comedy to homegrown drama and the international series that captured global attention, this year’s nominees demonstrate a medium at its creative peak,” she said. “It’s especially exciting to see so many first-time performance nominees, showcasing the vibrant new talent shaping the future of our industry.”

THE TV AWARD NOMINATIONS:

ACTOR IN A COMEDY

• Jim Howick, Here We Go – BBC Studios Comedy / BBC1
• Jon Pointing, Big Boys – Roughcut TV / Channel 4
• Lenny Rush, Am I Being Unreasonable? – Boffola Pictures / BBC1
• Mawaan Rizwan, Juice – Various Artists Limited / BBC3
• Oliver Savell, Changing Ends – Baby Cow Productions / ITV1
• Steve Coogan, How Are You? Its Alan (Partridge) – Baby Cow Productions / BBC1

ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

• Diane Morgan, Mandy – BBC Studios Comedy / BBC2
• Jennifer Saunders, Amandaland – Merman Television / BBC1
• Katherine Parkinson, Here We Go – BBC Studios Comedy / BBC1
• Lucy Punch, Amandaland – Merman Television / BBC1
• Philippa Dunne, Amandaland – Merman Television / BBC1
• Rosie Jones, Pushers – Merman Television, 2LE Media / Channel 4

CHILDREN’S: NON-SCRIPTED

• A Real Bugs Life, Production Team – Plimsoll Productions, National Geographic / Disney+
• Boosnoo!, Production Team – Visionality Media, Mackinnon and Saunders / Sky Kids
• Deadly 60 Saving Sharks, Production Team – BBC Studios / CBBC
• World.War.Me (Sky Kids Investigates), Matt Peacock, Marshall Corwin, Nicky Cox – Fresh Start Media / Sky News

CHILDREN’S: SCRIPTED

• Crongton, Production Team – New Pictures / BBC iPlayer
• Horrible Science, Production Team – Lion Television / BBC iPlayer
• Shaun the Sheep, Seamus Malone, Danny Gallagher, Anna Leong Brophy – Aardman / CBBC
• The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball, Production Team – Hanna Barbera Studios Europe / Cartoon Network

CURRENT AFFAIRS

• Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel’s War (Exposure), Benjamin Zand, Matan Cohen, Maya Rostowska, Josh Reynolds, Rhiannon Mayor, Mel McCowan – Zandland / ITV1
• The Covid Contracts: Follow The Money, Davina Bristow, Jenna Weiler, Will Hecker, Russell Scott, Einav Leshetz Lovatt, Brian Woods – True Vison Productions / ITV1
• Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, Ramita Navai, Karim Shah, Ben De Pear, Mel Quigley, Menna Hijazi, Jaber Badwan – Basement Films / Channel 4
• Undercover In The Police (Panorama) Karen Wightman, Leo Telling, Joe Plomin, Rory Bibb, Adrian Polglase, Gary Beelders – BBC Panorama / BBC1

DAYTIME

• The Chase, Martin Scott, Helen Tumbridge, Caroline Sale, John L Spencer, Mick Thomas – Potato, ITV Studios / ITV1
• Lorraine, Production Team – ITV Studios Daytime / ITV1
• Richard Osman’s House of Games, Tamara Gilder, Breid McLoone, John Smith, Anna Blakemore, Tom Banks, Abby Brakewell – Remarkable Entertainment / BBC2
• Scam Interceptors, Production Team – BBC Studios / BBC1

DRAMA SERIES

• A Thousand Blows, Production Team – The Story Collective, Matriarch Productions, Water & Power Productions / Disney+
• Blue Lights, Stephen Wright, Louise Gallagher, Declan Lawn, Adam Patterson, Jack Casey, Amanda Black – Two Cities Television, Gallagher Films / BBC1
• Code Of Silence, Catherine Moulton, Diarmuid Goggins, Joe Shrubb, Chanya Button, Benji Walters, Will Truefitt – Mammoth Screen / ITV1
• This City Is Ours, Stephen Butchard, Simon Maloney, Saul Dibb, Rebecca Hodgson, Sian McWilliams, Andy Harries – Left Bank Pictures / BBC1

ENTERTAINMENT*

• The Graham Norton Show, Graham Norton, Graham Stuart, Jon Magnusson, Toby Baker, Catherine Strauss, Pete Snell – So Television / BBC1
• Last One Laughing, Production Team – Initial, Zeppotron / Prime Video
• Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, Production Team – Hungry McBear / BBC1
• Would I Lie To You, Peter Holmes, Rachel Ablett, Jake Graham, Zoe Waterman, Barbara Wiltshire, Debra Blenkinsop – Zeppotron / BBC1

ENTERTAINMENT PERFORMANCE

• Amanda Holden, Alan Carr, Amanda & Alan’s Spanish Job – Voltage TV Productions / BBC1
• Bob Mortimer, Last One Laughing – Initial, Zeppotron / Prime Video
• Claudia Winkleman, The Celebrity Traitors – Studio Lambert Scotland / BBC1
• Lee Mack, The 1% Club – Magnum Media / ITV1
• Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Rob & Romesh Vs… – CPL Productions / Sky Max
• Romesh Ranganathan, Romesh: Can’t Knock the Hustle – Ranga Bee Productions / Sky Max

FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT

• The Assembly, Michelle Singer, Stu Richards, Holly Ritchie, Cein McGillicuddy, Linton Davies, Mary Lynch – Rockerdale Studios / ITV1
• Go Back To Where You Came From, Liam Humphreys, Dave Sutton, Emma Young, Guy Simmonds, Nicky Hammond – Minnow Films / Channel 4
• Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars, Production Team – Studio Ramsay Global / Apple TV
• Race Across The World, Production Team – Studio Lambert / BBC1

FACTUAL SERIES

• Bibaa & Nicole: Murder in the Park, Production Team – True Vision / Sky Documentaries
• Educating Yorkshire, Production Team – Twofour / Channel 4
• See No Evil, Production Team – Passion Pictures / Channel 4
• The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed, Lucy Wilcox, Charlie Webb, Kelly Nobay, Rebecca North – Raw / ITV1

INTERNATIONAL

• The Bear, Christopher Storer, Joanna Calo, Josh Senior, Tyson Bidner, Matty Matheson, Cooper Wehde – FX Productions / Disney+
• The Diplomat, Debora Cahn, Janice Williams, Alex Graves, Keri Russell, Melissa Gelernter, Pam Roberts – Well Red, Let’s not turn this into a whole big production / Netflix
• Pluribus, Production Team – Sony Pictures Television / Apple TV
• Severance, Production Team – Fifth Season / Apple TV
• The Studio, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Alex Gregory, Pete Hyuck, Frida Perez, James Weaver – Lionsgate Television / Apple TV
• The White Lotus, Mike White, Mark Kamine, David Bernad – HBO, Rip Cord, MC Pictures / Sky Atlantic

LEADING ACTOR

• Colin Firth, Lockerbie: A Search for Truth – Carnival Films, Universal International Studios, Sky Studios / Sky Atlantic
• Ellis Howard, What it Feels Like for a Girl – Hera Pictures / BBC3
• James Nelson-Joyce, This City is Ours – Left Bank Pictures / BBC1
• Matt Smith, The Death of Bunny Munro – Clerkenwell Films, Sky Studios / Sky Atlantic
• Stephen Graham, Adolescence – Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, Plan B Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, Plan B / Netflix
• Taron Egerton, Smoke – truth.media, Crime Story Media, Imperative Entertainment, EDEN Productions, Hans Bubby / Apple TV

LEADING ACTRESS

• Aimee Lou Wood, Film Club – Gaumont / BBC3
• Erin Doherty, A Thousand Blows – The Story Collective, Matriarch Productions, Water & Power Productions / Disney+
• Jodie Whittaker, Toxic Town – Broke & Bones / Netflix
• Narges, Rashidi, Prisoner 951 – Dancing Ledge Productions / BBC1
• Sheridan Smith, I Fought The Law – Hera Pictures / ITV1
• Sian Brooke, Blue Lights – Two Cities Television, Gallagher Films / BBC1

LIMITED DRAMA

• Adolescence, Stephen Graham, Jack Thorne, Philip Barantini, Jo Johnson, Mark Herbert, Hannah Walters – Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, Plan B / Netflix
• I Fought The Law, Liza Marshall, Charlotte Webber, Erik Richter Strand, Jamie Crichton, Mark Hedges – Hera Pictures / ITV1
• Trespasses, Amanda Posey, Maria Mulhall, Dawn Shadforth, Ailbhe Keogan – Wildgaze Films / Channel 4
• What It Feels Like For a Girl, Liza Marshall, Ron O’Berst, Brian Welsh, Paris Lees, Frances du Pille – Hera Pictures / BBC3

LIVE EVENT COVERAGE

• Holocaust Memorial Day 2025, Production Team – BBC Studios / BBC1
• Last Night of the Proms: Finale, Production Team – Livewire Pictures / BBC1
• VE Day 80: A Celebration To Remember, Production Team – BBC Studios / BBC1

NEWS COVERAGE

• BBC Newsnight: Grooming Survivors Speak, Production Team – BBC Newsnight / BBC2
• Channel 4 News: Israle-Iran: The Twelve Day War, Production Team – Channel 4 News / Channel 4
• Sky News: Gaza: Fight For Survival, Production Team – Sky News / Sky News

REALITY

• The Celebrity Traitors, Production Team – Studio Lambert Scotland / BBC1
• The Jury: Murder Trial, Production Team – ScreenDog Productions / Channel 4
• Squid Game: The Challenge, Production Team – Studio Lambert, The Garden / Netflix
• Virgin Island, Rob Davis, Tom Garland, Joe Wildman, Matt Bailey, Sarah Carnie, Mel Walden – Double Act Productions / Channel 4

SCRIPTED COMEDY

• Amandaland, Production Team – Merman Television / BBC1
• Big Boys, Jack Rooke, Bertie Peek, Jim Archer, Ash Atalla, Alex Smith, Tim Sealey – Roughcut TV / Channel 4
• How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge), Steve Coogan, Rob Gibbons, Neil Gibbons, Joe Fraser, Rupert Majendie, Sarah Monteith – Baby Cow Productions / BBC1
• Things You Should Have Done, Lucia Keskin, Jack Clough, Steve Monger, Ash Atalla, Alex Smith – Roughcut TV / BBC3

SHORT FORM

• Donkey, Production Team – Mighty Pebble Pictures, The Story Collective / BBC3
• Hustle and Run, Jonny Madderson, Jono Stevens, Sara Conlon – JustSo / Channel 4
• Rocket Fuel, Jordon Scott Kennedy, Leah Henry, Casey Shaw – Fully Focused Productions, Slick Films / BBC iPlayer
• Zoners, Production Team – BBC Studios Comedy / BBC3

SINGLE DOCUMENTARY**

• Grenfell: Uncovered, Olaide Sadiq, Samuel R. Santana, Sandy Smith, James Rogan, Emma Scott, James Saville – Rogan Productions / Netflix
• Louis Therous: The Settlers, Louis Theroux, Arron Fellows, Joshua Baker, Matan Cohen, Sara Obeidat, Fiona Stourton – Mindhouse / BBC2
• One Day in Southport, Dan Reed, Bruce Law, James Parris – Amos Pictures / Channel 4
• Unforgotten: The Bradford City Fire, Andy Worboys, George Grafton, Jaimie D’Cruz, Luke A. Flight, Miriam Walsh, Oliver Schofield – acme / BBC2

SOAP

• Casualty, Production Team – BBC Studios / BBC1
• Coronation Street, Production Team – ITV Studios / ITVX
• EastEnders, Production Team – BBC Studios / BBC1

SPECIALIST FACTUAL***

• Belsen: What They Found, Sam Mendes, Simon Chinn, Jonathan Chinn, David Baddiel, Pippa Harris, Andy Worboys – Lightbox, Neal Street, Imperial War Museum Lightbox, Neal Street, Imperial War Museum / BBC2
• Simon Schama: The Road To Auschwitz, Hugo Macgregor, Jyoti Mehta, Richard Wilkinson, Venita Singh-Warner, Nicolas Kent, Charlotte Sacher – Oxford Films / BBC2
• Surviving Black Hawk Down, Jack Macinnes, Dominic Crossley-Holland, Jamal Osman, Tom Pearson, Sam Hobkinson, Clare Keeley – RSA / Netflix
• Vietnam: The War That Changed America, Mark Raphael, David Glover, Rob Coldstream, Caroline Marsden, Mike Davey, Sam Bergson – Apple, 72 Films / Apple TV

SPORTS COVERAGE

• The 2025 Ryder Cup, Production Team – Sky Sports, European Tour Productions / Sky Sports Main Event
• The FA Cup Final, Richard Hughes, Sarah Williams, Nicola Kirk, Stephen Lyle, Andrew Clement, Andy Underhill – BBC Sport / BBC1
• UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, Production Team – Sunset+Vine Scotland / BBC1
• Wimbledon 2025, Production Team – BBC Sport, Wimbledon Broadcast Services / BBC1

SUPPORTING ACTOR

• Ashley Walters, Adolescence – Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, Plan B / Netflix
• Fehinti Balogun, Down Cemetery Road – 60Forty Films / Apple TV
• Joshua McGuire, The Gold – Tannadice Pictures / BBC1
• Owen Cooper, Adolescence – Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, Plan B / Netflix
• Paddy Considine, MobLand – MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios, Hardy Son & Baker, Easter Partisan Films, Toff Guy Films / Paramount+
• Rafael Mathe, The Death of Bunny Munro – Clerkenwell Films, Sky Studios / Sky Atlantic

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• Aimee Lou Wood, The White Lotus – HBO, Rip Cord, MC Pictures / Sky Atlantic
• Christine Tremarco, Adolescence – Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, Plan B / Netflix
• Chyna McQueen, Get Millie Black – Motive Pictures / Channel 4
• Emilia Jones, Task – HBO, wiip, The Low Dweller Productions Inc., Public Record / Sky Atlantic
• Erin Doherty, Adolescence – Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, Plan B / Netflix
• Rose Ayling-Ellis, Reunion – Warp Films / BBC1

P&O CRUISES MEMORABLE MOMENT AWARD (voted for by the public)

• Adolescence, Jamie Snaps at the Psychologist – Warp Films, Matriarch Productions, Plan B / Netflix
• Big Boys, I didn’t make it, did I? – Roughcut TV / Channe
• Blue Lights, The police are warned of an ambush to plot to silence a key witness – Two Cities Television, Gallagher Films / BBC1
• The Celebrity Traitors, Alan Carr wins The Celebrity Traitors – Studio Lambert Scotland / BBC1
• Last One Laughing, Bob Mortimer and Richard Ayoade’s speed date – Initial, Zeppotron / Prime Video
• What It Feels Like For a Girl, Byron leaves for Brighton to start Uni, where she introduces herself as Paris – Hera Pictures / BBC3

It is based on a true story but some find it difficult to watch

An award winning and 100% rated drama that ended up causing controversy at the BAFTA ceremony has just been added to Netflix.

I Swear has just been included on the streamer’s extensive library as of today (March 10). Originally released in cinemas for a limited run just last year, the title tells the true life story of John Davidson, who grew up with Tourette syndrome in 1980s Scotland.

According to the synopsis, he was diagnosed at just 15 and was targeted as ‘insane’ by his peers. The film shows how he struggled with a condition few had witnessed.

He eventually becomes a campaigner to increase public awareness and fighting for acceptance of the condition of Tourette’s as an adult. He finds his life’s purpose and accepted his MBE from the Queen in 2019.

While the film is a dramatised version of John’s life, he has appeared in documentaries before. He starred in a BBC film back in 1988 and a documentary released in 2009 called I Swear I Can’t Help It.

The biopic was welcomed with overwhelmingly positive reviews by critics upon its release. So much so that it boasts a perfect 100% rating on website Rotten Tomatoes.

However, more recently the film’s subject was attached with some controversy. While leading man Robert Aramayo picked up the BAFTA for Best Actor thanks to his performance, it was not the most talked about event of the night.

The subject of the film John Davidson was also in attendance on the night. His presence became apparent by those watching along from home at first as they heard some shouting during the show.

Actor and host of The Traitors US Alan Cumming was presenting and he asked for patience from the audience at the time. He told them during the show: “You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience. Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.”

However, in one instance, while actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on the stage, a racial slur was shouted out by John and included on the BBC’s broadcast. It eventually lead to the stream of the awards ceremony being removed from the iPlayer.

In an interview after the Baftas, Davidson has said the BBC should have “worked harder to prevent anything that I said” being broadcast. He added that he shouted about 10 different offensive words during Sunday’s ceremony as a result of his tics.

Some have argued that the incident only highlights the importance of the film itself. As one person posted online: “I Swear is an audacious biopic that has no issues tackling the roots of a serious topic, and its dedication to that task does lead to some scenes that will certainly be upsetting to some viewers.”

Another added: “Robert Aramayo delivers a fearless, deeply human performance in this compassionate biopic. I Swear balances humour and heartbreak while shedding light on Tourette syndrome, reminding us how much empathy society still owes.”

While a third commented: “Honestly I left the cinema seriously thinking if I’d ever seen a better movie! It’s so perfect from the casting to the time jumps. It’s a beautiful written story that really captures the essence of what it is to be different and how hard it must be to live with Tourette’s. Several goosebumps moments with a lot of humour!”

Someone else said: “This is a fabulous film which made me laugh and cry in equal measure. It captured the difficulties and complexities of living with Tourette’s syndrome with a startling level of authenticity. The acting was superb and I came out realising that I’d seen something very special. I’ll be thinking about it for weeks.”

I Swear is streaming on Netflix.

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The BBC’s director-general has issued a statement of regret after a moment when John Davidson, who has Tourette’s Syndrome, shouted the N-word during the BAFTAs was broadcast

The BBC’s outgoing director-general Tim Davie has said the corportation “profoundly regrets” that a racial slur was broadcast during the time-delayed coverage of the BAFTA Film Awards on BBC One.

During the BAFTAs, which were aired on 22 February, John Davidson, who has Tourette’s Syndrome, involuntarily shouted several slurs and offensive comments at guests and presenters.

This included the N-Word, which was shouted at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo as they presented the award for Best Visual Effects, which made it into the live broadcast, despite the show airing hours after it was recorded. Davidson has coprolalia, a form of Tourette’s where vocal tics include expletive and offensive remarks.

READ MORE: Beloved BBC drama This Life celebrates 30th anniversary but where are the cast now?READ MORE: Furious Baftas host Alan Cummings slams BBC over ‘s***show’ saying ‘we were let down’

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In a letter to the chairwoman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage, Davie said: “I’d like to make clear: although the racial slur was symptomatic of a disability and an involuntary tic, it should never have been broadcast. It was a genuine mistake, and we take full responsibility for our error.”

Davie also responded to questions about why the incident was not edited out of the broadcast. He said: “Although this is the subject of ongoing review, our initial evidence gathering has found that no one in the on-site broadcast truck heard this when they were watching the live feed.

“Because no one in the broadcast truck was aware it was on the live feed, there was therefore no editorial decision made to leave the language in.”

Davidson has said he is “deeply mortified” by what happened at the BAFTAs. In a statement released on 23 February, he said: “I wanted to thank BAFTA and everyone involved in the awards last night for their support and understanding and for inviting me to attend the broadcast.

“I was heartened by the round of applause that followed this announcement and felt welcomed and understood in an environment that would normally be impossible for me.”

Referencing an announcement made by show host Alan Cumming explaining Davidson’s condition to the audiences there and at home, he added: “In addition to the announcement by Alan Cumming, the BBC and BAFTA, I can only add that I am, and always have been, deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.

“I was in attendance to celebrate the film of my life, I Swear, which, more than any film or TV documentary, explains the origins, condition, traits, and manifestations of Tourette’s Syndrome. I have spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette’s community and to teach empathy, kindness, and understanding from others, and I will continue to do so. I chose to leave the auditorium early in the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing.”

His team added that Davidson reached out to the Sinners team to apologise directly to Jordan and Lindo. Lindo said he and Jordan “did what they had to do” during the incident but wished “someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterward”.

BAFTA released a statement in which they said: “At the BAFTA Film Awards last night our guests heard very offensive language that carries incomparable trauma and pain for so many. We want to acknowledge the harm this has caused, address what happened and apologise to all.

“One of our guests, John Davidson MBE, has Tourette Syndrome and has devoted his life to educating and campaigning for better understanding of this condition. Tourette Syndrome causes involuntary verbal tics, that the individual has no control over. Such tics are in no way a reflection of an individual’s beliefs and are not intentional. John Davidson is an executive producer of the BAFTA nominated film, I Swear, which is based on his life experience.

“We take the duty of care to all our guests very seriously and start from a position of inclusion. We took measures to make those in attendance aware of the tics, announcing to the audience before the ceremony began, and throughout, that John was in the room and that they may hear strong language, involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony.

“Early in the ceremony a loud tic in the form of a profoundly offensive term was heard by many people in the room. Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at the time, and we apologise unreservedly to them, and to all those impacted. We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism.

“During the ceremony, John chose to leave the auditorium and watch the rest of the ceremony from a screen, and we would like to thank him for his dignity and consideration of others, on what should have been a night of celebration for him.

“We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all. We will learn from this, and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy.”

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“Sinners,” the blockbuster film that has been a major contender during awards season, was the dominant winner at the 57th NAACP Image Awards.

The film scored trophies for outstanding motion picture and most of the acting awards, including breakthrough performance, awarded to Miles Caton. Michael B. Jordan, who won for actor in a motion picture, also won entertainer of the year.

Before the ceremony, Ryan Coogler won writing and directing honors, while Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo won the supporting actress and actor awards, respectively.

But the ceremony was not only about honoring Black excellence in entertainment. The event was also flavored by several remarks from celebrities addressing the divisive political climate and recent events that have targeted and affected Black entertainers.

Viola Davis received the chairman’s award during the 57th NAACP Image Awards on Saturday.

(Chris Pizzello / Chris Pizzello/invision/ap)

Host Deon Cole kicked off the ceremony by welcoming the audience to “the Trump Image Awards. Because you know he wants his name on everything.”

Asking permission to “buy a curse word,” he made a joke that was bleeped out during the live stream, but was apparently aimed at federal ICE agents. The comment sparked a standing ovation from the predominantly black-tie audience, many of whom wore anti-ICE pins.

“I don’t want to see no ICE ever again,” he said. “When I looked at the guest list, I took off Ice Cube, Ice-T, Ice Spice. I don’t want no ice cream, I don’t want no ice in my drink.”

Samuel L. Jackson said in a tribute to the late Jesse Jackson, who died earlier this month, that President Trump’s attacks on diversity and his quest to remove references to slavery and Black history from museums would not succeed.

Utilizing one of Jackson’s trademark slogans, Jackson said, “We will not be erased from this country’s history because I am somebody.”

And in accepting the award for actor in a drama series for “Paradise,” Sterling K. Brown added, “Like Sam said, they can’t erase us because there is no country without us.”

The event also continued to put a spotlight on the uproar surrounding the shouting of a racial slur during the BAFTA Awards last week.

Jordan and Lindo were presenters during the BAFTA Awards, which took place at London’s Royal Festival Hall. As they were introducing the visual effects category, a member of the audience shouted the N-word. The two actors paused momentarily before continuing.

Director Ryan Coogler, left, and actor Delroy Lindo presenting the award for actress in a motion picture. The pair addressed the incident at the BAFTAs in their remarks.

(Chris Pizzello / invision/AP)

Later, awards host Alan Cumming addressed the outburst, referencing the nominated film “I Swear,” which is about Scottish campaigner John Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome and shouted the racist slur from the audience. Cumming apologized, while Davidson, an executive producer for the BAFTA-nominated film, left his seat midway through the ceremony. BAFTA later issued an apology to the actors.

Cole delivered a comic prayer referencing the incident: “Lord, if there are any white men out there with Tourette’s, I advise you to tell them to read the room tonight, Lord. It might not go the way they think.”

Actor Rebecca Hall early in the awards show said she wanted to pay tribute to “two kings. Thank you for your grace.”

Lindo later in the ceremony said, “We appreciate all the support we’ve been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend. It is an honor to be here among our people this evening … It’s a classic case of something that could have been very negative becoming very positive.”

Here is a list of the night’s winners:

Entertainer of the year
Michael B. Jordan

Outstanding motion picture
“Sinners”

Actor in a motion picture
Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners”

Actress in a motion picture
Cynthia Erivo, “Wicked: For Good”

Breakthrough performance in a motion picture
Miles Caton, “Sinners”

Drama series
“Reasonable Doubt”

Actor in a drama series
Sterling K. Brown, “Paradise”

Actress in a drama series
Angela Bassett, “9-1-1”

Comedy series
“Abbott Elementary”

Actress in a comedy series
Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”

Actor in a comedy series
Cedric the Entertainer, “The Neighborhood”

Chairman’s Award
Viola Davis

Hall of Fame Award
Salt-N-Pepa

President’s Award
Colman Domingo