British TV stars arrive in London for BAFTA Television Awards

British television’s most visible names arrived in London on Sunday as BAFTA turned the red carpet at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall into a snapshot of the industry’s current shape: streaming-heavy, export-minded and still anchored by public-service prestige.

The 2026 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises took place at the Southbank Centre venue and were broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 7pm. Ahead of the main ceremony, viewers could watch a live red carpet show on BAFTA’s YouTube channel, hosted by Fleur East and Roman Kemp, as arrivals from across comedy, drama and factual television filtered into the hall.

Greg Davies hosted the ceremony, which honoured television broadcast in 2025. BAFTA said 124 programmes received nominations this year, with the shortlist announced on 24 March 2026. The nominated titles pointed to where British television is strongest right now: Adolescence, Amandaland, A Thousand Blows, Big Boys, Last One Laughing and The Celebrity Traitors. Together, they span gritty drama, broad comedy and unscripted formats that travel well beyond the UK.

The guest list also reflected that wider reach. Among those expected at the ceremony were Alan Carr, Ashley Walters, Claudia Winkleman, Jennifer Saunders, Louis Theroux, Malachi Kirby, Matt Smith, Seth Rogen and Stephen Graham. The mix of home-grown talent and international names underlined how British television increasingly lands in a global market, where premium series and format-driven entertainment can move quickly from domestic success to international visibility.

The night also highlighted the industry’s institutions as much as its stars. Dame Mary Berry DBE was due to receive the BAFTA Fellowship, while Martin Lewis CBE was to be presented with the BAFTA Television Special Award. Performances came from Cat Burns and AURORA, adding a live entertainment element to a ceremony that remains one of British television’s key annual moments.

BAFTA describes its red carpets as among the most anticipated occasions in the entertainment calendar, and this one carried a clear message about the sector itself. With a slate of nominees dominated by high-profile contemporary titles, a broadcast split between linear TV and streaming, and names that bridge British and international audiences, the awards showed an industry balancing mass-market reach with the prestige programming that still defines its reputation.