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The British Academy Television Awards

A Bafta award
  • Posted at 4:16pm
  • 17 April 2008
  • by AlisonGraham-RT
  • 2 comments

This world is filled with myriad excruciating experiences, but surely none of them is quite as head-buryingly awful as walking down the red carpet at a showbiz do, hearing only the sound of your own breathing.

Such is the lot of nobodies, and we're out in force for the Baftas on Sunday. We take solace in, and find shelter with, one another, as rows of shrieking celeb-watchers and paparazzi don't clamour for our attention while we mince into the Palladium for the awards ceremony. "You go first, then I'll walk behind you. It will be fine. Really."

Sometimes we latch onto celebs with whom we have a nodding acquaintance. Thus I'm eternally grateful to David Walliams, who a few years ago, generously and purposefully marched up the red carpet to me and my companion as we trudged miserably in front of blank-faced TV fans to say a friendly and extravagant "hello". I've always liked him for doing that.

A nobodies' posse is best - just band together and swarm proudly (can you swarm proudly, I wonder?), pretending that you really have to get inside very quickly because you have something very very important to do, usually go to the loo, because you are so nervous.

Watching at home has many compensations. You can have as many 'comfort breaks', as the Americans would say, as you like, and you can loudly eat crisps while shouting, "I can't believe that piece of crap won a Bafta!" And you will most definitely have a more comfortable seat.

Bafta predictions are pretty much a mug's game, and doubtless by the time some of you get round to reading this it will all be over and you'll know exactly who's won what. But my own particular gripes/hobbyhorses this year are - why no nominations, yet again, for Philip Glenister and David Tennant, creators of two gold-plated TV icons, Gene Hunt and Doctor Who? And surely the grim, grimy, utterly deadly it's-hell-up-north drama The Street can't win best drama again. Can it?

Let's stick with froth and turn quickly to Desperate Housewives (Wednesday 23 April, 10:00pm, Channel 4). I gave up on the last series, finding it dull and tedious. But there are signs that the Desperates have got their mojo back, even if I can't see where the Lynette-illness story is going. But the introduction of a waspish gay male couple into a drama series that has one of the biggest gay sensibilities on television is welcome. And funny, too. This week, the pair shock the neighbourhood with a ghastly piece of objet d'art.

**

Alison Graham is TV editor of Radio Times.

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Comments

  • Posted on 25 September 2008
  • at 10:27am
  • by Jo

IMHO, if any series deserves an award,it's Lost in Austen. At last! A witty, innovative, well written, beautifully acted slice of pure fun on TV, with plenty to ponder after the episode had finished. I was caught from the moment we saw Elizabeth, after emerging Alice-like through the door in Amanda's bathroom, more intrigued by the electric light than alarmed by her new 21st century surroundings. And when Amanda called Mr Darcy "a miserable sod", I realised the characterisation would be spot-on. (And Amanda's 'post-modern moment' was inspired). Many thanks - can't wait for the repeat!

  • Posted on 18 April 2008
  • at 7:31pm
  • by Aleeski

Perhaps many might disagree, but I wonder why there isn't a 'Best' Soap award which would then leave Best Drama for, well.... actual Drama. Perhaps this is too obvious a plan?

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