Bafta TV Awards Braces for Sunday Ceremony Amid N-Word Fallout

The Fallout and Preparations

Usually the most scrutiny at the glittering Bafta TV Awards is reserved for the stars’ outfits on the red carpet and the winners’ acceptance speeches.

But this Sunday those behind the show will be watching with bated breath and taking the event “extremely seriously” after changes were made to how TV coverage of Bafta’s awards ceremonies is handled after the broadcast of racially offensive words during February’s Bafta film awards.

The Incident and Its Aftermath

During February’s event, John Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome, involuntarily used the N-word while actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan were on stage presenting a prize.

Show host Alan Cumming apologised immediately and the word – which was repeated by Davidson later – should have been edited out as the Baftas are filmed with a delay.

The Data Analysis

• The event at London’s Royal Festival Hall is a hugely complex affair with 2,000 guests expected, including Claudia Winkleman, Jessica Gunning, Paapa Essiedu, Richard Osman, Jodie Whittaker, Alex Hassell, Stephen Graham and Ashley Walters.

The Impact Analysis

The incident led Bafta to review its planning and procedures, and apologise “unreservedly”. There was also a review and an apology from the BBC, which aired the show and admitted it breached its own editorial standards in airing the N-word.

The Prediction

Bafta is understood to be taking Sunday’s show “extremely seriously” with additional staff on hand to help ensure any potential issues during the ceremony are escalated quickly to its production partner Penny Lane, whose two bosses will, as usual, be attending the show, and the BBC, which has top executives also attending.