BAFTA TV Awards most awkward moments – Davina McCall cut off, F-bomb and Strictly dig

The BAFTA TV Awards has brought viewers some of the most iconic moments in ceremony history – and also some of the most awkward in recent years.

Huge names have taken to the stage to host the prestigious event, but their speeches have not always gone down well with viewers or celebrities in the room.

Other celebrities have been abruptly cut short during their acceptance speeches, while others have broken the golden rule of live TV by swearing on air.

As the BAFTA TV Awards 2022 gets underway this evening (May 8, 2022), Daily Star has taken a look at some of the most awkward moments at past ceremonies.

Royal digs

In 2018, presenter Sue Perkins hosted the BAFTA TV ceremony and during her speeches, made a number of comments about the Royal family – with some being called ‘cringe’ by viewers.

During her opening monologue, Sue said: “What a year we’ve had. A royal baby born.

“I’m not saying there was pressure on Kate to look perfect afterwards but apparently she couldn’t hear if it was a boy or a girl over the sound of the hair dryer.”

With another comment about Royal weddings, fans were quick to take to social media to comment on Sue Perkin’s speeches, with one saying: “I love Sue Perkins but her monologue was cringe. That kate middleton hair dryer joke! #BAFTATV.”

Another added: “#BAFTATV #BAFTA Sue Perkins looks/sounds like she’s really enjoying herself. Shame the same can’t be said for the audience and viewers. #SelfIndulgent.”

A third commented: “Wow Sue Perkins is just not very funny! #BAFTATV.”

Fans brand 2020 ceremony ‘awkward’

In 2020, the BAFTA TV Awards were held virtually due to the pandemic, with many praising host Richard Ayoade’s hosting as “perfect.”

The ceremony was held behind closed doors in July 2020, with its celebrities accepting awards via video link, and no audience in sight, expect for six presenters in the studio.

However despite BAFTA organisers ensuring the safety of celebrities and presenters through the virtual format, many fans took to social media to call the ceremony ‘awkward’, with one fan saying the format was “bizarre.”

One viewer said: “Now, I b****y LOVE an awards show. But this is weird… #BAFTAS #BAFTA #BaftaTV,” while a second added: “Well this is all very awkward #BaftaTV.”

Despite the format being branded awkward, fans could not praise host Richard Ayoade enough, with a third viewer saying: “Richard Ayoade is the perfect f*****g host for such an awkward #BaftaTV awards show.”

Tess Daley is left unimpressed by Graham Norton’s Strictly joke

Graham Norton delighted viewers when he returned to host the BAFTA TV Awards in 2019 – with the presenter and comedian delivering some of the show’s biggest gags.

However, one joke appeared to displease Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daley, as Graham cracked a joke about Strictly contestant Seann Walsh in his opening speech about BBC series Line Of Duty.

He said: “A more forensic and detailed interrogation of times, dates and mobile phone data hasn’t been seen since that time Seann Walsh got home late from Strictly practise,” in reference to Seann’s kiss with professional partner Katya Jones.

Although members of the audience laughed at the joke, Strictly host Tess Daley seemed far less impressed as the cameras panned towards the star for her reaction.

Technical blunders

As everyone has learnt over the past two years, conducting meetings and award ceremonies virtually can often be met with a few technical errors – and the BAFTA TV 2021 Awards was no exception.

In 2021, Casualty picked up the award for Best Soap, beating Coronation Street and EastEnders to the trophy, but their acceptance speech was marred with technical issues.

During the ceremony, Davina McCall’s heartfelt acceptance speech was also cut short due to a technical issue, after she won the Features award for ITV’s Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace.

She said: “We really just want to say thank you so much to our foundling contributors, really, from the bottom of our hearts,” before the sound was cut off due to the issue.

However, she later went on to say: “So we thank them from the bottom of our hearts and we really hope that they feel that we treat them with the care and attention that they deserve because we are so grateful to them for letting us share their stories with you.”

Onstage swearing mishaps

Phoebe Waller-Bridge has written some of TV’s most successful programmes including Fleabag, so it was no surprise when her hit series Killing Eve was named Best Drama in 2019.

However her acceptance speech was even more memorable when the writer and actress made an awkward blunder when collecting the award.

Accepting the award for Best Drama, Phoebe shouted “F**k”, but as there is a 75-minute delay on the event being screened on TV from when the action happens, the BBC bleeped out the swearing before it go out on air.

After her expletive outburst, Phoebe collected the award alongside cast and crew from Killing Eve, describing them as “charismatic, breathtaking, energetic.”

She’s not the only star to have sworn during the ceremony though, as it 2021, The League of Gentlemen co-creator Steve Pemberton also let out an expletive as he virtually collected the Scripted Comedy award for anthology series Inside No. 9.

He joked: “This is like the c**ppest episode of Gogglebox,” adding, “We are so thrilled and delighted to have won this award.”

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk