BAFTA Television Craft Awards 2021: I May Destroy You scoops THREE gongs

Despite being snubbed at this year’s Golden Globes, I May Destroy You has scooped three BAFTAs at the British Academy Television Craft Awards 2021.

The ceremony – which celebrates the very best behind-the-scenes television talent of the past year – was broadcast on BAFTA’s YouTube and Facebook channels and hosted by Gbemisola Ikumelo on Monday.

I May Destroy You – a drama series featuring a woman who seeks to rebuild her life after a sexual assault – saw star of the show Michaela Coel win in the Director: Fiction category, alongside co-director Sam Miller.

Out on top: Despite being snubbed at this year’s Golden Globes, I May Destroy You has scooped three BAFTAs at the British Academy Television Craft Awards 2021 [pictured are stars Michaela Coel and Weruche Opia]

Coel also collected the award for Writer: Drama; and the editors behind the show won in the Editing: Fiction category.

In February, fans of I May Destroy You were outraged when the hit show, and creator Coel, were snubbed by the 78th Golden Globe Awards.

The actress, 33, who starred, wrote, directed, and produced the critically-acclaimed series, failed to get a nod in any category.

I May Destroy You was one of the summer’s most critically-acclaimed shows around the world when it aired on BBC One and HBO.

Winner! Star of the show Michaela Coel won in the Director: Fiction category, alongside co-director Sam Miller.

Success: Coel also collected the award for Writer: Drama; and the editors behind the show won in the Editing: Fiction category 

The 12-part series fearlessly dives into hard-hitting issues affecting the lives of young London-based writer Arabella (Coel) and her close group of friends.

It follows Arabella as she comes to terms with a sexual assault after her drink was spiked at a nightclub, in a storyline based on the harrowing real-life experience of Coel.

The show did lead the winners for the Royal Television Society Awards in March, however, scooping all three of its nominated categories; for Mini-Series, with creator Coel scooping both Actor (Female) and Writer- Drama. 

Hostess! The ceremony – which celebrates the very best behind-the-scenes television talent of the past year – was broadcast on BAFTA’s YouTube and Facebook channels and hosted by Gbemisola Ikumelo on Monday

Great television: I May Destroy You was one of the summer’s most critically-acclaimed shows around the world when it aired on BBC One and HBO

Elsewhere at Monday’s Craft BAFTAs, guest presenters included Annie Wallace, Ellen Thomas, Nathaniel Martello-White, Tony Robinson, Max Harwood and Mawaan Rizwan.

Small Axe, the drama mini-series about the lives of West Indian immigrants in London in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s was successful in five categories: JoJo Williams for Make Up & Hair Design; Jacqueline Durran for Costume Design; Helen Scott for Production Design; Shabier Kirchner for Photography & Lighting: Fiction; and Gary Davy for Scripted Casting.

His Dark Materials, the drama based on Philip Pullman’s trilogy of novels, received two awards: Jon Thomas, Gareth Bull, James Ridgway, Dillon Bennett, Eilam Hoffman and James Drake won Sound: Fiction and Russell Dodgson, James Whitlam, Jean-Clement Soret, Robert Harrington, Dan May and Brian Fisher won Special, Visual & Graphic Effects.

Arrival: Host Ikumelo was sure to arrive in style 

Leading the way: She made quite the entrance in a stunning green and gold ensemble, featuring a lengthy train

Lee Miller – A Life On The Front Line, which follows the story of a model-turned-war reporter, won Editing: Factual for Claire Guillon and Director: Factual for first-time winner Teresa Griffiths.

BAFTA’s Emerging Talent: Fiction category was won this year by Georgi Banks-Davies for her directorial debut, I Hate Suzie.

Emerging Talent: Factual saw another first-time director Marian Mohamed win for Defending Digga D.

Guests: Stars such as Tony Robinson were beamed in for the awards

In attendance: Elsewhere at Monday’s Craft BAFTAs, guest presenters included Annie Wallace, Ellen Thomas, Nathaniel Martello-White [pictured right], Max Harwood and Mawaan Rizwan [pictured left]

In charge: Ikumelo led the ceremony on Monday evening, streamed online

Other first-time winners included: Marcus Viner, Director: Multi-Camera for ENO’s Drive & Live: La bohème; Harry Escott, Original Music for Roadkill; and Sophie Willan, Writer: Comedy for Alma’s Not Normal.

The award for Entertainment Craft Team was presented to Mark Busk-Cowley, Roy Callow, Steve Kruger, Andy Milligan, James Tinsley and Mathieu Weekes for I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

The award for Sound: Factual was won by Nick Fry, Steve Speed, James Evans and Hugh Dwan for Formula 1: Drive to Survive. The award for Photography: Factual was awarded to Johnny Shipley, Drone Camera Team and John Livesey for The Great Mountain Sheep Gather. Titles & Graphic Identity was won by Nic Benns and Miki Kato for Fear City: New York vs The Mafia. 

A joyful occasion: Ellen Thomas with Ikumelo at the ceremony