A rule change to reflect how streaming sites are increasingly producing original content has made this year’s competition fierce.
The big budget royal drama’s five nominations demonstrate how streaming sites are shaking up the establishment.
In previous years, because of how the programme is funded, the Netflix show would have only qualified for the International category.
This year, however, BAFTA has made a significant rule change to reflect how we watch TV and how streaming sites are increasingly producing their own original content.
To qualify for the main categories creative control of the programme must remain in the UK – but they don’t necessarily have to be paid for by a British broadcaster.
The Crown is in contention for Best Drama and its stars are in the running for the night’s main acting awards.
Claire Foy, who plays Queen Elizabeth, is up for Best Actress, Jared Harris will go up against John Lithgow for Supporting Actor, while Vanessa Kirby is nominated for Supporting Actress.
Foy has described her experience on the show as “a real adventure”.
“The whole idea of this programme is to make television in a different way and I think they’ve done that and I think they’re going to continue to do it. I think it’s really exciting.”
The rule change has meant this year’s competition is fierce and it has led to some notable omissions.
Despite winning a Golden Globe for The Night Manager, Tom Hiddleson has not been nominated for Best Actor. Tom Hollander has been nominated for Supporting Actor, but the BBC spy thriller didn’t make the shortlist for Best Drama.
Neither did one of the most talked about shows of the year – Line Of Duty.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed, ” actress Vicky McClure admits.
“I would love to see us up there for a nomination in the drama category and also for writing, I am disappointed, but that’s the way it is.”
The show hasn’t been completely overlooked.
McClure’s co-star Daniel Mays is up for Supporting Actor. Line Of Duty is also going up against Ed Balls’ Gangnam Style on Strictly for the night’s viewers vote – Virgin TV’s Must-See Moment – which celebrates moments that had the nation gripped.
The BBC Three streamed comedy Fleabag is up for three awards, including best female performance in a comedy for Olivia Colman and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
Happy Valley and feature-length drama Damilola, Our Loved Boy – about schoolboy Damilola Taylor who was killed in 2000 – both also received three nominations.
Sky News Tonight’s Aleppo: Death Of A City is nominated in the News Coverage category and goes up against BBC North West Tonight: Hillsborough Inquests, Channel 4 News: Brexit – Day One, and BBC2’s Victoria Derbyshire.
Joanna Lumley will receive the night’s biggest honour, the Fellowship, for her outstanding contribution to television.
Comedian Sue Perkins will host the ceremony that takes place at the Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank.
The British Academy Television Awards will be broadcast on BBC1 at 8pm.
