After becoming a mum for the first time in March, the star of BBC drama Doctor Fraser, below, says she’s still trying to catch her breath.
“If someone had told me I would have had a husband, a baby and a Bafta in 2016, I would not have believed them. I’m very happy with my lot,” she told reporters back stage.
Oscar winner Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies) won two major prizes at the ceremony hosted by Graham Norton at the Royal Festival Hall.
The Wolf Hall star picked up the leading actor award for his role in the BBC Two historical drama, which also landed the drama statue.
In his acceptance speech, he went into bat for the BBC which is facing a comprehensive government review.
“Woe to any government and any corporation who tries to get between the British people and their love of a good joke, a true story, a good song, a fact, a fiction, good sports commentating, newscasters who can hold themselves together as they tell stories about tragedies in Paris, people who can bake cakes,” he said.
“The incredible variety of popular culture in this country, it’s really blown my mind tonight.”
The Great British Bake Off judge Mary Berry was just one of many celebrating the diversity on British TV screens at present.
Mary, who collected the best features Bafta, explained how her life had changed since the show started.
“It does mean that if I’m shopping people stop me, so often they touch me on the shoulder and say, ‘I love the Bake Off’ and ‘I make your lemon drizzle cake’. They never criticise it and say the whole family watches. Many parents say all generations and a baby in arms are all watching it together and it’s so satisfying.
“There are so many baking competitions on Fridays now with people taking cakes into work. It really has got everybody raising money through baking too.”
The full list of winners are:
Leading Actor: Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall
Leading Actress: Suranne Jones, Doctor Foster
Supporting Actor: Tom Courtenay, Unforgotten
Supporting Actress:Chanel Cresswell, This Is England ’90
Entertainment Performance: Leigh Francis, Celebrity Juice
Female performance in a comedy program: Michaela Coel, Chewing Gum
Male performance in a comedy: Peter Kay, Peter Kay’s Car Share
Single Drama: Don’t Take My Baby
Mini-series: This Is England ’90
Drama series: Wolf Hall
Soap and continuing drama: Eastenders
International: Transparent
Factual Series: The Murder Detectives
Specialist Factual: Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners
Single Documentary: My Son The Jihadi
Features: The Great British Bake Off
Reality and Constructed Factual: First Dates
Current Affairs: Outbreak: The Truth About Ebola (This World)
News Coverage: Channel 4 News: Paris Massacre
Sport: The Ashes
Live Event: Big Blue Live
Entertainment Program: Strictly Come Dancing
Comedy and Comedy Entertainment Program: Have I Got News For You
Scripted comedy: Peter Kay’s Car Share
Radio Times Audience Award (voted for by members of the public): Poldark
Special Award in honour of Alan Clarke: Lenny Henry
