Chernobyl, The Crown lead Bafta nominations

LONDON: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) will celebrate the best of television broadcast in the United Kingdom in a live show at the end of July without stars and audiences

‘Chernobyl’, the critically acclaimed miniseries about the world’s worst nuclear accident, tops the nominations list with 14, while Netflix’s The Crown has received seven nominations, including best drama series.

The nominees are expected to film their speeches rather than appear in person and there are no plans for a big audience. There will however be a live element to the show presented by actor and filmmaker Richard Ayoade.

‘Chernobyl’ nominations include leading actor for Jared Harris, supporting actor for Stellan Skarsgard, and mini-series.

‘The Crown’, an account of the reign of Queen Elizabeth that aired its third season last year, has seven nominations, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s black comedy ‘Fleabag’ and Anglo-Japanese thriller ‘Giri/Haji’ on six each.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s show ‘Killing Eve’ missed out on a nomination for best drama series after winning the award last year.

One of the major surprises was the success of Giri/Haji that received six nominations. It explores crime underworlds of London and Tokyo and stars Kelly Macdonald.

Jared Harris, who starred as Soviet scientist Valery Legasov in Chernobyl, is up for best lead actor alongside Stephen Graham (The Virtues), Takehiro Hira (Giri/Haji) and Callum Turner (The Capture).

The best lead actress is between Glenda Jackson (Elizabeth is Missing), Samantha Morton (I Am Kirsty), Suranne Jones (Gentleman Jack) and Jodie Comer, who won the award last year and stars in Killing Eve, which is up for four awards in 2020.

The British Academy Television Craft Awards will be announced online on July 17.