The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) unveiled the nominations for their 2024 Television Awards on Wednesday.
Leading the pack are The Crown with 8 nominations and Black Mirror with 7 nominations. Both dramas are up for the prestigious "Best Drama Series" award, alongside Happy Valley, Slow Horses, and The Sixth Commandment, which all received 6 nods each.
Following closely behind with 5 nominations each are The Last of Us, The Long Shadow, and Succession. Other notable shows included in the nominations are Extraordinary and Good Omens.
There were 17 first-time nominees across the performance categories, including David Tennant (Good Omens), Hannah Waddingham (Eurovision Song Contest 2023), Amit Shah (Happy Valley), Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us), and Bridget Christie (The Change).
The Crown received a significant number of nominations in the performance categories. Actresses Elizabeth Debicki (portraying Princess Diana) and Lesley Manville (Princess Margaret) are both nominated for Supporting Actress. Additionally, Dominic West (Prince Charles) is up for Leading Actor, with Salim Daw (Mohamed Al-Fayed) contending for Supporting Actor.
Other big names in the acting categories include Brian Cox (Succession), Steve Coogan (The Reckoning), Timothy Spall (The Sixth Commandment), Helena Bonham Carter (Nolly), Sarah Lancashire (Happy Valley), Sharon Horgan (Best Interests), Jack Lowden (Slow Horses), and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession).
Competing for the best international series award are The Bear, Succession, Beef, and The Last of Us.
The BBC leads the way with sixty-five nominations. Netflix is a close second with a record-breaking thirty-five nods, followed by Sky Max with thirty-one, ITV1 with twenty-three, Channel 4 with sixteen, Apple TV+ with thirteen, Disney+ with eight, Prime Video with four, and Channel 5 with two.
The BAFTA ceremony recognises "the most gripping, entertaining, challenging, funniest, most informative, highest quality, and most impactful TV programs of 2023, as voted for by BAFTA members," said BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip. BAFTA chair Sara Putt added, "Water-cooler TV moments, brave documentaries that expand our worldview, and powerful real-life inspired dramas—these are just some of the BAFTA nominated TV programs for audiences to watch. I'm delighted to see so many first-time nominees, so much new and emerging talent, and so many debut projects recognised today."
The BAFTA Television Craft Awards will be held on Sunday, April 28th, at The Brewery in London, while the BAFTA Television Awards will be held on Sunday, May 12th, at London's Royal Festival Hall (and also airing on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer).
In 2023, I Am Ruth, Bad Sisters, Derry Girls and The Traitors were the top winners at the BAFTA Television Awards. Kate Winslet won the BAFTA for Leading Actress for her role in I Am Ruth, which was also honoured as the Best Single Drama.
Bad Sisters took home the award for Best Drama Series, with star Anne-Marie Duff receiving the award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Grace Williams. Siobhán McSweeney won the honour for Best Female Performance in a Comedy Programme for Derry Girls, which also received the Best Scripted Comedy honour.
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Vinay Kumar Sinha
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.