Jack Thorne’s groundbreaking Netflix drama Adolescence has emerged as the frontrunner at this year’s Bafta TV awards, securing a total of 11 nominations. The show, which has already garnered wins at the Golden Globes and tells the story of a boy accused of killing his female classmate, made headlines around the world and prompted global discussions about the impact of the manosphere on young men.
Young star Owen Cooper is nominated for supporting actor, for his central role as Jamie, alongside his Adolescence co-star Ashley Walters (who starred as a detective), with further nominations including limited series and limited drama.
The series has earned star and co-creator Stephen Graham a nod in the leading actor category for his powerful performance as a father in despair, while Christine Tremarco (who played the mother of the boy) and Erin Doherty (who played a psychologist) are both recognised in the supporting actress category.
Disney+ series A Thousand Blows also features prominently, with seven nominations. Based on a true story, it depicts Jamaican immigrants navigating the bare-knuckle boxing circuit in London’s East End. Created by Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight, the series is executive produced by Graham and his wife, actress Hannah Walters, through their company Matriarch Productions.
Doherty, who previously starred as Princess Anne in The Crown, secures a second Bafta TV nomination for her role as Mary Carr in A Thousand Blows, this time in the leading actress category. The series is also nominated for drama series and costume design across the television and TV craft awards.
Another double nominee is Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood, recognised in the supporting actress category for her role as Chelsea in Sky Atlantic’s The White Lotus. Her second nomination is in the leading actress category for Film Club, a comedy series she co-created and stars in alongside Suranne Jones.
The Star Wars series Andor has six craft nominations, while Northern Irish drama Trespasses also received six gongs, including best limited drama. The Celebrity Traitors, a ratings juggernaut for the BBC, secured five nominations, including best reality series and best entertainment performance for host Claudia Winkleman.
Comedian Alan Carr’s victory moment on The Celebrity Traitors is nominated for the memorable moment award, the only category voted for by the public. Other contenders include Jamie shouting at the psychologist in Adolescence, the poignant finale of Big Boys, a dramatic police ambush in Blue Lights, Bob Mortimer and Richard Ayoade’s speed date in Last One Laughing, and a moment of self-discovery in What It Feels Like For A Girl.
In the current affairs category, Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, a documentary initially commissioned and then shelved by the BBC over impartiality concerns before airing on Channel 4, received a nomination.
Bafta CEO Jane Millichip commented: “2025 has been an exceptional year for television, reflected in 124 nominated programmes that highlight the strength and originality of British storytelling. This year’s nominees demonstrate a medium at its creative peak. It’s especially exciting to see so many first-time performance nominees, showcasing the vibrant new talent shaping the future of our industry.”
Additional reporting by Press Association
