The annual BAFTA awards will now take place on Friday 31st July and will be broadcast as-live on BBC One that evening with the nominations announced on Thursday 4th June.
In accordance with current restrictions, the Awards ceremony will take place as a closed studio, socially-distanced show, with nominees invited to accept their awards virtually.
BAFTA and the BBC are also delighted to announce that for the first time Richard Ayoade, the presenter, comedian, writer, actor and director, will take the helm as host of the TV Awards. He said; “I am as surprised as you are that this is still going ahead.”
Richard won a BAFTA for Best Male Performance in a Comedy Programme for The IT Crowd, and has been nominated for a BAFTA on two other occasions – once in the British Academy Film Awards, for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for Submarine, and again for Travel Man, which was also nominated for Best Feature in the Television Awards in 2017.
Amanda Berry OBE, Chief Executive at BAFTA, added; “We are delighted to confirm the new date and format for both the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards. We want to celebrate and reward the talented individuals who make up the television industry, both behind and in-front of the camera, many of whom have continued to entertain and inform the nation in recent weeks.
“I am thrilled that Richard Ayoade will be hosting the Television Awards for the first time and with him at the helm, the evening is set to be great entertainment.”
Kate Phillips, Commissioning Controller Entertainment at the BBC said: “I’m really pleased we’re able to bring the BAFTA TV Awards 2020 to BBC One this July. As always they will celebrate the best of British TV throughout the year, as well highlight the great programming and memorable moments that have entertained so many throughout recent tough times.”
The British Academy Television Awards 2020 will be produced by BAFTA Productions and Done and Dusted for BBC One. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director BBC Content and Kate Phillips, Controller Entertainment Commissioning at the BBC. Katie Taylor is the Commissioning Editor for the BBC, and it is executive produced by Clare Brown, director of production at BAFTA and Lisa Clark for Done and Dusted.