The cast of It’s A Sin were branded ‘winners’ by series creator Russell T Davies after the show failed to bring in any awards at this year’s BAFTA Television Awards on Sunday.
The Channel 4 programme, which depicted the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s, had been expected to win big at the prestigious ceremony having been nominated in five categories.
But, after fans claimed the show was ‘robbed’, the main cast members flashed broad smiles as they posed for a snap shared on Russell’s Instagram page on Monday, with the screenwriter, 59, writing: ‘Look at these winners. We had a very happy night.
All smiles: The cast of It’s A Sin were branded ‘winners’ by series creator Russell T Davies after the show failed to bring in any awards at this year’s BAFTA Television Awards on Sunday
Missed out: After fans claimed the show was ‘robbed’, the main cast members flashed broad smiles as they posed for a snap shared on Russell’s Instagram page on Monday
‘Great shows won and great shows didn’t, and UK TV is wonderful. Long live #ItsASin La! @channel4.’
In the photo, Ollie Alexander, 31, who played Ritchie Tozer, could be seen posing alongside Nathanial Curtis, 31 (Ash Mukherjee), Lydia West, 28 (Jill Baxter), Omari Douglas, 28 (Roscoe Babatunde) and Callum Scott Howells, 23 (Colin Morris-Jones).
The stars all looked glamorous as they posed together at the glamorous event at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
Telling the tale: The Channel 4 programme, which depicted the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s, had been expected to win big at the ceremony having been nominated in five categories (writer Russell pictured on Sunday)
Russell’s post comes after It’s A Sin fans blamed ‘homophobia’ after the series was ‘robbed’ of any awards during this year’s BAFTA Television Awards held on Sunday, despite being nominated in five categories.
Avid supporters of the drama rushed to Twitter, claiming that the decision was a ‘disgrace and a travesty’ while blasting the BBC for muting clips from the drama while those from its competitors were not.
From multi-BAFTA Award-winning writer Russell T Davies, It’s A Sin follows the story of the 1980s, the story of AIDS, and charts the joy and heartbreak of a group of friends across a decade in which everything changed.
Shock! It’s A Sin fans have blamed ‘homophobia’ after the series was ‘robbed’ of any awards during this year’s BAFTA Television Awards held at London ‘s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, despite being nominated in five categories (castmembers Olly Alexander and Lydia West, pictured, look unimpressed in the audience)
In the show, Jill and her friends Ritchie, Roscoe, Colin and Ash would happily say ‘la’ to each other whenever they left their flat.
Starring Years & Years frontman Ollie alongside a cast of rising stars and celebrated favourites including Keeley Hawes, Stephen Fry and Neil Patrick Harris, It’s a Sin has been universally praised by fans.
Russell, the writer and producer behind Queer As Folk and the 2005 revival of Doctor Who, loosely based the drama on his own experiences in the eighties.
Bizarre: The Channel 4 programme, which depicted the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s, had been expected to win big at the prestigious ceremony… however the cast and crew went home emptyhanded
BAFTA TV AWARDS 2022: THE WINNERS
Comedy Entertainment Programme
The Graham Norton Show
The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan – WINNER
Race Around Britain
The Ranganation
Current Affairs
Fearless: The Women Fighting Putin (Exposure) – WINNER
Four Hours at the Capitol
The Men Who Sell Football (Al Jazeera Investigations)
Trump Takes on the World
Daytime
The Chase – WINNER
Moneybags
Richard Osman’s House of Games
Steph’s Packed Lunch
Drama Series
In My Skin -WINNER
Manhunt: The Night Stalker
Unforgotten
Vigil
Entertainment Performance
Alison Hammond (I Can See Your Voice)
Big Zuu (Big Zuu’s Big Eats) – WINNER
Graham Norton (The Graham Norton Show)
Joe Lycett (Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back)
Michael McIntyre (Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel)
Sean Lock (8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown)
Entertainment Programme
An Audience with Adele
Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway – WINNER
Life & Rhymes
Strictly Come Dancing
The Factual Series
The Detectives: Fighting Organised Crime
9/11: One Day in America
Undercover Police: Hunting Paedophiles
Uprising – WINNER
Features
Big Zuu’s Big Eats – WINNER
Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing
Sort Your Life Out
The Great British Sewing Bee
Female Performance in a Comedy Programme
Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education)
Aisling Bea (This Way Up)
Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts)
Natasia Demetriou (Stath Lets Flats)
Rose Matafeo (Starstruck)
Sophie Willan (Alma’s Not Normal) -WINNER
International
Call My Agent!
Lupin
Mare of Easttown
Squid Game
Succession
The Underground Railroad – WINNER
Single Documentary
9/11: Inside the President’s War Room
Grenfell: The Untold Story
My Childhood, My Country – 20 Years in Afghanistan – WINNER
Nail Bomber: Man Hunt
Single Drama
Death of England: Face to Face
Help
I Am Victoria
Together – WINNER
Specialist Factual
Black Power: A British Story of Resistance
Freddie Mercury: The Final Act
The Missing Children – WINNER
Silenced: The Hidden Story of Disabled Britain
Sport
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – WINNER
ITV Racing: The Grand National
Tokyo 2020 Olympics
UEFA Euro 2020 Semi-Final: England v Denmark
Leading Actor
David Thewlis (Landscapers)
Hugh Quarshie (Stephen)
Olly Alexander (It’s A Sin)
Samuel Adewunmi (You Don’t Know Me)
Sean Bean (Time) – WINNER
Stephen Graham (Help)
Leading Actress
Denise Gough (Too Close)
Emily Watson (Too Close)
Jodie Comer (Help) – WINNER
Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown)
Lydia West (It’s A Sin)
Niamh Algar (Deceit)
Live Event
The Brit Awards 2021
The Earthshot Prize 2021 – WINNER
The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance
Springwatch 2021
Male Performance in a Comedy Programme
Jamie Demetriou (Stath Lets Flats) – WINNER
Joe Gilgun (Brassic)
Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education)
Samson Kayo (Bloods)
Steve Coogan (This Time With Alan Partridge)
Tim Renkow (Jerk)
Mini-Series
It’s A Sin
Landscapers
Stephen
Time – WINNER
News Coverage
Channel 4 News: Black to Front
Good Morning Britain: Shamima Begum
ITV News at Ten: Storming of the Capitol – WINNER
Sky News: Afghanistan: Endgame
Reality and Constructed Factual
Gogglebox – WINNER
Married at First Sight UK
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK
The Dog House
Scripted Comedy
Alma’s Not Normal
Motherland
Stath Lets Flats – WINNER
We Are Lady Parts
Short Form Programme
Hollyoaks Saved My Life (Hollyoaks IRL)
Our Land – WINNER
People You May Know
Please Help
Soap & Continuing Drama
Casualty
Coronation Street – WINNER
Emmerdale
Holby City
Supporting Actor
Callum Scott Howells (It’s A Sin)
David Carlyle (It’s A Sin)
Matthew MacFadyen (Succession) – WINNER
Nonso Anozie (Sweet Tooth)
Omari Douglas (It’s A Sin)
Stephen Graham (Time)
Supporting Actress
Cathy Tyson (Help) – WINNER
Celine Buckens (Showtrial)
Emily Mortimer (The Pursuit of Love)
Jessica Plummer (The Girl Before)
Leah Harvey (Foundation)
Tahirah Sharif (The Tower)
Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment
An Audience with AdeleI
I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
It’s A Sin
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK
Squid Game
Strictly Come Dancing – WINNER
He also spent hours in conversation with his childhood friend Jill Nalder, an actor, ally and activist who lived in London during the decade and is played by Lydia.
Russell cast Alexander as the show’s protagonist Ritchie Tozer, an 18-year-old hailing from an ignorant, unloving household on the Isle of Wight who throws himself headfirst into London life.
He soon befriends Jill and three others and rents their flat, lovingly dubbed The Pink Palace.
Show creator Russell previously told MailOnline that selling the show was not easy and one unnamed TV executive even referred to it as ‘that miserable AIDS drama’.
It’s a Sin was turned down by both the BBC and ITV before it eventually found a home at Channel 4.
Furious: Avid supporters of the drama rushed to Twitter, claiming that the decision was a ‘disgrace and a travesty’ while blasting the BBC for muting clips from the drama while those from its competitors were not
One Twitter user began: ‘#ItsASin not winning a BAFTA for best mini series is a disgrace. By far the best series I’ve watched in a long time and yes I did watch ‘Time’ but not in the same league as it’s a sin #Baftas2022.’
Others added: ‘It’s a sin.. Best thing on TV. Robbed,’ along with, ‘It’s a sin’ just getting pied then…#Baftas2022,’ and, ‘it’s a sin has been ROBBED.’
‘It’s a Sin not winning at the BAFTAs…actual homophobia.’
‘@BAFTA you guys are homophobic. Sorry. You know, and we know, It’s A Sin was the best thing on tv last year.’
‘Given it’s a sin isn’t winning a thing. Makes me question if that’s actually the reason.’
‘It’s a sin emotionally destroyed me if it doesn’t win SOMETHING im rioting #Baftas2022.’
‘I would like to report a crime, nay, a travesty currently taking place at the BAFTAS. How in hell can It’s a Sin not be sweeping up – it was one of the most impactful shows ever broadcast on British tv.’
‘How the F*CK did It’s a sin not win a BAFTA just then? It’s one of the most affecting, beautifully acted dramas I’ve ever had the privilege to watch. #Baftas2022.’
‘#ItsASin has been robbed tonight! #Time was great, but not in the same league as It’s A Sin! #Baftas2022.’
‘The #baftas muting every clip of It’s A Sin they show is the TV equivalent of “I don’t mind if you’re gay just don’t shove it in our faces.”‘
The BBC has been contacted for comment by MailOnline.
Meanwhile, Ant and Dec picked up the Best Entertainment Show gong for Saturday Night Takeaway.
Success! Meanwhile, Ant and Dec picked up the Best Entertainment Show gong for Saturday Night Takeaway
Presented by Olivia Colman – the Geordie duo, both 46, were delighted to scoop the first award of the night, which marked the fourth time they have won in the category and the eight time they have been nominated in it.
The awards recognise and celebrate the very best in television craft and television programmes broadcast in the UK in 2021 and are back to having a full live audience after the pandemic.
Ant and Dec said in their acceptance speech: ‘Thanks so much, what a great start to the night, we were convinced we wouldn’t get it this year so this is wonderful.
‘This is a lovely cherry on the cake. When we first started we were just in an empty studio and walking around thinking ‘is this any good?’
‘We have to thanks the fantastic production team so a round of applause for all of you too!’
Happy: Presented by Olivia Colman – the Geordie duo, both 46, were delighted to scoop the first gong of the night, which marked the fourth time they have won in the category and the eight time they have been nominated
Elsewhere Cathy Tyson picked up the gong for Supporting Actress for her role in the pandemic drama Help where she starred alongside Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham.
She said in her speech: ‘This is so surreal. Congratulations to all the other nominees, this feels like an outer body experience. I haven’t prepared so I don’t know what to say. But I stand with Ukraine and the Russian people. I also want to thank my partner and my mum!’
Elsewhere prison drama Time won in the Mini Series category – with Stephen Graham saying in his speech: ‘It was an absolute honour to get to act with my wife Hannah Walters’.
Incredible: Elsewhere Cathy Tyson picked up the gong for Supporting Actress for her role in the pandemic drama Help where she starred alongside Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham
Stars: Elsewhere prison drama Time won in the Mini Series category – with Stephen Graham saying in his speech: ‘It was an absolute honour to get to act with my wife Hannah Walters’
Thrilled: Virgin Media’s Must See Moment award went to Rose Ayling-Ellis & Giovanni Pernice for their silent Strictly dance last series
Jamie Demetriou won the Bafta in the Male In A Comedy category for Stath Lets Flats, beating off stiff competition from the likes of Ncuti Gatwa and Steve Coogan.
Other awards included Motherland winning in the Scripted Comedy category, Uprising winning in the Factual Series category and Big Zuu’s Big Eats winning in the Features category.
Accepting his award Big Zuu joked: ‘Representation matters. There will be young people watching this thinking if these waste-men can win a BAFTA! Jokes aside we did this for working class people.’
Elsewhere The Latish Show which stars Mo Gilligan won in the Comedy Entertainment Programme category and the comedian gave an emotional speech afterwards.
He said: ‘Oh s**t I’m so nervous. I have to big up Channel 4. In 2017 when I got offered a show my mental health wasn’t in the best place. Channel 4 brought me into this big building. They trusted me and let me be myself and helped me to bring black boy joy to the screens.’
Here they are: Big Zuu’s Big Eats won in the Features category and are pictured collecting their award on stage
Important: Uprising won in the Factual Series category
Succession star Matthew Macfadyen – who wasn’t there to collect his award – scooped the Supporting Actor gong, beating the likes of Stephen Graham in Help.
In the Reality and Constructed factual category Gogglebox won while Virgin Media’s Must See Moment award went to Rose Ayling-Ellis & Giovanni Pernice for their silent Strictly dance.
Rose said in her speech: ‘Thank you it was a very special moment, it created a better deaf awareness, we still have a long way to go but it was such a great start.’
Giovanni added: ‘We knew this moment would give an impact but this has now changed people’s lives, we have to say thank you to our producers for looking after us throughout the whole series.’
In an unexpected turn of events Channel 4 series It’s A Sin – which had a whopping 11 nominations – won no awards on the night.
It’s A Sin, written and created by Queer As Folk and Doctor Who screenwriter Russell T Davies, tracked a group of gay men and their friends as they navigated the UK’s HIV/Aids crisis throughout the 80s and early 90s.
The show’s 11 nominations, which comprised of five in the craft categories and six in the television awards categories, included nods for Davies in the writer drama category, as well as a leading actor nomination for singer Olly Alexander for his role as Ritchie Tozer.
His co-star Lydia West was nominated in the leading actress category – but didn’t succeed on the night.
Fingers crossed: Landscapers, which starred Olivia Colman, received seven nominations – but didn’t win any gongs on the night
Sky drama Landscapers, which also starred Olivia Colman, who was not nominated in the performance categories, was the second-most nominated TV show, with seven in total, five in the craft categories and two in the television categories – but didn’t win any gongs on the night.
Inspired by real events, the series starred Colman and Thewlis as a mild-mannered married couple whose lives are upturned after dead bodies are discovered in the back garden of a house in Nottingham.
Landscapers’ nominations included for director fiction, original music, leading actor and mini-series categories.
Sean Lock was nominated for an award following his death from cancer at the age of 58 last year.
Tragic: Sean Lock was nominated for an award following his death from cancer at the age of 58 last year but didn’t win (pictured in 2010)
The comedian received a nod in the entertainment performance category for his role on 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown but lost out to Big Zuu.
He was up against Alison Hammond, for I Can See Your Voice, Big Zuu, for Big Zuu’s Big Eats, Graham Norton for The Graham Norton Show, Joe Lycett, for Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back, and Michael McIntyre, for Michael McIntyre/s The Wheel.
There was surprise snubs for EastEnders and Hollyoaks in the Soaps and Continuing Drama category.
Holby City, which aired its final episode last week, was up against Casualty, Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
Comedian, presenter and star of The IT Crowd Richard Ayoade hosted the Virgin Media Bafta TV Awards ceremony for the third consecutive year as it returned to London’s Royal Festival Hall.
Admirable: Other notable snubs include an omission for Kate Garraway’s emotional documentary Caring For Derek
EastEnders was snubbed in the soap category at the BAFTA TV Awards.
The BBC show failed to get a nod despite strong storylines, including Gray Atkins’ murders which have drawn in viewers throughout the year, however Holby City – which aired its final episode this week – did get a nod.
Hollyoaks was also snubbed in the Soaps category – which has been running on Channel 4 since 1995. Holby City is up against Casualty, Coronation Street and Emmerdale in the category.
Other notable snubs include an omission for Kate Garraway’s emotional documentary Caring For Derek.
GMB star Kate has made two moving documenatries over the past two years following her husband Derek’s battle with the ongoing effects of Covid.
Kate’s 2021 documentary Finding Derek won a BAFTA last year but her recent follow-up Caring for Derek, following the family’s adjustments after Derek returned home, failed to pick up a nod on Wednesday.
BBC favourite Line Of Duty also didn’t receive any nominations despite its popularity with viewers.
The sixth series finale, which aired in May 2021 was the most-watched episode of any drama (excluding soaps) since modern records began in 2002, with 12.8 million tuning in.
The second most viewed drama of the year, BBC1’s Vigil, did receive a nod in the Best Drama category but lead Suranne Jones was overlooked for a Leading Actress nomination.
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