Ruth Jones fought back tears as she was awarded Best Actress for the British Academy Television Awards for her role in the Gavin and Stacey finale on Sunday.
The actress, 58, who played Nessa in the show, was awarded the gong for Female Performance in a Comedy during the glitzy event, and after taking to the stage, paid tribute to her longtime pal and writing partner James Corden.
As she gracefully accepted her gong – in the voice of the iconic character – she revealed she wasn’t expecting the award before hinting at other writing projects with her co-star.
The comedy writers were also nominated for P&O Cruises Memorable Moment for the final Gavin & Stacey: The Finale scene which saw Mick stand up during Smithy’s wedding.
And it appears that they are not done yet as Ruth, who was the epitome of elegance in an electric blue gown, gushed over their joint industry talent.
Accepting the award, she said: ‘I really wasn’t expecting this, so I wanted to thank the wonderful cast.
Ruth Jones fought back tears as she was awarded Best Actress for the British Academy Television Awards for her role in the Gavin and Stacey finale on Sunday
The actress, 58, who played Nessa in the show alongside James (Smithy), won a nod for Female Performance in a Comedy during the glitzy event
‘Huge thank you to the BBC, such a fantastic insтιтution which I am so proud to have worked with so many times.
‘The person I would like to thank most is my dear dear kind talented funny friend, James Corden, with whom I have shared this astonishing journey for the 17 years and without whom Vanessa Shanessa Jenson would not have existed.
‘I love you James, I love writing with you, long may it continue.’
Gavin and Stacey finally came to an end with a feature-length festive finale on Christmas, with fans quick to laud the ‘perfect’ conclusion, 17 years after the iconic BBC comedy first hit screens.
The series, which debuted back in 2007 after being created by stars James and Ruth, concluded with on/off lovers Smithy and Nessa finally declaring their love for one another and tying the knot, but not without a few hiccups along the way.
While fans tuned into the episode to see whether Smithy had accepted Nessa’s proposal from the 2019 Christmas Special, a five-year time jump revealed that he was indeed set to tie the knot, but all was not as it seemed.
The 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises is taking place at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday.
The star-studded evening will see a slew of celebrities take home awards celebrating excellence in TV, as well as a line-up of standout performances.
As she gracefully accepted her gong – in the voice of the iconic character – she revealed she wasn’t expecting the award before hinting at other writing projects with her co-star
The comedy writers were also nominated for P&O Cruises Memorable Moment for the final Gavin & Stacey: The Finale scene which saw Mick stand up during Smithy’s wedding
And it appears that they are not done yet as Ruth, who was the epitome of elegance in an electric blue gown, gushed over their joint industry talent
Accepting the award, she said: ‘I really wasn’t expecting this, so I wanted to thank the wonderful cast’
Global music stars Jessie J and Tom Grennan are both set to put on a show at the ceremony, with powerhouse Jessie singing The Award Goes To as her first TV performance in six years.
Read More Gavin And Stacey finally comes to an end with an answer to THAT festive proposal 
Meanwhile, multi-platinum popstar Tom will play his brand new track Full Attention, in a TV exclusive.
Both performances will air during the awards ceremony on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday 11 May at 7pm.
In addition, BAFTA has confirmed award-winning concert violinist and social media sensation Esther Abrami will be performing Apple Tree for the In Memoriam tribute.
Speaking about her performance, Jessie J said: ‘I haven’t sung on British television in years. What a way to come back, it’s an honour. But who will the award go to, that’s the question.’
Meanwhile, Tom added: ‘It’s a real honour to have been invited by such a prestigious event as BAFTA to perform in front of so many esteemed actors and creatives.’
For the first time, Scottish actor, writer, producer and presenter Alan Cumming will host the glitzy eremony
For the first time, Scottish actor, writer, producer and presenter Alan Cumming will host the glitzy eremony.
Emma Baehr, Executive Director of Awards & Content at BAFTA, said: ‘We’re delighted that Alan Cumming will be hosting this year’s BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises.
Read MoreLIVE Danny Dyer and Ruth Jones win BAFTAs as Mr Bates beats Baby Reindeer – live updates 
‘He will definitely bring a playful sense of mischief and fun to the ceremony, so audiences should expect the unexpected at Britain’s biggest celebration of TV on Sunday 11 May.’
Elsewhere, the nominations for the BAFTA Television Awards 2025 P&O Cruises Memorable Moment Award have been announced.
From Gavin and Stacey, to The Traitors and Bridgerton, six of this year’s most acclaimed TV shows are set to battle it out for one of the ceremony’s biggest accolades.
The category is the only award in which the public will be able to have their say and vote for their favourite scene.
Last year’s BAFTA Television Awards delivered an average audience of 2.7 million on BBC One and iPlayer, whilst social media coverage of the night received over 7 million views.
Strictly Come Dancing has been snubbed of a nomination for the first time in the show’s 20-year history
Meanwhile, Netflix phenomenon Baby Reindeer led the pack with an incredible eight nominations after it proved a global success following its release last year
In the Limited Drama category, Baby Reindeer will face ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, which was based on one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British legal history
In terms of other nominations, Strictly Come Dancing has been snubbed of a nomination for the first time in the show’s 20-year history.
The BBC favourite had been nominated in the Entertainment Programme category every year since the rebooted version of the show launched in 2004.
Meanwhile, Netflix phenomenon Baby Reindeer led the pack with an incredible eight nominations after it proved a global success following its release last year.
Richard Gadd who wrote and starred in the series about his own experiences of being stalked is up for Leading Actor, while his co-star Jessica Gunning is in the running for the Supporting Actress award.
Read More Mr. Bates vs The Post Office beats Baby Reindeer to Limited Drama at the TV BAFTA Awards 
In the Limited Drama category, Baby Reindeer will face ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office, which was based on one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British legal history, where hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters and postmistresses were wrongly accused of theft, fraud and false accounting due to a defective IT system.
Mr Bates vs The Post Office received a total of six nominations, while Disney series Rivals and Apple TV’s Slow Horses also had the same amount of nods.
Ant and Dec, The Traitors and Stacey Solomon’s Sort Your Life Out are among the nominees for best entertainment performance.
The best leading actress nominees are Anna Maxwell Martin (Until I Kill You), Billie Piper (Scoop), Lola Petticrew (Say Nothing), Marisa Abela (Industry), Monica Dolan (Mr Bates vs The Post Office) and Sharon D Clarke (Mr Loverman).
David Tennant (Rivals), Gary Oldman (Slow Horses), Lennie James (Mr Loverman), Martin Freeman (The Responder) and Toby Jones (Mr Bates vs The Post Office) take on Gadd for the best actor accolade.
Disney series Rivals (pictured Emily Atack who starred in the series) and Apple TV’s Slow Horses also had the same amount of nods
The best leading actress nominees was Anna Maxwell Martin (Until I Kill You)
Soap star Danny Dyer is among the group who have received their first Bafta nomination in the best male comedy performance category for his role in Mr Bigstuff
A total of 21 out of 44 nominees in the performance categories have received their first BAFTA Television Awards nomination.
Soap star Danny Dyer is among the group who have received their first Bafta nomination in the best male comedy performance category for his role in Mr Bigstuff.
In the prestigious best drama category, crime dramas Blue Lights and Sherwood will take on superhero series Supacell and acclaimed period drama Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light.
Jane Millichip, CEO of Bafta, said: ‘2024 was a standout year for television, testified by the 134 brilliant programmes nominated by BAFTA members.
‘The power of television to drive national conversation, to tap into the stories of public interest, and to inspire societal change, is second to none. And to do this through every genre is even more impressive.
‘The drama of sport, the truth of fiction, the humanity of documentary, the poignancy of comedy, serious entertainment – this year’s nominees reflect every aspect of the human condition.
‘UK television is at the top of its game, and it is a privilege at Bafta to showcase the work of our incredibly talented nominees at the Bafta Television Craft Awards and Bafta Television Awards with P&O Cruises. Tune into BBC One and BBC iPlayer on May 11, not only to find out who wins, but to inspire your next watchlist.’
And the official wine sponsor of the evening, Casillero del Diablo, will once again be the drink of choice for winners, nominees, celebrities, and VIP guests alike.
2025 TV BAFTA NOMINATIONS
Drama Series
Blue Lights (BBC One) – WINNER
Sherwood (BBC One)
Supacell (Netflix)
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light (BBC One)
Limited Drama
Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
Lost Boys and Fairies (BBC One)
Mr Bates vs the Post Office (ITV1) – WINNER
One Day (Netflix)
International
After The Party (Channel 4)
Colin From Accounts (BBC Two)
Say Nothing (Disney+)
Shogun (Disney+) – WINNER
True Detective: Night Country (Sky Atlantic)
You Are Not Alone: Fighting The Wolfpack, Netflix
Shogun (Disney+) is up for the Best International TV Show award
Leading Actress
Anna Maxwell Martin, Until I Kill You (ITV1)
Billie Piper, Scoop (Netflix)
Lola Petticrew, Say Nothing (Disney+)
Marisa Abela, Industry (BBC One) – WINNER
Monica Dolan, Mr Bates Vs The Post Office (ITV1)
Sharon D Clarke, Mr Loverman (BBC One)
Leading Actor
David Tennant, Rivals (Disney+)
Gary Oldman, Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
Lennie James, Mr Loverman (BBC One) – WINNER
Martin Freeman, The Responder (BBC One)
Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
Toby Jones, Mr Bates Vs The Post Office (ITV1)
Female Performance in a Comedy
Anjana Vasan, We Are Lady Parts (Channel 4)
Kate O’Flynn, Everyone Else Burns Channel 4)
Lolly Adefope, The Franchise (Sky Comedy)
Nicola Coughlan, Big Mood (Channel 4)
Ruth Jones, Gavin & Stacey (BBC One) – WINNER
Sophie Willan, Alma’s Not Normal (BBC Two)
David Tennant is up for the Leading Actor award for his role in Rivals
Scripted Comedy
Alma’s Not Normal (BBC Two) – WINNER
Brᴀssic (Sky Max)
G’Wed (ITV1)
Ludwig (BBC One)
Specialist Factual
Atomic People (BBC Two) – WINNER
Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story (National Geographic)
Children of the Cult (ITV1)
Miners’ Strike 1984: The Battle For Britain (Channel 4)
Reality
Dragons’ Den (BBC One)
The Jury: Murder Trial (Channel 4) – WINNER
Love Is Blind (Channel 4)
The Traitors (BBC One)
Current Affairs
Storyville: Life and Death in Gaza (BBC)
Maternity: Broken Trust (ITV1)
State of Rage (Channel 4) – WINNER
Ukraine’s War: The Other Side (ITV1)
Shortform
Brown Brit (Channel 4)
Peaked (Channel 4)
Quiet Life (BBC Three) – WINNER
Spud (BBC Three)
BBC’s Race Across The World is nominated is Factual Entertainment
Factual Entertainment
In Vogue: The 90s (Vogue Studios, Disney+)
Race Across The World (BBC One)
Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour (BBC Two) – WINNER
Sort Your Life Out (BBC One)
Children’s Scripted
CBeebies As You Like It at Shakespeare’s Globe (CBeebies) – WINNER
Horrible Histories (CBBC)
Ready Eddie Go! (Sky Kids)Tweedy & Fluff (Channel 5)
P&O Cruises Memorable Moment
Bridgerton: The carriage scene, where Colin admits his true feelings for Penelope (Netflix)
Gavin & Stacey: The Finale: Smithy’s wedding, when Mick stands up (BBC One)
Mr Bates Vs The Post Office: Jo Hamilton phones the Horizon helpline (ITV1)
Rivals: Rupert Campbell-Black and Sarah Stratton are caught in a game of naked tennis (Disney+)
Strictly Come Dancing: Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone (BBC One) – WINNER
Traitors: “Paul isn’t my son … but Ross is!” (BBC One)
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell’s Strictly waltz are up for P&O Cruises Memorable Moment
Male Performance in a Comedy Performance
Bilal Hasna, Extraordinary (Disney+)
Danny Dyer, Mr Big Stuff (Sky Comedy) – WINNER
Dylan Thomas-Smith, G’wed (ITV2)
Nabhaan Rizwan, Kaos (Netflix)
Oliver Savell, Changing Ends (ITV1)
Phil Dunning, Smoggie Queens (BBC Three)
Danny Dyer is up for Male Performance in a Comedy Performance for Mr Big Stuff
Supporting Actor
Ariyon Bakare, Mr Loverman (BBC One) – WINNER
Christopher Chung, Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
Damian Lewis, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light (BBC One)
Jonathan Pryce, Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
McKinley Belcher III, Eric (Netflix)
Sonny Walker, The Gathering (Channel 4)
Supporting Actress
Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer (Netflix) – WINNER
Katherine Parkinson, Rivals (Disney+)
Maxine Peake, Say Nothing (Disney+)
Monica Dolan, Sherwood (BBC One)
Nava Mau, Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
Sue Johnston, Truelove (Channel)
The 1% Club is up for Best Entertainment Show
Entertainment
The 1% Club (ITV1)
Michael McIntyre’s Big Show (BBC One)
Taskmaster (Channel 4)
Would I Lie To You? (BBC One) – WINNER
Entertainment Performance
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway (ITV1)
Claudia Winkleman, The Traitors (BBC One)
Graham Norton, The Graham Norton Show (BBC One)
Joe Lycett, Late Night Lycett (Channel 4) – WINNER
Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett, Rob & Romesh Vs (Sky Max)
Stacey Solomon, Sort Your Life Out (BBC One)
Factual Series
American Nightmare (Netflix)
Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams on Tour (BBC One)
The Push: Murder on the Cliff (Channel 4)
To Catch a Copper (Channel 4) – WINNER
Stacey Solomon is up for Entertainment Performance for Sort Your Life Out
Live Event Coverage
D-Day 80: Tribute To The Fallen (BBC One)
Glastonbury 2024 (BBC Two) – WINNER
Last Night of The Proms (BBC Two)
News Coverage
BBC Breakfast: Post Office Special (BBC One) – WINNER
Channel 4 News: Inside Sednaya (Channel 4)
Channel 4 News: Undercover Inside Reform’s Campaign (Channel 4)
Single Documentary
Hell Jumper (BBC Two)
Tell Them You Love Me (Sky Documentaries)
Ukraine: Enemy In The Woods (BBC Two) – WINNER
Undercover: Exposing The Far Right (Channel 4)
Soap
Casualty (BBC One)
Coronation Street (ITV1)
EastEnders (BBC One) – WINNER
Sport
Euro 2024 (BBC Sport)
Paris 2024 Olympics (BBC Sport) – WINNER
Wimbledon (BBC Sport)
Loose Women is up for Best Daytime Show
Daytime
Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventure (BBC Two) – WINNER
Loose Women (ITV1)
Morning Live (BBC One)
Richard Osman’s House of Games (BBC Two)
Children’s Non Scripted
BoosNoo! (Sky Kids)
FYI Investigates: Disability and Me (Sky Kids) – WINNER
Operation Ouch! (CBBC)
Reu and Harper’s Wonder World (Channel 5)
