BAFTA TV nominations: 'Adolescence' dominates, 'A Thousand Blows' impresses

Adolescence‘s award success seems likely to culminate in a grand finish as the Netflix series led the pack in the BAFTA Television Awards nominations.

The Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne-created series, exploring the influence of the manosphere on a UK teenager, captured 11 nominations across both TV and Craft categories.

Graham will vie for Leading Actor honors, competing against fellow nominees such as Colin Firth (Lockerbie: A Search for Truth), Matt Smith (The Death of Bunny Munro), and Taron Egerton (Smoke).

The Netflix drama is also in line for four supporting actor and actress nominations with Ashley Walters, Owen Cooper, Christine Tremarco, and Erin Doherty. Adolescence will also contest the Limited Drama category.

Should Adolescence not win most of these categories, it would be surprising, given the series’ previous triumphs at the Emmys and Golden Globes.

Graham and Doherty should be thrilled with the achievements of A Thousand Blows, a Disney+ series developed by Steven Knight. 

This show is nominated for seven accolades, including Drama Series and Leading Actress, with Doherty, a first-time contender, challenging for two awards the same evening.

A Thousand Blows significantly contributed to Disney+ achieving a record of 17 nominations in TV and Craft competitions, while Netflix secured 28 nominations overall. The BBC received the highest tally with 73 total nominations.

Within the BBC’s lineup, The Celebrity Traitors received five nominations, making it the most-watched program on British television in 2025. Host Claudia Winkleman is nominated for the best Entertainment Performance.

Another notable mention goes to Amazon Prime Video’s hit UK series LOL: Last One Laughing, which received three nominations. 

The show will contend in the Entertainment category, and winner Bob Mortimer is in the running for best Entertainment Performance.

Greg Davies, the British comedian who hosts Taskmaster, will present the BAFTA Television Awards at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on May 10, 2026. 

This will be BAFTA’s inaugural significant event since the Film Awards, remembered for airing controversial language from Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson.

BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip remarked: “2025 marked a phenomenal year for television, as demonstrated by the 124 nominated programs that showcase the brilliance and creativity of British storytelling. 

From impactful documentaries and exceptional comedy to local drama and globally resonant international series, this year’s nominees reflect a medium at its finest.”