The BAFTA Film Awards lit up this year with their usual sparkle of showbiz glamour, but behind the televised scenes, not everything went as smoothly.
Top movie stars congregated on Sunday evening at London’s Royal Festival Hall to toast the year’s cinematic highlights.
Doctor Who icon David Tennant took the reins as host, welcoming celebrities such as Timothée Chalamet, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Hugh Grant, and Warwick Davis, the Mirror reports.
Critically acclaimed films Conclave and The Brutalist grabbed the top awards of the night, while Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison clinched Best Actor and Best Actress respectively.
Wardrobe hitches, expletives, and jibes aimed at Donald Trump brought drama to the proceedings – and not everything made it into the final cut broadcast on the BBC.
Wardrobe malfunction
In one unaired incident, host David Tennant began the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards with an animated opening monologue only to encounter a wardrobe malfunction when his microphone wire detached from his kilt.
He joked: “We’ll cut that bit out” to the attendees, which indeed was excluded from the BBC’s aired programme.
Swearing
Zoe Saldana, the star of Emilia Perez, was overjoyed to receive the supporting actress BAFTA, describing the accolade as “so validating” and “a true honour”.
She expressed her gratitude by saying: “This was a creative challenge of a lifetime, how do you begin to even approach a film that just defies categorisation, and you start by taking the lead of (director) Jacques Audiard.”
However, her speech took an unexpected turn when she let out a string of expletives, shouting “f**k, f**k, f**k” after realising she was being hurried along.
She continued: “Films are supposed to change hearts and challenge minds and I hope Emilia Perez did something like this, because voices need to be heard, just not my English accent.”
While the broadcast of the awards ceremony cut before her profanity-laced ending, viewers saw her exit the stage.
Donald Trump dig
In a humorous jab at former US President Donald Trump, David Tennant used his opening monologue at the BAFTAs to make light of the situation.
Making his entrance to The Proclaimers’ hit song ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’, he joked about having “walked 500 miles just to host one BAFTAs more.”
Tennant didn’t hold back from tackling controversial topics in his speech, including a playful dig at Trump while discussing the movie The Brutalist, which he called “a film about incredible architecture. In fact, it’s the boldest architecture in film this year, apart from Donald Trump’s hair in The Apprentice.”
He also quipped about the biopic on Trump’s life, starring Sebastian Stan, doubting whether the president had seen it. David quipped: “It’s a 15 and it’s not on Nickelodeon”.
He then joked about the former US President: “Donald Trump… I’m worried. I’ve said his name three times. It’s like Beetlejuice – I’ve summoned him.”
He continued with a nod to cinematic baddies: “Talking of villains…We’ve got many this year, not just Nosferatu.”
Surprise stars
The BAFTAs brought together luminaries from across the entertainment world at Royal Festival Hall in London, but there were some unexpected guests among the glitterati.
Keeping Up With the Kardashians star Kylie Jenner was spotted at the event, showing support for her beau, actor Timothée Chalamet.
Kylie, who has previously been linked to Travis Scott, has been going strong with the Wonka actor since they made their relationship public last year.
Opting to skip the red carpet, Jenner still turned heads as she settled into her seat, dazzling in a black mesh gown adorned with sparkling details.
Complementing her outfit with silver heels and earrings, she styled her hair in an elegant loose bun. As she took her place, Kylie was seen engaging with Monica Barbaro before Timothée joined them, rounding off a night of high fashion and surprise appearances.
Incredible outfits
The West Belfast rap group Kneecap made a grand entrance at the awards ceremony, where their Irish-language film received six nominations.
The movie offers a semi-fictionalised portrayal of the band’s formation and is directed by Rich Peppiatt, featuring band members Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh (Mo Chara), Naoise Ó Cairealláin (Móglaí Bap), JJ Ó Dochartaigh (DJ Próvaí), and the Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender.
On Sunday, on the red carpet, JJ Ó Dochartaigh proudly sported a suit with the Irish tri-colour flag design and his signature matching balaclava. The trio, JJ, Liam, and Naoise, were all smiles as they took photos alongside director Rich Peppiatt.
‘Embarrassing performance’
Take That’s performance at the BAFTAs, of their their hit “Greatest Day,” received mixed reactions from viewers.
While Mark Owen, Howard Donald, and Gary Barlow delighted the live audience as they moved through the crowd to the stage, viewers at home expressed disappointment.
One viewer criticised: “Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet sat front row at the #BAFTAs and the best we can produce is a 2008 song from Take That and it was a remix. I’m genuinely embarrassed.”
Another chimed in: “The likes of Kylie Jenner and Ariana Grande watching Take That perform is sending me.”
A further comment read: “Well it was going fairly painlessly till Take That cheesed up the place..”