David Tennant kicks off Baftas with string of savage Donald Trump jibes
And so it begins...
The 2025 Baftas are underway, with an array of industry icons gracing the red carpet to celebrate a stellar year for film, while beloved Scottish actor David Tennant returns as host.
Tennant, 53, hosts the ceremony for the second consecutive year on a stage in front of the industry’s biggest stars.
Major nominees this year include Netflix musical/thriller Emilia Perez, which is up for 11 awards. Meanwhile, Wicked, The Brutalist, and Anora also hope to scoop top prizes.
Tennant began the night by walking the red carpet, putting a slick spin on the classic black tux by adding colourful sequin embellishments to his look.
Debuting his purple quiff, he posed alongside wife Georgia Tennant, who looked gorgeous in lace.
As the ceremony got underway, the actor David Tennant kicked off with a sketch performance of The Proclaimers’ hit I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), which featured vocal cameos from James McAvoy, Anna Kendrick, and Colman Domingo.
The Scottish actor kicked off the ceremony with a musical number (Picture: Stuart Wilson/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta) The Doctor Who icon attended the ceremony with his wife, Georgie (Picture: John Phillips/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta)Launching into his comedic monologue, Tennant then took aim at the recently re-elected US President Donald Trump, not once, not twice, but actually three times.
It started with a swing at controversial biopic The Apprentice, which received three Bafta noms.
Tennant quipped that fellow nominee The Brutalist is ‘a film about incredible architecture.’ He added: ‘In fact, it’s the boldest architecture in film this year, apart from Donald Trump’s hair in The Apprentice.’
The host continued: ‘Donald Trump, he says he hasn’t seen The Apprentice, because it’s a 15. It’s not on Nickelodeon.
‘Donald Trump… I’m worried. I’ve said his name three times. It’s like Beetlejuice – I have summoned him. And talking of villains…’
He then moved to talk about two horror films nominated this year, including Nosferatu and Hugh Grant’s Heretic.
Other big nominees tonight include Wicked actresses and singers Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
Fans feared Wicked actress Ariana Grande was about to snub the ceremony (Picture: Kate Green/Getty Images) Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo could take home one of the night’s biggest prizes (Picture: John Phillips/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta) Elphaba and Glinda greeted one another with a warm embrace (Picture: Dave Benett/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta) 62-year-old Demi Moore wowed with her ageless beauty as The Substance star wore a sequin gown (Picture: Ian West/PA Wire)Grammy winner Grande, 31, was spotted touching down at JFK airport in New York just yesterday, leaving social media users to wonder if she had somewhere more important to be than the Baftas.
However, it seemed to have been a false alarm, as Ariana arrived shortly after her co-stars, wearing a very low-cut gown featuring a dramatic, puffy pink skirt, custom-designed by Louis Vuitton.
She was accompanied by Elphaba actress Erivo, who turned heads in a quirky white lace number. Erivo is nominated for best leading actress, while Grande is up for best supporting actress.
Erivo, 38, who began her career in the West End, is one of two British stars in the leading actress category, competing alongside Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths), Mikey Madison (Anora), Karla Sofia Gascon (Emilia Perez), and Saoirse Ronan (The Outrun).
Completing the best actress category is 62-year-old Demi Moore, who wowed with her ageless beauty as she donned an ultra-sparkly gown.
Her body horror film The Substance has already clinched awards at the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globes thanks to Moore’s performance.
Also spotted on the red carpet this weekend was Molly-Mae Hague, who put in a surprise appearance after weeks of making headlines with her personal life.
The 25-year-old Maebe founder hit the headlines earlier this year when she split from her soon-to-be husband, Tommy Fury, with whom she shares daughter Bambi.
25-year-old influencer Molly-Mae Hague looked stunning in a chic black outfit (Picture: Ian West/PA Wire) Adam Pearson larked around with photographers on the red carpet (Picture: Tristan Fewings/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta) An angelic-looking Pamela Anderson will present an award tonight (Picture: Mike Marsland/WireImage)Hague then released the first part of her docuseries, titled Behind It All, in which she lifted the lid on the gossip surrounding her relationship.
Putting on a smile as she mingled with the stars at this year’s Baftas, the former Love Islander looked super chic in all black.
She styled a structured cropped blazer with a plunging neckline with a fitted skirt, styling her blonde locks in her signature bun.
Joining Hauge on the carpet was Jeff Goldblum putting on a romantic display with Emilie Livingston, whom he married in 2014.
The 72-year-old Wicked star was every inch the Hollywood icon in a white bow tie, injecting some of the Emerald City magic with a green patterned waistcoat.
Goldblum, who plays the Wizard in Jon M. Chu’s movie musical, will later take to the stage, playing piano during the In Memoriam segment.
Another star strutting their stuff for paparazzi was a bare-faced Pamela Anderson, with The Last Showgirl’s leading lady looking angelic in white.
A Complete Unknown star Timothée Chalamet has been nominated for best supporting actor (Picture: John Phillips/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta) Kylie Jenner skipped the carpet to allow her boyfriend Timothée to bask in the limelight (Picture: Stuart Wilson/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta) Heretic nominee Hugh Grant beamed alongside his wife Anna Eberstein (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock) Colman Domingo’s cape was a sight to behold (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock)Anderson, best known for her iconic role in Baywatch, attends the event as a presenter. Although she was overlooked for her performance in Gia Coppola’s drama, the 57-year-old star will take the stage to hand out one of the evening’s prestigious gongs.
Other presenters at the ceremony include Emilia Perez stars Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez, although co-star Gascon remains absent due to recent controversy over resurfaced social media posts from 2019 to 2024.
Pop sensation Camila Cabello, The Lord of the Rings actor Orlando Bloom, and Scottish actor James McAvoy will also hand out trophies.
Musical performances will add to the evening’s allure, with British pop band Take That singing their hit song Greatest Day from the film Anora.
The best leading actor category features notable nominees such as Grant, Ralph Fiennes, Sebastian Stan, Adrien Brody, Colman Domingo, and Timothee Chalamet. Other attendees include Kate Winslet (Lee) and Jesse Eisenberg (A Real Pain).
Another special highlight of the evening will be Warwick Davis receiving the Bafta fellowship, recognising his outstanding contributions to film, television, and games.
James Norton was among dapper arrivals in a black tux (Picture: John Phillips/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta) Even Wallace and Gromit put in an appearance! (Picture: Joe Maher/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta) Kneecap has been recognised as a potential winner for outstanding British film (Picture: Ian West/PA Wire) Selena Gomez looked gorgeous in an embellished gown after confirming her return to music (Picture: John Phillips/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta) Comment nowWho do you want to see win big at this year’s Baftas?Comment NowNotably absent will be the Prince of Wales, president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, who will miss this year’s event.
On the red carpet, Bafta chief executive Jane Millichip told the PA news agency that this is a ‘really wide open race’ and she had ‘no idea how to call’ the winners.
She also said: ‘I think the viewing public in the UK has always welcomed films not in the English language, whether they’re subtitled or dubbed. We mostly subtitle in the UK, so I don’t think it’s a stretch for British audiences to watch and welcome these films.
‘So the film not in the English language is a really important category for me. I think also the range of films, the number of countries represented, and the languages. I mean, it’s fantastic to have an Irish film (Kneecap) in Irish; I mean, that’s great.’
Orlando Bloom brought some Hollywood glamour to the carpet, flying solo without Katy Perry by his side (Picture: by John Phillips/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta) Irish actress Saoirse Ronan injected colour to a demure satin look with a bold red lip (Picture: Ian West/PA Wire) Take That stars Mark Owen, Gary Barlow, and Howard Donald will perform tonight (Picture: Kate Green/Getty Images)The 2025 Bafta Film Awards will be broadcast live at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK.
Full list of Bafta 2025 winnersOriginal screenplay - A Real Pain
Original score - The Brutalist
Sound - Dune: Part Two
Film not in the English language - Emilia Perez
Production design - Wicked
Outstanding debut by a British writer, director, and producer - Rich Peppiatt (Kneecap)
Children's and family film - Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Special visual effects - Dune: Part Two
Animated film - Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Supporting actor - Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Supporting actress - Zoe Saldana, Emilia Perez
Best casting - Sean Baker and Samantha Quan, Anora
Best editing - Conclave
Adapted screenplay - Conclave
