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An unforgettable day at the BAFTA TV Awards
Ever imagined yourself walking the red carpet and mingling with the stars? Vote for your favourite TV moment and you could enjoy a day of a lifetime at the BAFTA TV Awards, as roving P&O Cruises reporter Lucy Ryan discovers
20 min
28 Mar 2025
Introduction
There are some days you’ll never forget. Sunday 12 May 2024 is one of them – the day I attended the BAFTA Television Awards as a guest of P&O Cruises.
Having spent the morning throwing clothes out of the wardrobe and despairing at my hair – oh, to have a stylist and hair and make-up artist – I arrive in my finery at The Royal Festival Hall on London’s South Bank. It’s bathed in warm sunshine and abuzz with excitement. Everywhere I look, flocks of fabulous outfits shimmer and preen like peacocks while gaggles of tourists and passersby look on in wonder. It’s a rare and magnificent sight.
The red carpet
Before long, our precious tickets are checked and we venture into the hallowed grounds. And there it is: the red carpet. Stepping upon it is a child-like thrill. You can’t help but stand taller and walk with a little more swagger. When we turn the corner onto the section parallel to the Thames, we know we’re in the thick of something special. TV cameras, banks of photographers’ zoom lenses, entertainment reporters, interview stations, hosts testing their mikes, lines of eager autograph and selfie hunters… This is showbiz in all its glory. And it’s fascinating to be part of it.
We jump at the chance to have our photos taken on the red carpet against the flowers and branded boards. It’s hard not to laugh at the sheer glamour and joy of it all nor stare unashamedly as celebrities make an early appearance. We linger for as long as we can, soaking up this extraordinary moment.
The reception
Living the celebrity lifestyle is tiring work, and we’re delighted to be greeted at the P&O Cruises reception with cool drinks, fizz and canapés. The venue, Skylon, couldn’t be more perfect – overlooking the red carpet and the river, it’s a stunning spot with a bird’s-eye view of the celebrity action below. With glasses charged, we find our spot and join in the star-spotting fun. The talent comes thick and fast – from reality-TV favourites to serious A-list icons.
Everyone’s in high spirits and the reception is a lively affair. The fizz, live music and posh nibbles flow freely. As does the conversation. We’re all in this unique experience together and I chat to P&O Cruises guests who won their tickets after voting for their favourite memorable moment.
‘The atmosphere is electric,’ says Jen from Walton-on-Thames. ‘I’m feeling very excited and a little bit starstruck. The glitz and the glamour, the celebrities and the photographers... Just walking along the red carpet, you’re right in the mix of it. It’s a really exciting, special day.’
Beside her, Rachel from Lincoln is in a state of excitement having just seen Ant and Dec. ‘I’m in my element,’ she laughs. ‘I’m so happy – it’s such a fabulous day! The atmosphere on the red carpet is amazing. It’s buzzing! I absolutely love getting dressed up – it’s like Celebration Nights when you go cruising. This is like a bucket-list tick. I don’t think we’ll ever get the chance to do it again, so I’m enjoying every minute. Honestly, I think it’s the best day of my life so far!’
‘You feel like a million dollars walking the red carpet,’ agrees Serena from the New Forest. ‘The opportunity to be on a red carpet, having all the celebrities here and being able to celebrate with all the other guests isn’t something that happens every day. An enormous thank you to P&O Cruises for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.’
‘We were treated like royalty by P&O Cruises,’ adds Adele from Banbury. ‘I honestly feel like a celebrity myself. It’s absolutely amazing.’
The ceremony
High on celebrity life, and perhaps the odd glass of bubbly, we’re called to the ceremony. Ascending the stairs to our seats, our eyes widen as household names and Hollywood big-hitters cruise past us leaving a heady trail of X-factor in their wake. Up close, David Tennant is taller (and sparklier) than expected in a flower-adorned jacket; Tess and Claudia radiate glamour, one in white, one in cream; Jeff Goldblum commands attention with his sweep, glasses and million-dollar smile.
Our seats give us a splendid view and the ceremony gets underway. It’s a strange sensation to be on this side of the action after years of watching edited highlights on TV. Hosts Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan wise-crack their way through the categories; the stars sparkle on stage; the outfits dazzle; and the winners’ acceptance speeches are heartfelt.
But what affects me most is watching the nomination showreels for each category. They serve as a powerful reminder of what an astonishingly creative, fearless, boundary-breaking industry this is; of what a key role these actors, directors, news reporters, scriptwriters, screenplay-adaptors, editors, set-designers, costume-makers and animators play in unifying and entertaining the nation; and of what a significant part they play in our lives. Each showreel stirs memories of important events; of being enveloped in another world; of an intimate concern for factual and fictitious characters; and the joy of eager anticipation, riveting viewing, late-night ‘just-one-more’ binging and animated post-watch debate. It’s personal and emotional.
The afterparty
This is where timings get a little blurry. The post-event party back in Skylon passes in a flash of animated conversation, music, DJ sets, dancing and pouncing upon lovely waiting staff bearing trays of delicious bowl food. Never has mini fish and chips tasted so good!
As the sun sets, London’s skyline puts on its own BAFTA-worthy performance, treating us to a range of oranges, pinks and purply reds before settling on an inky canvass of twinkling lights. It’s a star in its own right – providing the perfect finale to an unforgettable day.
