Alan Cumming Is Set to Host the 2025 BAFTA TV Awards
Alan Cumming in "The Traitors" Season 3 Finale
(Photo: Peacock)
Scottish excellence is fully on display in the world of the BAFTAs this year. Back in February, Rivals star (and avid Scotsman) David Tennant hosted the British Academy Film Awards to rave reviews, both for his opening number performance of the Proclaimers' hit "500 Miles" and his excellent sartorial choices throughout the ceremony. Now his fellow countryman Alan Cumming is set to get his turn behind the mic this May.
Cumming is set to host the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises on Sunday, May 11, at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London. The nominations for this year's awards haven't been announced yet, but will ultimately span 49 competitive categories.
Though Cumming is probably best known these days for his extremely charming (and Emmy winning!) turn as the high camp host of megahit Peacock reality series The Traitors, he has a long history as actor, writer, and producer. with a Tony, an Olivier Award, and multiple Golden Globe nominations under his belt for his performances in roles as diverse as the Emcee in Cabaret and Eli Gold in The Good Wife. And, of course, PBS fans across America know him as the host of Masterpiece Mystery.
“We’re delighted that Alan Cumming will be hosting this year’s BAFTA Television Awards,” Emma Baehr, executive director of awards and content at BAFTA said in a statement. “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.”
Outside of which shows will rack up the most nominations or take home awards hardware, the question that's really on everyone's mind is: What will Cumming wear? After all, he became as famous for his assortment of colorful, over-the-top costume choices as he did for moderating the Traitors' roundtable confrontations every week. These looks included (but are certainly not limited to!) a tartan-draped human chess piece — complete with actual kings, queens, and pawns arranged as a headband —a top hat-sporting vaudeville ringmastert's outfit, a Renaissance-inspired doublet, and a bridal gown. Even Cumming's dog, Lala, got into the act with matching outfits of her own. What I'm saying is the bar for his BAFTA looks is extremely high.
Much like the Film Awards, this year's television ceremony will feature several new categories honoring children's television. These are the Children’s Scripted Award for scripted programs, such as drama and comedy, whether live-action or animated; the Children’s Non-Scripted Award for factual, factual entertainment, documentary, and news content; and the Children’s Craft Team Award, which is meant to honor craft teams working in behind-the-camera roles.
“The sheer quality, innovation, and breadth of talent in British television in front of and behind the camera is second to none, and we look forward to honoring and celebrating these talented people at our upcoming awards ceremonies," Baehr said.
Last year’s BAFTA Television awards, which saw Top Boy and Happy Valley snag the night's biggest honors, delivered strong viewership, with an average audience of 2.7 million on BBC One and iPlayer.
The 71st Annual British Academy Television Awards will be held on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London and air/stream on BBC One and iPlayer in the U.K, and BritBox in the U.S. and Canada.
