Strictly Come Dancing won big at the 2024 BAFTA Television Awards at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, as they were awarded the gong for Best Entertainment Programme.
The BBC show beat out competition from Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, Later… With Jools Holland and Hannah Waddingham: Home For Christmas.
The two presenters coordinated their outfits by both sporting sophisticated all-white ensembles as they cheered when their win was announced.
While hilariously, as the camera cut to actress Hannah Waddingham, she jokingly swigged from a hip flask to commiserate missing out on the win.
Strictly Come Dancing won big at the 2024 BAFTA Television Awards at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, as they were awarded the gong for Best Entertainment Programme
The award was presented by Dominic West, with hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman leading the Strictly team on stage to accept the honour
The two presenters coordinated their outfits by both sporting sophisticated all-white ensembles as they cheered when their win was announced
Tess, 55, began her acceptance speech by quipping: ‘Thank you so much BAFTA, for making it worth putting on the Spanx on the hottest day of the year — it was a struggle.’
Voicing her gratitude for the award, she explained that it was especially meaningful as it coincides with Strictly’s 20th anniversary, after the dancing contest first hit TV screens in May 2004.
Tess said: ‘It’s Strictly’s 20th anniversary this year. We’ve been on television for 20 years. So this is the greatest birthday present.
‘And to the viewers at home, thank you so much for watching because we would not be here without you, and it really does mean the world.’
She continued: ‘And this award is for the entire Strictly team, who are the best in television. They work so hard and they are led by our incredible executive producer Sarah James, who is amazing.
‘We’re so lucky to have to you. Not only did she produce our series last year, she also gave birth during it – you are remarkable!’
She concluded: ‘It’s just been the most wonderful series and we want to say thank you to all the celebrities for taking part and being so brave. We may be tapping up a few of you in the room later on for the next series.’
Claudia, 52, also chimed in to shout out the judging panel and professional dancers and couldn’t resist making a joke about Strictly’s Musical Director, Dave Arch, 61.
In her acceptance speech, Tess explained that it was especially meaningful as it coincides with Strictly’s 20th anniversary, after the dancing contest first hit TV screens in May 2004
Claudia, 52, also chimed in to shout out the judging panel and professional dancers and couldn’t resist making a joke about Strictly’s Musical Director, Dave Arch, 61
She gushed: ‘We have to mention our extraordinary judges, the backbone of our show, the amazing professional dancers – so thank you them.
‘And of course, we’re in a throuple with Dave Archer, so thank you Dave!’
Speaking to the media after their win , the duo couldn’t hide their joy and surprise at scooping the award.
Claudia admitted: ‘We’re quite shocked. I feel wobbly and weird!’
While Tess agreed, adding: ‘We feel a bit unnecessary because we’re quite overwhelmed. We don’t take it for granted. Have we won three times?’
Claudia continued: ‘I’m not counting but also we’re such a close team. And looking at their faces. When they said our name I feel like it took us about 49 minutes to get to the stage. We’re not live, so they will be able to edit it.’
Mentioning their anniversary, she went on: ‘It’s a big year for us and it’s a privilege to do the show.
‘It’s one of those shows where I believe whole families watch, so we get lovely letters from grandparents with their grandchildren.
‘So it’s an honour, but we never take it for granted that people will come, so every year we’re like, fingers crossed!’
Strictly has been nominated for Best Entertainment Programme 13 times, and previously won in both 2016 and 2020.
Elsewhere on the star-studded evening, Happy Valley and Top Boy were also big winners.
Sarah Lancashire scooped the Leading Actress Award for her iconic role as Sergeant Catherine Cawood in the BBC’s Happy Valley – which follows the dramas of policing in Yorkshire – and broke down on stage accepting the award.
The Memorable Moment Award also went to Happy Valley for Catherine and Tommy Lee Royce’s final kitchen showdown on BBC One.
The moment saw James Norton’s character set himself on fire after Catherine finally tracked him down in her own home after years of feuding.
Speaking to the media after their win, the duo couldn’t hide their joy and surprise at scooping the award, as Claudia admitted: ‘We’re quite shocked. I feel wobbly and weird!’
Elsewhere on the star-studded evening, Happy Valley and Top Boy were also big winners, as Sarah Lancashire scooped the Leading Actress Award for her iconic role as Sergeant Catherine Cawood in the BBC’s Happy Valley (pictured)
Top Boy’s Jasmine Jobson picked up the award instead for her incredible role as Jaq in the gritty Netflix drug dealing series (pictured)
Meanwhile in a shock, The Crown star Elizabeth Debicki missed out on the Best Supporting Actress gong – in a mark of a disappointing night for the Netflix series which left empty-handed despite eight nominations.
Top Boy’s Jasmine Jobson picked up the award instead for her incredible role as Jaq in the gritty Netflix drug dealing series.
It was a good night for Top Boy as the show also won in the Drama Series category – beating favourite Happy Valley, The Gold and Slow Horses.
While, Timothy Spall won for Best Actor Award on the night for his role in The Sixth Commandment – a true crime series based on the murders of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin.
And Matthew Macfadyen won the Best Supporting Actor gong for his role in the hugely-popular series Succession, though was not present at the ceremony to collect it.