BAFTA will not hand out any honorary prizes at its 2022 Film and Games awards ceremonies as it plans to implement new vetting processes following the Noel Clarke controversy last year.Clarke was awarded the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award at the 2021 ceremony, despite the org having been contacted with allegations of sexual conduct made against the Bulletproof and Doctor Who star.
At the time, BAFTA said it had not been presented with enough concrete info to take back the already announced prize, but the body went on to implement a thorough review of how it chooses its honorary recipients.Clarke, who denies wrongdoing (and is reportedly trying to make a documentary to plead his innocence), has since his award suspended by BAFTA, as well as his membership.BAFTA also awards an honorary Fellowship each year, which is being paused as well.
The org previously rescinded Rolf Harris’ Fellowship in 2014 after the TV presenter was found guilty of indecent assault.Last year, no special prizes were awarded at BAFTA’s TV Awards in the summer as the overhaul process began.
The body said today that it had now concluded “a lengthy, thoughtful and thorough review” of its special awards but it still needed time “to properly implement the recommendations of this review”.Key to BAFTA’s planned implementations following the review process include the forming of a selection co-ordinating committee, a diverse group across age, gender and race made up of BAFTA members that will oversee a rolling longlist of potential special awards recipients.
Read more on deadline.com