On Eve Of Her First TV Awards, New BAFTA Chair Sara Putt Talks “Celebrating The Power Of Storytelling” During “Grim” Times & The Industry’s Collective Battle To Combat Bullying & Harassment

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: This Sunday’s BAFTA TV Awards will “celebrate and remember the power of storytelling” at a “challenging” time for the industry, according to the new chair of the 77-year-old body.

Speaking exclusively to Deadline in the days leading up to the London ceremony, Sara Putt, who replaced Krishnendu Majumdar last year, said the awards will partly act as a tonic against the bad times, allowing “a community to come together, network, and be creative and supportive of each other.” She acknowledged that 2023 was a “challenging year for many in the industry, whether freelancers or small indies,” coming a few months after BAFTA research found one third are considering leaving. “We [at BAFTA] have many roles to play and it is important when times are hard to celebrate and remember the power of storytelling,” Putt said.

Nominated shows about local British stories such as BBC One’s The Sixth Commandment or ITV’s The Long Shadow show that great storytelling can be “inspirational” during times of strife, she added.

Smash hit Mr Bates vs. the Post Office was ineligible for this year’s awards as it premiered in January 2024, but will likely be a strong contender for the 2025 gongs.