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- Elizabeth Okogwu (10) and Afraz Hussain (17) named as winners of BAFTA’s 2025 Young Presenters competition in their respective age categories
- The two new Young Presenters will receive a year-long programme of presenting opportunities, industry mentoring and event appearances
- Eight talented finalists interviewed TV presenter and writer Katie Piper and After Party Studios co-founder Ben Doyle during auditions at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly
- Meet the winners here
Today, BAFTA announces ten-year-old Elizabeth Okogwu from Kent and seventeen-year-old Afraz Hussain from Mitcham as the winners of this year’s BAFTA Young Presenters competition – one of the arts charity’s flagship initiatives for children and young people, spotlighting and nurturing the UK’s next generation of creative talent.
Launched during Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week, the annual competition invited young people aged 10-14 and 15-18 to submit a short video exploring the theme of ‘Know Yourself, Grow Yourself,’ encouraging entrants to reflect on how self-awareness can support emotional resilience and confidence.
This year’s eight exceptionally talented finalists – selected from hundreds of entries nationwide – gathered at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly for a day of live auditions, where they showcased their presenting skills by interviewing special guests TV presenter and writer Katie Piper and co-founder of After Party Studios Ben Doyle. The judging panel included professionals across the screen industries, alongside members of the Young BAFTA Advisory Group, created in 2023 to help steer BAFTA’s year-round charitable programmes for children and young people and support the wider children’s media sector.
Before being crowned winners, Elizabeth showed remarkable confidence while interviewing Katie Piper about her childhood and key life lessons. Seventeen-year-old Afraz impressed judges with his charisma and creativity while speaking to Ben Doyle about staying authentic and positive in the screen industry. Meet the winners here.
Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, said: “At BAFTA we believe in the power of storytelling and creative expression to inspire, connect and empower. Supporting young people to develop their self-confidence, hone their voices, and explore careers in the screen industries is core to our mission. The BAFTA Young Presenters competition is a brilliant example of how early engagement with the screen arts can spark ambition and nurture invaluable life skills. It’s a joy to see the next generation like Elizabeth and Afraz step into their potential with such energy and passion.”
Ben Doyle said: “It was an absolute privilege to take part in the BAFTA Young Presenters competition. Coming from an online background, I was thrilled to see such a rich mix of influences; from TV to TikTok, shaping the next generation of presenters. The finalists gave it everything, and there’s no doubt there’s incredible new talent on the way – I can’t wait to see where they go next. It’s vital we keep the door wide open through initiatives like this one, and it’s fantastic to see BAFTA championing young voices in this way.”
Katie Piper said: “I wanted to support and be involved in the BAFTA Young Presenters competition because I know how life-changing opportunities like this can be for young people. Seeing the passion, confidence and talent of those taking part was truly inspiring. Initiatives like this are so important for opening doors and helping the next generation find their voice.”
Lisa Prime, Head of Children & Young People’s Programmes at BAFTA, said: “This year’s entries were fantastic. The level of thought, creativity and passion behind each submission made it incredibly difficult for the judges to choose just two winners. Huge congratulations to Elizabeth and Afraz – we’re thrilled to welcome them to Young BAFTA. Supporting young people to express themselves and develop their creative voice is at the heart of what we do. The Young Presenters programme is a key part of our mission to open up the screen industries to talented young people from across the UK, and we can’t wait to see where this journey takes them.”
See the full list of 2025 finalists below:
10–14 Category
Elizabeth Okogwu, 10, Kent (winner)
Ida Hamilton, 10, London
Mia Burke, 10, Harrow
Osian Nathoo, 11, Cardiff
15–18 Category
Afraz Hussain, 17, Mitcham (winner)
Hannah Ogunyade, 15, Leicester
Isaac Kamidora, 16, London
Perrez Amponsah Ampofo, 15, Enfield
Elizabeth and Afraz will join BAFTA’s growing team of Young Presenters, gaining access to a host of exciting opportunities – from fronting content on the Young BAFTA YouTube channel, to attending red carpet events and interviewing major talent from across the screen industries.
Previous Young Presenters have interviewed icons such as Dame Judi Dench, Stormzy and Tom Hiddleston and fronted red carpet coverage with David Tennant, Cynthia Erivo and Mikey Madison at the EE BAFTA Film Awards. Last year’s winners even fulfilled dream interviews with Stacey Dooley and Big Zuu at the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises.
Now in its ninth year, the BAFTA Young Presenters competition remains a cornerstone of Young BAFTA’s year-round learning and talent development programme. Alongside the competition, the arts charity runs the BAFTA Young Game Designers competition, a nationwide primary school initiative Young BAFTA Roadshows with Place2Be, and a range of workshops and skills-building events across the UK – helping young people develop transferable skills, grow networks, and explore pathways into the screen industries.
To learn more about the Young Presenters programme and other Young BAFTA initiatives visit: www.bafta.org
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About BAFTA
BAFTA’s mission as a charity is to champion the creative and cultural importance of the screen arts across film, games and television. Through its Awards ceremonies and year-round programme of talent initiatives and learning events that include masterclasses, lectures, scholarships, bursaries and mentoring schemes in the UK and North America, BAFTA identifies and celebrates excellence, discovers, inspires and nurtures new screen talent, and enables learning and creative collaboration. For more, visit www.bafta.org. BAFTA is a registered charity (no. 216726).
