Actor, comedian, and TV presenter Mel Giedroyc will host the 2022 British Academy Television Craft Awards on Sunday 24 April
Today, BAFTA announced TripleC, a gateway organisation that helps deaf, disabled, and neurodiverse people access the arts and media as the recipients of a BAFTA TV Craft Special Award.
Actor Cherylee Houston (Coronation Street) founded TripleC six years ago. Together with a group of friends including Melissa Johns (LIFE, Grantchester), they have built a platform for making the creative screen industry more inclusive. As one of the Academy's highest honours, BAFTA will present TripleC with the TV Craft Special Award in recognition of their extraordinary work and dedication in improving access and accessibility, connecting organisations, raising awareness around disability issues, and influencing decision makers within the television industry.
Melissa Johns and Cherylee Houston, co-creative leads of TripleC said: “We are thrilled that our organisation TripleC and the work carried out by everyone involved in the company has been recognised by BAFTA. When we set up this organisation 5 years ago, we were just a group of disabled and non-disabled creatives coming together to see if we could make a change. I don’t think we ever knew the size of impact that that seed of an organisation would have on the lives of so many deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent creatives. From work in schools with disabled children and young people to the leap in career development and employment of disabled artists throughout the industry. This is just the start of the journey. Our industry is changing for the better and we can’t wait to fully show the world the talent that’s in it. The recognition from BAFTA will support our drive for change and help ensure accessibility and inclusivity is high up on every agenda.”
Sara Putt, Chair of BAFTA’s Television Committee and Deputy Chair of BAFTA said: “We are delighted to be honouring TripleC with this year's Craft Special Award, in recognition of their outstanding achievements within the television industry. Cherylee and Melissa have used their platform for deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent creatives in the arts and have gone above and beyond to improve access, opportunities, and representation. While there is still a long way to go, TripleC’s creative approach has had a significant impact on BAFTA, I’m thrilled that we are giving them the spotlight and I am eager to see what the next few years of our industry will look like as a result."
Previous recipients of the BAFTA TV Craft Special Award include joint founding directors of The Farm Group, Nicky Sargent and Vikki Dunn, script supervisor Emma Thomas, the production team behind Game of Thrones, prop-master Bobby Warans and Casting director Nina Gold.
This year’s BAFTA TV Craft Awards will return to The Brewery as an in-person ceremony on Sunday 24 April and will be hosted by actor, comedian and TV presenter Mel Giedroyc.
Mel Giedroyc said: “I am absolutely delighted to be hosting this year’s BAFTA Television Craft Awards. I really love this ceremony as it’s such a great opportunity to celebrate those in our television industry who have made fabulous TV shows over the last year. It’s exciting that it’s back at The Brewery and it’s going to be great fun.”
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For further information:
Charlotte Prentice at Multitude Media
T 07969959037
Notes to Editors:
Photography is available at https://bafta.thirdlight.com/link/BAFTAPressImages/@/folder/10
To register your interest in attending the red carpet of the BAFTA TV Craft Awards on 24 April or to gain access for a media viewing link to watch from home please contact [email protected]
To apply for media accreditation for the Virgin Media BAFTA TV Awards on 8 May visit www.bafta.org/media-centre/accreditation - the deadline is 23:59 on Monday 25 April 2022. Please note that we anticipate high demand for access to the media areas and capacity is strictly limited. Prior accreditation is mandatory. Please note that applications received after the deadline of 23:59 on Monday 25 April 2022 will not be considered.
All applicants will receive confirmation of whether their request for accreditation has been successful by Friday 29 April 2022.
The Virgin Media BAFTA TV Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 8 May, hosted by Richard Ayoade.
The full nominations for this year’s awards can be found here.
Follow BAFTA’s social channels @BAFTA.
About BAFTA
BAFTA – the British Academy of Film and Television Arts - is a world-leading independent arts charity that brings the very best work in film, games and television to public attention and supports the growth of creative talent in the UK and internationally. Through its Awards ceremonies and year-round programme of learning events and initiatives – which includes workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes in the UK, USA and Asia – BAFTA identifies and celebrates excellence, discovers, inspires and nurtures new talent, and enables learning and creative collaboration. For more, visit www.bafta.org. BAFTA is a registered charity (no. 216726).
About TripleC
TripleC was formed in 2016 by a group of disabled and non-disabled creatives with the aim of making a positive change for deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent people in the arts and media. A not-for-profit community interest company, TripleC champions inclusion in the community, in education, and in the professional sphere - on and behind our stages and screens.
TripleC takes a solution focussed, lived experience approach, providing development programmes alongside access and inclusion training and support for broadcasters, production companies, and arts organisations.
DANC – the Disabled Artists Networking Community) was co-founded by its Creative Leads, actors Cherylee Houston (Coronation Street) and Melissa Johns (Grantchester, Life), together with Monique Jarrett, Ged Mulherin and Lydia Mulherin; and its Chair is screenwriter Laurence Clark. It provides professional development, mentoring, and networking opportunities for disabled creatives working across the arts and screen sectors. Together we have built a community of over 1,300 deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent creatives, driving employment and bringing about real change.
TripleC have a grassroots approach, enabling ALL disabled people to access the arts
by working with disabled young people in SEN schools, community outreach, audiences and disabled professionals. Working with young people ensures the next generation has the right access to the arts and the self-advocacy to fulfil their full potential
TripleC's Motto is "never leave anyone behind".
About Mel Giedroyc
Mel Giedroyc is a TV presenter, writer and actor best known for her work alongside Sue Perkins. Shows such as the multi BAFTA-winning Great British Bake Off (BBC) and Light Lunch (Channel 4) have made them household names. Mel has appeared in sitcoms and panel shows, as well as on stage, most recently in Stephen Sondheim’s Olivier Award winning Company at the Gielgud Theatre in the West End.
Mel and Sue were reunited in their comedy series Hitmen for Sky, whilst Mel also hosts comedy panel show Unforgivable (Dave) and Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker (C4). Mel’s first novel The Best Things was released in 2021.
