The British Academy of Film and Television Arts announced today the addition of two new categories to its annual British Academy Television Awards – those of Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor – and a move to a summer date for the ceremony.

Additionally for 2010, the Comedy Performance category will divide into two, recognising both Female Performance in a Comedy Programme and Male Performance in a Comedy Programme.

The British Academy Television Awards will take place on Sunday 6 June at The London Palladium and will be broadcast on BBC One. The Awards will be preceded by the British Academy Television Craft Awards on Sunday 23 May at The London Hilton on Park Lane.

2010 will also see the introduction of a new system available to BAFTA members voting in both Television and Craft Awards to view all entries online.

John Willis, Chairman of the Television Committee, said: “We are delighted to be introducing these changes for 2010. As a Committee, we annually review all categories to ensure the ceremony is relevant to, and reflects, the industry’s output, and these additional categories do exactly that. Moreover, our move to June provides a more distinct place in the awards calendar for Television and allows more time between them and February’s Orange British Academy Film Awards for our members, industries and viewers.”

TV Dates and Categories (81.6 KB)

Editors Note:

With the move to June, the eligibility period for entries has been extended to the end of February. This means the eligibility period will be 14 months for the 2010 Awards then reverting back to 12 months – 1 March to 28 February – for future Awards. This creates a shorter period between the closing of entries and the ceremony itself.

For more information about entering the Awards, please visit www.bafta.org.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public.

For further press information on the British Academy Television Awards please contact Mary Williams at freud communications:
020 3003 6300 / [email protected]

For further press information on The British Academy Television Craft Awards please contact Deborah Goodman at DGPR :
020 8959 9980/ [email protected]