Aardman Animations, the award-winning British animation studio behind Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run and Shaun the Sheep, won a special BAFTA at the 2009 Television Craft Awards ceremony.

Peter Lord and David Sproxton, the partnership at the heart of Aardman Animations, are best known for creating the much-loved duo Wallace and Gromit.

First featuring in A Grand Day Out in 1989, Aardman have scored a series of heart-warming hit films with the cheese-loving pair. These include The Wrong Trousers, A Close Shave and The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

Their latest outing, A Matter of Loaf and Death, won over half the TV audience on Christmas Day.

From Bristol to the world

Lord and Sproxton started working together at school before they officially launched the Bristol-based animation studio in 1976. After creating the character Morph for children’s show Take Hart, they went on to work on Peter Gabriel’s groundbreaking Sledgehammer video and stop-motion mockumentary Creature Comforts.

In 2000 Aardman Animations released Chicken Run, their first full-length film, funded by DreamWorks. It was a hit across the world and grossed over £220m.

This new Award means the duo have scooped an impressive 11 BAFTAS so far in their career.

“It’s a very special award because it’s recognition of everything we do. It’s recognition of all the wonderful people that we work with, the training they’ve had and the work they do for us.”
– Peter Lord and David Sproxton.

Two white men in black tuxedos and bow ties stood holding a BAFTA award. The man on the left has short dark hair and is clean shaven, the man on the right has shoulder-length greying hair and beard.
Peter Lord and David Sproxton pose with their Special Award.
Two white men in black tuxedos and bow ties stood either side of a large BAFTA mask statue. The man on the left has shoulder-length greying hair and beard, the man on the right has short dark hair and is clean shaven.
The duo pose with a giant statue of the BAFTA mask.
Two white men in black tuxedos and bow ties stood in front of a BAFTA branded board. The man on the left has shoulder-length greying hair and beard, the man on the right has short dark hair and is clean shaven.
Lord and Sproxton have been friends since school.

What is the BAFTA Special Award?

A BAFTA Special Award is one of the academy’s highest honours recognising an outstanding contribution to film, games or television. You can see more recipients in our Awards database.

For more inspiring stories from the world of film, games and TV explore our BAFTA Award Stories section.

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