Steven Moffat: Special Award 2012

Steven Moffat, award-winning writer and producer of hit shows Doctor Who and Sherlock, was thrilled to win the 2012 BAFTA Television Special Award.

Moffat won the Award for his outstanding contribution to creative writing in television –including acclaimed series like Doctor Who. In total, Sherlock picked up three BAFTAs at the ceremony, held on 27 May at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

The Scottish writer originally trained as a teacher before selling a script that would become children’s comedy drama Press Gang to ITV. This led to him picking up his first BAFTA in 1991 when Press Gang was awarded the Children’s Programme (Entertainment/Drama) BAFTA at the British Academy Children’s Awards.

Since then his talent has added sparkle to shows like Stay Lucky, Joking Apart, Murder Most Horrid, Jekyll and Coupling.

In 2008 Moffat became Doctor Who’s executive producer and head writer, casting Matt Smith as the eleventh Doctor and bringing fresh energy to the successful series.

Next, he created Sherlock with The League of Gentlemen’s Mark Gatiss in 2009. The show reinvented Conan Doyle’s famous detective for modern-day London, scoring a huge hit with both viewers and critics.

“People ask me what the best thing in the world is – and it’s to be able to do what you love and get paid for doing it. [I’m] so thrilled by this – especially after two years of Sherlock and Doctor Who, my two favourite shows ever.” – Steven Moffat

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 award winners in our Awards database.

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