BAFTA 2021 Film Awards viewing figures PLUMMET to a 13-year low
The BAFTA 2021 Film Awards saw an average of 2million viewers tune in on Sunday night – the lowest figures for the awards in 13 years.
Hosted by Dermot O’Leary and Edith Bowman, 500,000 people abandoned the virtual ceremony on BBC One in the first five minutes, switching off entirely.
The final five minutes saw figures rise to 4.3million – although with BBC One airing Line Of Duty immediately after the BAFTAs, it’s likely fans of the show were settling in for that.
Plummet: The BAFTA 2021 Film Awards saw an average of 2million viewers tune in on Sunday night – the lowest figures for the awards in 13 years. It was hosted by Dermot O’Leary and Edith Bowman [pictured]
This year’s ceremony took place in two parts, with only a peak of 700,000 viewers tuning in for the Saturday broadcast.
The figures, collated by Deadline and Screen Daily, are down from a 3million average in 2020. MailOnline has approached the BBC for clarification on the final numbers.
The show was beaten by the likes of Tipping Point: Lucky Stars on ITV, followed by Midsomer Murders.
While Saturday’s BBC Two broadcast peaked at 700,000 viewers, it averaged at 400,000 according to overnight Barb figures.
Tuning out: 500,000 people abandoned the virtual ceremony on BBC One in the first five minutes, switching off entirely [Renee Zellweger presenting from LA is pictured]
Another apparent turn-off for viewers was the ‘fake audience and canned laughter’.
Viewers took to Twitter to brand the applause ‘awkward’ and said it ‘ruined the show’ – but it was in fact confirmed afterwards that the audience were a real virtual gathering of 1, 000 people tuning in via video link.
The BAFTA and EE British Academy Film Awards 2021 is the first of the Academy’s film ceremonies to be held virtually but those watching weren’t impressed due to the confusion over whether the audience was fake or real.
A representative for the Academy told MailOnline: ‘1,000 people were virtually watching on a secure audience link and their audio was filtered into the show.’
Oh dear: Viewers were left confused during the BAFTA 2021 Film Awards’ virtual ceremony, as they believed the show had a fake audience and canned laughter’
Some viewers of the ceremony – which was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London but without a live audience – branded the apparently fake applause and laughter in the studio as ‘condescending’ and ‘questionable’.
The ceremony saw winners appearing via Zoom to collect their awards and give acceptance speeches.
Although this helped keep the pace up – and provided some entertaining moments in the case of Youn Yuh-jung who called British people ‘snobbish’ while accepting her gong for Best Supporting Actress – many viewers were not loving the changes.
Several viewers shared their belief that the show was using ‘canned laughter’ on Twitter, with some even comparing it to something from ‘a 1970’s Two Ronnie’s Christmas special.’
Not impressed: The BAFTA and EE British Academy Film Awards 2021 is the first of the Academy’s film ceremonies to be held virtually but those watching weren’t impressed with the set up (pictured are hosts Edith Bowman and Dermot O’Leary)
One unimpressed viewer wrote on the social media platform: ‘The canned laughter is a bit much. The show would work way better with music instead’.
Another penned: ‘This fake applause is so awkward’, while another complained: ‘Not sure about fake audience noises on the BAFTAs’.
A fourth wrote: ‘Yeah, the canned reactions are mega-condescending. Just let the show be what it is. The tech awards mini-show yesterday was really well-pitched.’
Someone else agreed, writing: ‘The canned laughter is questionable’ while another simply said: ‘Can the canned laughter!’
While another unimpressed person said: ‘Changed channels … BAFTAs is on … it seems that instead of a live audience, someone thought that canned applause & laughter from a 1970’s Two Ronnie’s Christmas special would be a good idea … weird’
Opinions: Several viewers shared their belief that the show was using ‘canned laughter’ on Twitter, with some even comparing it to something from ‘a 1970’s Two Ronnie’s Christmas special
Some even claimed that the star-studded night was ‘boring’ – although did put it down to the new Covid rules and restrictions that have been bought in.
One person tweeted: ‘Is the BAFTAs totally shut in this format? I know they dressy up as Covid secure c**p but really it’s so boring.’
Agreeing, another said: ‘God it’s depressing to watch things like #BAFTAs with no live audience. Not for much longer I hope.’
‘Awkward’: One unimpressed viewer took to Twitter to write: ‘The canned laughter is a bit much. The show would work way better with music instead’ – although the audience was real
While others said they were switching the channel without making it to the end to discover who was announced as the best actress and actor.
‘Losing the will watching this, such a boring show, congrats to all the winners but I’m off’, tweeted one unimpressed viewer.
And anther penned: ‘It’s only been 20 mins and baftas is already boring me to death.’
Despite this, some did enjoy the new set-up and particularly the fun, genuine Zoom reactions some stars managed to pull off.
One person said: ‘The slight delay on the reactions of the live audience throws things off a little but seeing the instant reactions of the winners on Zoom is fun #BAFTAs.’
Switching off: Several people said they gave up on the two-hour show and didn’t stick around to see who won the best actor and actress gongs at the end of the night
Winners: Anthony Hopkins won in the Leading Actor category (pictured left in The Father) while Frances McDormand was awarded Best Leading Actress (seen right in film Nomadland)
The 2021 BAFTAs saw Frances McDormand win the leading actress gong for her role in Nomadland while Anthony Hopkins was named as best actor for The Father.
Other winners included Daniel Kaluuya as supporting actor in Judas and the Black Messiah and Korean star Yuh-Jung Youn in the supporting actress category for film Minari.
The BAFTA and EE British Academy Film Awards 2021 is the first of the Academy’s film ceremonies to be held virtually.
The TV version of the awards show took place online during summer 2020, but last year’s film ceremony managed to go ahead a month before the Covid pandemic forced the UK into lockdown.
With the pandemic still raging, another change will take place this year: the BAFTAs will happen in two parts.
It’s not all bad: Some said Covid changes had made the show ‘boring’ but others enjoyed seeing the entertaining and genuine win reactions of celebs on Zoom
Both shows, recognising the very best in film of the past year, will be broadcast virtually from London’s Royal Albert Hall.
The first show celebrates the craft of film while the second main show will feature the mainstream awards.
Show one was hosted by Clara Amfo on Saturday night and saw eight of the 17 gongs awarded.
During the broadcast it was revealed that Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom won two awards: Costume Design and Make Up & Hair. Rocks won Casting while Sound of Metal won Sound. Mank picked up Production Design, and Tenet won Special Visual Effects.
Not happy: Many viewers took to Twitter on Sunday night to complain about the fake audience (pictured is Felicity Jones presenting the Cinematography category)
The Present won the British Short Film award, while the BAFTA for British Short Animation was won by The Owl and the Pussycat.
The award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema, announced last month, was presented to filmmaker Noel Clarke.
Show two was fronted by Dermot O’Leary and Edith Bowman from London’s Royal Albert Hall where the acting prizes will be given out. No audience will be present.
Both programmes are being broadcast in all major territories around the world and a total of 50 feature films received nominations this year.
Presenters will appear during the ceremony from both London and Los Angeles, but all nominees will accept their prizes virtually in front of a virtual audience watching from home.
Presenter: BAFTA has announced their most diverse list of nominees in the awards’ 74-year history (host Dermot O’Leary is pictured)
Among the prizes announced on the second night will be the public-voted EE Rising Star Award and the Fellowship, BAFTA’s highest honour.
BAFTA has announced their most diverse list of nominees in the awards’ 74-year history.
In a first for BAFTA, four women have been nominated in the Director category. Three of the nominated directors are also nominated for Film Not in the English Language.
As part of BAFTA’s pledge to support fresh talent, four of the five nominated films in Outstanding Debut are also nominated across other categories, with first-time nominees accounting for four of the six nominated Directors and 21 of the 24 nominees in the performance categories.
British talent is rife in 2021, with the Outstanding British Film category increasing from six to 10 nominations, three of which are also nominated for Best Film.
Pandemic: The BAFTA and EE British Academy Film Awards 2021 is the first of the Academy’s film ceremonies to be held virtually (pictured Anna Kendrick presents the Best Adapted Screenplay category)
Of the difficult times the awards and creative industries have had during the past 12 months – which saw a total shut-down of TV and film production across the world – BAFTA’s Chief Executive Amanda Berry said: ‘The last year has seen the Covid-19 pandemic impact everyone, and the film industry is no exception.
‘I would like to thank all those who have supported us and enabled BAFTA to continue to celebrate the very best work in film, from our members who embraced the changes we made to the voting process to the distributors for ensuring that many more films were available for online viewing.
‘Film has always held an essential place in our culture but I think we can all agree that it has been even more important during this time.
‘I very much look forward to celebrating the incredible talent of all our nominees.’
In the past year, BAFTA undertook a wide-ranging Review, signalling the beginning of a significant cultural shift within the organisation.
The changes introduced for the Film Awards are the first phase in an ongoing process of levelling the playing field for all entered films.
Entertainment: Dermot and Edith wowed on the red carpet before they entered the studio for presenting duties