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Baftas 2018: Three Billboards and Time's Up triumph as black dresses take over the red carpet

(L to R) Martin McDonagh, Peter Czernin, Sam Rockwell, Frances McDormand and Graham Broadbent, aftr accepting the Best Film award for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - Getty Images Europe
(L to R) Martin McDonagh, Peter Czernin, Sam Rockwell, Frances McDormand and Graham Broadbent, aftr accepting the Best Film award for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - Getty Images Europe

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri was the biggest success at the Bafta Film Awards with five wins, while Gary Oldman was the only British star to take an acting award.

The ascerbic story of a strong woman standing up for justice in small-town America was a fitting winner on a night when Time's Up pins and black dresses were an ever present reminder of the sexual harassment scandal coursing through the entertainment world.

The point was not lost on Martin McDonagh, its British director. 

“What I’m most proud of, especially in this Time’s Up year," he said, "is it is a film about a woman who refuses to take any more s***.”

Baftas 2018: the stars in pictures
Baftas 2018: the stars in pictures

Its star, Frances McDormand, won the leading actress award and acknowledged the theme of the night even though she admitted failing "compliance" with the protest dress code of black.

 "I want you to know that I stand in full solidarity with my sisters tonight in black and I also want to say that I appreciate a well-organised act of civil disobedience and I'm thrilled that activists all over the world have been inspired by the set decorations of the film and have taken to the streets and let it be a part of the positive discourse that's happening," she said, referring to a surge in use of billboards to highlight injustice since the film hit cinema screens.

Its dominance, claiming the gongs for best film, leading actress, original screenplay, original music and outstanding British film, overshadowed The Shape Of Water, which was nominated for 12 awards but only won three

Oldman became emotional as he accepted the leading actor award and thanked Sir Winston Churchill, whom he played in Darkest Hour.

"Winston Churchill, the man himself, in those dark uncertain days in 1940 held the line for honour, for integrity and freedom, for his nation. I thank you, Sir Winston, I thank you the Churchill family and once again Bafta, I am so grateful and incredibly honoured."

BAFTA red carpet gallery
BAFTA red carpet gallery

Guillermo del Toro picked up director for The Shape Of Water and acknowledged "important figure" novelist Mary Shelley, who he said: "Gave a voice to the voiceless and a presence to the invisible".

Joanna Lumley, who hosted the awards, praised the "dogged determination" of the suffragettes, and the "powerful" Time's Up movement.

In her first time hosting the Baftas after taking over from Stephen Fry, she poked fun at stars including Angelina Jolie, who she joked: "Already knocked up 400 portions of risotto for the after show dinner."

 

11:08PM

One last thought: Jeremy Corbyn has warm words for Daniel Kaluuya

He may have missed out on that coveted Best Leading Actor Bafta – but Daniel Kaluuya, who won the EE Rising Star Award earlier tonight, can take comfort from the fact that he's a clearly a firm favourite with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, the one film pundit we'd all been waiting to hear from. 

Earlier tonight, Corbyn tweeted that Kaluuya was a "fantastic actor from North London who is making his mark".

Theresa May has not yet tweeted about the Baftas. Nor has Vince Cable.

Donald Trump, a motoring enthusiast with mixed feelings about the performing arts, was more interested in watching "my great friends from NASCAR" who "are having their big race today".

 

11:02PM

And that's all, folks

With the final Bafta of the night awarded, that's all for us. Anyone up for a trip to the discotheque? Sir Ridley?

10:57PM

Prince William introduces 80-year-old Ridley Scott

The Duke of Cambridge introduced Ridley Scott, 80, winner of the night's highest honour– the Bafta Fellowship, a lifetime achievement award. 

"It's been 40 years in this business and this is the first time they've ever given me anything, so I'm not going to go quietly," Scott quipped.

Unashamedly checking his notes throughout the speech, he added: "I could never be an actor because I'd never remember the lines." Ever the curmudgeon, the 80-year-old Blade Runner director, who is 80, grumbled that people kept pointing out the fact that he (an octogenarian) is 80.

"I'm constantly reminded in press articles that I'm in the octogenarian club," he grumbled, "that's not a discotheque."

10:50PM

Best Film is (of course) Three Billboards

Martin McDonagh's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri has proved victorious and claimed the award for Best Picture. The film, which marked a return to form and then some for the In Bruges director, has received its fair share of controversy, with some raising concerns about its portrayal of disability and race. But for the Bafta voters – and for the Oscar voters too perhaps? – it was clearly a firm favourite. With Frances McDormand claiming Best Actress, and Sam Rockwell Best Supporting Actor, "Billboards" is the night's clear big winner. Hey - it even managed to nab Oustanding British Film!

10:50PM

Del Toro's shout-out to black pudding wins him a host of fans

The Mexican maestro has apparently been having "so much" of the distinctively British dish - and his enthusiasm has made him a firm favourite with those who share his taste for the blood sausage (it's admittedly quite an acquired one).

"Thank you, Fox Searchlight, for the per diem yesterday," he said in his acceptance speech. "It was really useful... for so much black pudding."

 

10:47PM

Guillermo Del Toro thanks Mary Shelley, black pudding, Noel Coward

We spoke too soon. Del Toro has given an un-toppable speech, after winning Best Director for his whimsical horror-comedy-romance The Shape of Water (it's essentially Amelie, with added gills).

He started by thanking Bafta for "so much black pudding." It set the tone for the most giddily eclectic list of acknowledgments spouted on stage all evening.

 

10:15PM

King of sound takes a bow with Dunkirk

"This was my 207th film, and also my retirement film". Re-recording mixer Gregg Landaker bows out gracefully, as part of the team winning the Best Sound award for Dunkirk (a gong he's won three times at the Oscars, for his work on Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Speed).

10:08PM

To Twitter, or not to Twitter?

A reminder: this is a LIVE-BLOG of a NON-LIVE BROADCAST.  Late news, now! It happened two hours ago, but the BBC are broadcasting it now, so we're watching it and reacting to it as soon as we can (but not too soon). If you'd like to join in the live-but-not-really-live fun, leave your thoughts in our comment section below.

(Or, for spoilers, read the full list of winners here.)

But whatever you do, don't venture onto Twitter, where Britain's film fans are tying themselves in knots trying to live-tweet the TV broadcast without accidentally reading any spoilers. Frankly, it's a headache. (Warning: emotions are running high, so there's one instance of strong language below.)

10:01PM

Bryan Cranston's barking up the wrong tree

"We've towelled him down, and if he's a good boy he gets a biscuit: it's the obedient Bryan Cranston." Woof. Joanna Lumley's introduction for the Breaking Bad star was actually funnier than his "ooh, the Baftas are British!" speech. Not so much the one who knocks as the one who flops.

9:53PM

First controversy of the night?

Understandably enough, a few people are a little put out by the fact that the very un-British-feeling Three Billboards, also a favourite for Best Film, claimed the prize for Outstanding British film. 

In other words? Paddington was robbed.

 

9:51PM

Blade Runner 2049 wins Best Visual Effects

Because absolutely no one saw that one coming. Yes, the CGI simians of the Apes franchise might be impressive - but the sheer beauty of Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner follow-up made it a clear winner in this category.

9:45PM

Sam Rockwell - drinking with Alan Rickman?

Rockwell may play a horrible cop in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, but came across as a lovely chap in his acceptance speech, which dedicated his Best Supporting Actor award to his friend Alan Rickman. His closing line made us do a double-take, though: "This is for my pal Alan Rickman, I'll see you at the bar!" Two sentences not one, presumably, but it sounded like he was planning to be mixing spirits with the late, great actor's spirit.

9:41PM

Adapted Screenplay: a flat joke, but a record-breaking winner

"Time for adapted screenplay now, or as we call it in the industry, making a book into a film." A tangible silence fell after Lumley's quip. Her gag-writers must try harder.

The book, in the case of Call Me By Your Name, was adapted from a 2007 novel by André Aciman – and the man who adapted it, 89-year-old screenwriter James Ivory, is now (a quick Google suggests) the oldest competative award-winner in Bafta history. He's best known for his work with the film company he co-founded, Merchant Ivory (and he had a lovely chat with The Telegraph about his astonishing career last year).

9:37PM

A last-minute thank-you from Kaluuya

"I've gone blank," the Get Out star said, receiving his award with a lovely speech in which he thanked his mum, but as soon as he got offstage was kicking himself for failing to mention one particular fellow British actor.

"You know who I left out? Ashley Walters," he told reporters backstage. "I want to say thank you for leading and inspiring me. I saw him when I was younger and thought 'he looks like me, I know where he's from and this is possible'."

9:34PM

Daniel Kaluuya is our Rising Star!

Okay, so a few of the more hardcore Timothee Chalomet fans might be grumbling - but the overall reaction to this win has been one of sheer delight.

Kaluuya, who is 28, is also nominated for a Bafta for Best Leading Actor for his performance in the brilliant (and terrifyingly topical) horror movie Get Out.

9:29PM

The Lumley who cried wolf

There were a few raised eyebrows in the audience when Lumley introduced Margot Robbie as her "niece", but anyone whose memory stretches back to 2013's The Wolf of Wall Street will remember that the Ab Fab star did indeed play a young Robbie's aunt. Can you see the family resemblence?

9:26PM

Best 'British' Film? McDonagh's not having any of it

"I'm half-Irish, so I'm not allowed to make a speech for this," said screenwriter Martin McDonagh, neatly side-stepping his Outstanding British Film trophy for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri.

It was probably for the best; judging from his wickedly scabrous scripts (and funny, foul-mouthed recent Telegraph interview) McDonagh might not have been able to make it through an acceptance speech without swearing.

9:21PM

Is Lumley being a bit too lovely?

We like an awards show with bite, but Joanna Luvvie - sorry, Lumley - is being almost too nice. She began her opening monologue with a deluge of flattering adjectives (after a brief nod towards #MeToo and the suffragette movement).

Gary Oldman, she told us is, "inimitable", Sally Hawkins is "incomparable", Frances McDormand a "tour de force", Angelina Jolie "glorious and spectacular", and Jennifer Lawrence "ravishing" (the same adjective she used to describe the building).

Only "the exceedingly charming" Hugh Grant was in for a bit of mild ribbing, for his turn as a villainous, self-satisfied thesp in Paddington 2. "Quite how Hugh managed to portray a vain, egocentric actor is beyond me," Lumley mused. Miaow. More of that, please.

9:12PM

It's The Shape of Water: The Ballet!

Cirque Du Soleil - Credit: BBC
Credit: BBC

No, you were crying. It's hard to pin down why, exactly, but there was something rather touching about Cirque Du Soleil's balletic dance inspired by this year's girl-meets-fishman whirlwind romance; wordless, just like the leading couple's unlikely love. Could we one day see The Shape of Water hit the West End? Or even Covent Garden? Stranger things have happened.

9:07PM

Yet more red carpet footage

Oh goody, a red carpet highlights package. The perfect thing for those of us who watched a full hour of Dermot O'Leary making small talk with uncomfortable actors earlier. Less of this, more Lumley.

9:04PM

And we're off - with a trip to Lumley Towers

Lumley: certainly not phoning it in
Lumley: certainly not phoning it in

"Darling!" And Joanna Lumley tackles her first pre-recorded comedy skit with gusto, phoning up all the characters from this year's films (and receiving an accidental call from Joseph Stalin). It's not quite rib-tickling, but we sets the tone nicely.

8:45PM

It's nearly time to tune in

The Bafta broadcast is starting on BBC One at 9pm tonight. Will new host Joanna Lumley be able to fill Stephen Fry's shoes? Yes, she will. She can do anything. Her first on-screen role was playing an exploding robot spy. She'll be fine.

8:04PM

So just why did Kate wear that green dress?

It's proved a mildly controversial decision, with a few criticising the Duchess of Cambridge for not wearing black in support of the #TimesUp movement - but, overall, most people have reacted to the royal's green Jenny Packham dress with relative calm. It is, after all, forbidden for members of the royal family to become involved in political protests ot movements.

"The gown, notably similar to a navy blue Jenny Packham design Kate has worn in the past, featured a flowing, empire-waist cut and elegant puddle train," says our fashion writer Emily Cronin. "A narrow black sash was the only nod to the black dress code observed to by most attendees."

For more on Kate's outfit - and the night's other dresses -  read the full article.

BAFTA red carpet gallery
BAFTA red carpet gallery

 

7:55PM

Ahead of the BBC broadcast, here's a few choice Joanna Lumley quotes

Yes, we *know* you just want to go and look all the winners up on Twitter, as they're actually happening. We know this delay is a bit silly. But on the bright side? Us TV viewers will be getting an entire two hours of Joanna Lumley. So that's something to look forward to.

To help get you in the mood, here are some of her best quotes. 

Joanna Lumley in quotes
Joanna Lumley in quotes

 

7:13PM

That's it from the red carpet

The ceremony will be kicking off soon, which means TV viewers will now be left twiddling our thumbs until 9pm, when the TV broadcast begins on BBC One. To keep you entertained in the meantime, we'll be posting news, gossip and a few interesting tidbits about this year's host Joanna Lumley. Stay tuned.

Can't wait for the BBC broadcast? You can find out all the winners as they're announced here.

7:03PM

Margot Robbie on becoming a one-woman film factory

Margot Robbie arriving on the red carpet - Credit: Reuters
Margot Robbie arriving on the red carpet Credit: Reuters

Margot Robbie isn't just the star of ice skating biopic I, Tonya, she's also its producer: "I don't think anyone would have come to me for the role specifically [if I hadn't also produced]," she explained on the red carpet. "Sometimes we need to take control a bit."

6:55PM

Rather hurried journey into night

Lesley Manville in Long Day’s Journey Into Night - Credit: Wyndham's Theatre
Lesley Manville in Long Day’s Journey Into Night Credit: Wyndham's Theatre

"Ten minutes ago I was doing a matinee," says Best Supporting Actress nominee Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread). Manville arrived fresh from the West End – where she is currently starring with Jeremy Irons in Long Day's Journey Into Night – looking remarkably un-rumpled. 

"We did the quickest show in history," she said. "I told everyone, 'Get them eating their ice-creams, and get them back in their seats!'"

6:48PM

Frockwatch: the Duchess of Cambridge arrives in dark green

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arriving - Credit: Bafta
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arriving Credit: Bafta

It's the moment Royal watchers and Hollywoodites have been waiting for with equally baited breath: Prince William and Catherine have arrived, and (after much speculation) it seems the Duchess of Cambridge has chosen not to follow the event's informal all-black dress code, suggested as a gesture of solidarity with the #TimesUp protest movement. Bafta-fact: The Duke of Cambridge has been President of British Academy of Film and Television since 2010.

6:36PM

Get Out, or drift off?

Daniel Kaluuya, trying desperately to stay awake throughout the Baftas - Credit: AP
Daniel Kaluuya, trying desperately to stay awake throughout the Baftas Credit: AP

If Daniel Kaluuya gets bored during the two-hour-plus ceremony, he has very subtle way to get out of it. Speaking on the red carpet, the actor revealed that he has a special talent: "I can sleep really quickly. Twenty seconds, and I'm out. I just need to sit down and I'm gone." Let's hope someone nudges him awake in time to collect a trophy.

6:27PM

Oops... Someone missed the memo

Hofit Golan arriving at the Bafta Film Awards - Credit: Reuters
Hofit Golan arriving at the Bafta Film Awards Credit: Reuters

Everyone on the red carpet has opted to respect the all-black dress code, in solidarity with victims of sexual assault – or almost everyone. Hofit Golan (Who is she? A socialite, "spokesmodel" and pal of Paris Hilton, apparently) has turned up wearing a white dress, albeit with a black sash. Perhaps, busily jet-setting between red carpets, she didn't hear about the protest.

6:07PM

It's all a bit too exciting for one nominee

Young British actress Florence Pugh (The Falling) is unashamedly chuffed to bits about her Rising Star nomination.

 

5:55PM

Planning a Guillermo Del Toro marathon?

If so, you're in luck. The Mexican director was asked on the red carpet which of his films he'd encourage fans of The Shape of Water to watch next. He promptly rattled off a list of exactly which order he'd like his films to be seen in:

"The Shape of Water, then Devil's Backbone, Pan's Labyrinth, then I would go to Mimic, Pacific Rim, Hellboy 2..." 
Somewhere, a cinema should make this marathon happen.

5:45PM

Cirque du Soleil are keeping the guests entertained

Even when it's a red carpet, a queue is still a queue, and queues are dull. Luckily for tonight's attendees, there's as-you-wait entertainment outside the Royal Albert Hall from Montreal's finest clowns, doing their best to repair the good name of clowning, after their profession was besmirched last year by Stephen King's It. 

Pre #BAFTA show pic.twitter.com/ddODX1gX0l

— Sasha Carpet Scenes (@CarpetScenes) February 18, 2018

5:38PM

Latest pictures from the red carpet

Our gallery of all the guests as they arrive on the red carpet is up and running! Feast your eyes on this year's attendees here

5:37PM

Ooh, what's that badge Dermot is wearing?

Dermot O'Leary, from the neck down - Credit: PA
Dermot O'Leary, from the neck down Credit: PA

Well spotted. That would be a #TimesUp pin badge – our red carpet host Dermot O'Leary is showing his solidarity with the protest movement, which aims to raise awareness about sexual harassment.

 

5:30PM

Bafta, or Baafta?

God's Own Country (essentially Yorkshire's answer to Brokeback Mountain) is the low-budget indie British highlight of this year's nominees. It's also given us a brilliant reversal of the usual red carpet Q&A format, as the film's bearded first-time director Francis Lee asked Dermot O'Leary about his lambing chops.

Lee: "Can you deliver a lamb?"
O'Leary, aghast and clearly lying: "Umm... I'd love to."

5:23PM

Watch the red carpet live

Footage from the red carpet is now live on the Bafta social media streams, with Edith Bowman and Dermot O'Leary interviewing the stars as they arrive. You can follow it on Facebook, or on Twitter, or right here: 

 

4:59PM

...But it looks like one favourite British star won't be attending tonight's ceremony

Instead, like the rest of us, Paddington will be watching from home with his family.

 

4:55PM

Who are the guests?

Alongside this year's nominees, there's an impressive line-up of A-list talent appearing as presenters (or just as guests). Here, in alphabetical order, is a list of who to keep an eye out for on the red carpet:

Gemma Arterton, Orlando Bloom, Sam Claflin, Bryan Cranston, Natalie Dormer, Taron Egerton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rebecca Ferguson, Karen Gillan, Naomie Harris, Salma Hayek, Edward Holcroft, Nicholas Hoult, Isabelle Huppert, Lily James, Jennifer Lawrence, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Lupita Nyong’o, Sergei Polunin, Will Poulter, Andrea Riseborough, Sir Patrick Stewart, Mark Strong, Hayley Squires, Tom Taylor, Anya Taylor-Joy, Rachel Weisz, Letitia Wright.

4:51PM

Who are this year's nominees?

Fantasy film The Shape of Water leads the this year's Bafta pack with 12 nominations, while Churchill biopic Darkest Hour and darkly comic drama Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri have both received nine. Blade Runner 2049 also did remarkably well, scooping eight nominations. You can read the full list of nominees here, or check out our reviews via the links below.

Bafta 2018 | Key films, reviewed
Bafta 2018 | Key films, reviewed

 

4:47PM

Emma Watson leads British stars supporting harassment charity

Last month, Bafta chair Jane Lush used the usually dry and uneventful nominations ceremony to condemn "the grave revelations of the troubling, unacceptable practices that have recently been revealed within our industry."

Since then, it's been clear that the Baftas would confront the film industry's recent spate of sexual harassment scandals head-on. News that the awards would follow the Golden Globes in adopting an all-black dress code as a protest soon followed. 

But this weekend has seen a number of British put their money where there mouths are, donating to the Justice and Equality Fund's campaign to stamp out sexual harassment in the workplace – in a fundraising effort timed to coincide with tonight's awards.

Emma Watson has donated £1 million to the charity - Credit: AP
Emma Watson has donated £1 million to the charity Credit: AP

Emma Watson has donated a million pounds to the UK charity, while Tom Hiddleston and Keira Knightley are listed on the campaign's crowdfunding webpage as having donated £10,000 each.  Gugu Mbatha-Raw, a guest at tonight's ceremony, has matched Noomi Rapace and Doctor Who's Jodie Whittaker in giving a £1,000 to the Go Fund Me page.

Several of tonight's guests have also signed a letter, published in the Observer today, supporting the #TimesUp movement. It's another clear sign that tonight's ceremony could be the most openly political in recent memory.

4:34PM

Good evening, and welcome to our Baftas live blog

We'll be bringing you all the latest from the Baftas red carpet, which kicks off from around 5pm, and will then be following the BBC broadcast of the ceremony from 9pm. We can't promise to be as funny and charming as new host Joanna Lumley - or funny and charming at all, for that matter - but we'll do our best.

As per tradition, the BBC broadcast will take place with an hour's delay.  But don't worry - unlike Twitter, this blog will remain a spoiler-free territory.

 

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