MPs have hit out at the BAFTA TV Awards after discovering that some unaired acceptance speeches during Sunday's show saw recipients make digs at the Tory Government.
Dennis Kelly, writer of the TV film Together and the creator of BBC3's My Skin Kayleigh Llewellyn both made comments criticising the Government in their acceptance speeches as they claimed the prestigious gongs at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards.
Llewellyn, who won the accolade for best drama series made her own dramatic moment at the awards as she commented that "we need to get the Tories out."
Llewellyn said: "In 2010 the Tory Government slithered into power and ever since then they have cut NHS mental health beds by 25 per cent at a time when need for those beds has risen by 20 per cent. So, we need to get the Tories out."
While Kelly openly criticised the Government's handling of the pandemic.
Kelly's drama Together, which stars James McAvoy and Sharon Horgan follows a family's journey throughout the Coronavirus pandemic and Kelly used the BAFTA stage to read a letter from families who lost loved ones to covid which was critical of the government' handling of the pandemic.
Kelly read from the letter: "The UK has seen one of the worst global death tolls through the pandemic.
"This Government's response has ranged from careless to downright negligent. Our loved ones' lives treated as expendable. We will not rest until we know that everything possible has been done to ensure others are spared this heartbreak and pain."
He then added: "Prime Minister, if you are listening, start the Covid inquiry now so we can learn lessons and save lives."
In a statement, the Government said: "Every death from Covid-19 is a tragedy and our sympathies are with everyone who has lost loved ones.
"We have said there are lessons to be learnt from the pandemic and the Prime Minister has committed to holding a full public inquiry, to be chaired by Baroness Hallett."
Though the speeches did not make the final cut of the televised awards show which aired on BBC later on that evening, the comments were met with upset from the Tory MPs who said that the decision of the winners to use the platform for political digs was 'misplaced'.
Giles Watling, MP for Clacton, is a former actor who commented on the speeches, he said: "It always does happen and one's sort of used to it.
"I think people should be careful about taking political stances because they have a platform. I think it's biased, it's unfair and there is nobody there to give the other side of the argument."
Amongst the winners at this year's BAFTA's were Jodie Comer who bagged Leading Actress for her role in Help and Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice’s silent dance on Strictly Come Dancing was named the Must See Moment, but their speeches steered clear of the political critiques of some of the other big winners.
MP Steve Brine shared his opinion on the acceptance speeches targeted at the Government, he said: "'We can all play to the gallery but it's all a bit sad and misplaced.
"If I won a Bafta I'd use the moment to say thank you and celebrate the moment, not make partisan points which, by their very nature, upset half the audience."
