David Tennant recently made quite the splash as the host of the 2024 BAFTA Awards. The night kicked off with Tennant hilariously re-enacting scenes from his popular pandemic show 'Staged' alongside co-star Michael Sheen. The skit revolved around Sheen needing Tennant to dog-sit his pup Bark Ruffalo on the same evening as the prestigious awards show. Tennant attempted to pass the adorable dog to various celebrity friends such as Stanley Tucci, Himesh Patel, Tom Hiddleston, and Judi Dench, but with no takers, he ended up bringing Bark Ruffalo to the Royal Festival Hall in London.
Taking to the stage for his opening monologue, Tennant entertained the audience with witty quips, including a reference to his monologue being over three and a half hours long. The charming host also joked that the evening would go 'smoother than Ken's chest,' a humorous nod to the slick look of the plastic doll Ken played by Ryan Gosling in the film 'Barbie.' He further likened the elegantly attired audience to a scene from 'Saltburn' but humorously hoped the night wouldn't culminate in a manner akin to the final scene of the movie.
This marked Tennant's first time hosting the BAFTA Awards, following in the footsteps of last year's host, Richard E. Grant. Speaking to Variety before the event, Tennant shared that he drew insights from past ceremonies, noting the importance of avoiding jokes that might not land well, especially refraining from any light-hearted jabs at Taylor Swift. Acknowledging his household of Taylor Swift fans, Tennant humorously emphasized the lesson learned: 'Don't diss Tay Tay, I think is the lesson to be learned.'
The glittering event took place at the Royal Festival Hall in London, with the film 'Oppenheimer' leading the nominations with an impressive count of 13, closely trailed by 'Poor Things' with 11 nominations. Both films are vying for the coveted Best Film award, and 'Oppenheimer' additionally snagged nods in categories such as adapted screenplay, direction for Christopher Nolan, supporting actress for Emily Blunt, supporting actor for Robert Downey Jr., and lead actor for Cillian Murphy. Meanwhile, 'Poor Things' is contending for outstanding British film as well as the leading actress category for Emma Stone and adapted screenplay.
The 2024 BAFTA Awards were not only a celebration of outstanding talent and cinema but also a night filled with humor, camaraderie, and memorable moments thanks to the charismatic presence of host David Tennant.
