Latest news with #BaftaFellowship
Metro
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
'After 30 years on BBC Newsnight, the biggest mistake I always avoided'
Newsnight legend Kirsty Wark has looked back on her TV legacy after being announced as the next recipient of the Bafta fellowship award. The presenter and journalist, 70, joins the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Dame Judi Dench and Martin Scorsese in receiving the accolade, which she will be presented with at the Bafta TV awards on May 11. On the day that she was announced as the person receiving the academy's lifetime achievement accolade, she told Metro that it was a 'huge surprise' and a 'great honour'. Wark –who presented BBC's Newsnight programme for 30 years until leaving last July – said that her career in live television has been 'exhilarating', having interviewed high-profile figures including Margaret Thatcher and Madonna. Discussing her legendary interview style. the journalist –who was one of the first to arrive on the scene when Pan Am Flight 103 was blown up in the skies above Lockerbie in 1988 – shed light on a major mistake that she's always managed to avoid. 'My favourite interviews are when you allow people the dignity to say their points of view and you're not being intrusive,' she said. 'The thing I hate most about presenters is when they grandstand. 'In tricky situations I want to bring a compassion and a rigour. My role is to help people tell their stories.' Wark explained how her job is 'all about doing your homework' with the producer, as figures like politicians will be reluctant to 'tell you about the cuts they've made to a certain sector'. 'You've really got to be prepared. The biggest disrespect you can ever do is to go into an interview and not be prepared,' she continued. Discussing her prestigious Bafta Fellowship award, she said: 'I'd be surprised if this was an award you can get before you're 50. I'm way over that now. 'I'm still looking forward in my career, but I think this is one for looking back at the different things I've done and the way I've learned and the people I've worked with.' Wark admitted that the honour was a 'huge surprise' to her and she feels that it's a 'great honour' to receive it, as it involves being judged by your peers. 'It's amazing. Something delivered by your own industry is very, very special,' she added. When asked what she's enjoyed the most in her career, she stressed that it's the 'desire to help people tell their own stories and to find out for the public what makes things really tick'. 'You want to give the audience enough information to make their own minds up,' she shared. 'In a political interview when somebody gives you a lot of obfuscation, that tells you just as much that something's not quite right.' Wark has conducted plenty of interesting interviews from her days on Newsnight, as she spotlighted speaking to Damian Hurst about his gold skull and Madonna when she adopted the first of her children from Malawi. 'Working in this industry, you've got to be able to turn on a sixpence,' she advised. 'I can remember when you're on air that's when the engine kicks in and you have to rely on everybody around you. 'It's both challenging and on live television it is exhilarating to get that story out in as accurate a way as possible and to depend on the people around you in different parts of the world that are your colleagues, coming in. 'There's been many nights like that and there's been a couple of nights when we've kept going on. I love how people can learn so much on the job.' More Trending Looking ahead to the future, Wark revealed her wish for a woman to take over as director general of the BBC – but stressed that she's not saying that she thinks Tim Davie should leave the position now. 'I'm not saying, 'Tim, go now,' but I think it's time for a woman,' she affirmed. 'The BBC has so many other ways it's on the front foot – technology, iPlayer, BBC audio and other things – and I would really love to see a woman take hold of that.' View More » The Bafta Television Awards with P&O Cruises take place at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall on 11 May and broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer . Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: BBC soap stars protest at Parliament following show's axe after 23 years MORE: Emma Willis makes strong comeback on red carpet weeks after heart surgery MORE: Race Across the World fans convinced one team has already made huge mistake
Telegraph
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Strong woman must lead BBC, says Kirsty Wark
The BBC should be led by a strong woman, Kirsty Wark has said. Calling for a 'more adventurous' choice as the next director-general (DG), she said some 'brilliant' women had been overlooked in the past and should be in the running to be Tim Davie's successor. 'I want to see a female DG very soon. I'm not saying, 'Tim, go now,' but I think it's time for a woman,' said Wark, who stepped down from Newsnight last summer after 30 years. She is this year's recipient of the Bafta Fellowship, the British Academy's highest honour. Asked why a woman had never been appointed to the top BBC role, Wark said: 'It's definitely not because there hasn't been anyone good enough. I can think of three women who would be brilliant.' She continued: 'We've got brilliant women running departments and running programmes but I think we just need to be a bit more adventurous. 'The BBC has so many other ways it's on the front foot – technology, iPlayer, BBC audio and other things – and I would really love to see a woman take hold of that.' Wark, 70, who continues to work for the BBC as a presenter of Radio 4's Front Row and The Reunion, said that the corporation needed a charismatic leader who did more than appear in public at times of crisis. She cited Greg Dyke, the director-general from 2000 to 2004, who became a household name. 'I want the DG to be a really strong public figure, someone really out there. We often only hear from the DG when they're firefighting. What we want to hear is the way they're going to deliver the best for you. 'For example, every DG is different but if you look at somebody who was really out there, I'd say Greg Dyke. [The public] knew Greg Dyke and that was terrific. 'I love the idea of walking the floor and being collegiate. Tim does that as much as possible but I do actually think we want somebody who is very open to conversations with staff all the time. 'Tim has done a really good job but I just feel: why not a woman?' Davie is expected to remain in post to negotiate the next BBC charter, which begins in January 2028. He has been the broadcaster's director-general since 2020. Wark will be presented with the Fellowship at the Bafta Television Awards on May 11, honouring her outstanding contribution to television. She said: 'This is a wonderful surprise and a great honour. Television has been my home for 40 years, both at the BBC and in independent production, and I continue to learn every day from people with awe-inspiring skills who have become treasured colleagues and dear friends.'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Strong woman must lead BBC, says Kirsty Wark
The BBC should be led by a strong woman, Kirsty Wark has said. Calling for a 'more adventurous' choice as the next director-general (DG), she said some 'brilliant' women had been overlooked in the past and should be in the running to be Tim Davie's successor. 'I want to see a female DG very soon. I'm not saying, 'Tim, go now,' but I think it's time for a woman,' said Wark, who stepped down from Newsnight last summer after 30 years. She is this year's recipient of the Bafta Fellowship, the British Academy's highest honour. Asked why a woman had never been appointed to the top BBC role, Wark said: 'It's definitely not because there hasn't been anyone good enough. I can think of three women who would be brilliant.' She continued: 'We've got brilliant women running departments and running programmes but I think we just need to be a bit more adventurous. 'The BBC has so many other ways it's on the front foot – technology, iPlayer, BBC audio and other things – and I would really love to see a woman take hold of that.' Wark, 70, who continues to work for the BBC as a presenter of Radio 4's Front Row and The Reunion, said that the corporation needed a charismatic leader who did more than appear in public at times of crisis. She cited Greg Dyke, the director-general from 2000 to 2004, who became a household name. 'I want the DG to be a really strong public figure, someone really out there. We often only hear from the DG when they're firefighting. What we want to hear is the way they're going to deliver the best for you. 'For example, every DG is different but if you look at somebody who was really out there, I'd say Greg Dyke. [The public] knew Greg Dyke and that was terrific. 'I love the idea of walking the floor and being collegiate. Tim does that as much as possible but I do actually think we want somebody who is very open to conversations with staff all the time. 'Tim has done a really good job but I just feel: why not a woman?' Davie is expected to remain in post to negotiate the next BBC charter, which begins in January 2028. He has been the broadcaster's director-general since 2020. Wark will be presented with the Fellowship at the Bafta Television Awards on May 11, honouring her outstanding contribution to television. She said: 'This is a wonderful surprise and a great honour. Television has been my home for 40 years, both at the BBC and in independent production, and I continue to learn every day from people with awe-inspiring skills who have become treasured colleagues and dear friends.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The Independent
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Warwick Davis on the mystery woman who helped him find love again
Actor Warwick Davis has once again referenced a mystery woman who helped him 'find love again'. In February, while receiving his Bafta Fellowship award, the 55-year old star of the Harry Potter and Star Wars film franchises thanked an anonymous woman called 'Sponge' who had helped him 'to laugh and love again' after his wife, Samantha Davis, died last March, aged 53. Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show this week, Davis said the mystery woman reminded him of Daisy May Cooper – who was also on the ITV talk show – playing Kerry Mucklowe in the BBC 's Cotswolds-set series This Country. Davis referenced the name sometimes given to Harry Potter antagonist Lord Voldemort – He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named – to avoid identifying the mystery woman, saying: 'I can reveal, sticking with the Harry Potter theme, Sponge is indeed She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. 'Sponge very much reminds me of Kerry. Some of the things she says and her accent.' Kerry is a character created and played by Cooper in mockumentary series This Country, which follows the lives of two cousins in a small village in the West Country. Cooper and her brother Charlie won Baftas for the series, including for their acting performances. Davis rose to fame as an 11-year old after being cast as an Ewok in Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi. He later starred in Willow, Leprechaun and Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy before being cast as charms teacher Professor Filius Flitwick in the Harry Potter series. Davis was awarded the Bafta Fellowship in February, which is described by the academy as the 'highest accolade Bafta can bestow on any one figure, recognising an exceptional contribution to film, television or games'. He gave an emotional speech referencing his late wife, who died last year, and their two surviving children. He told Ross how 'supportive' his wife was, saying she always encouraged him despite the difficult hours that came with the job. The couple co-founded dwarfism charity Little People UK, which helps provide 'friendship and financial support and guidance' to people with the condition and their families and friends. In his Bafta speech, Davis said: 'I'd like to dedicate and thank my wonderful wife Sammy who died almost a year ago. 'She was always so supportive of my career, encouraged me to grab every opportunity with both hands. 'Since then life has been pretty tough for me but thanks to the support of our wonderful children, Annabelle and Harrison, I have been able to continue working and engaging in life. 'Special mention too should go to 'Sponge', you know who you are. Thank you for showing me that life can still have meaning and for helping me to laugh and love again.'
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Warwick Davis thanks 'She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named' for helping him love again
Actor Warwick Davis has candidly opened up on 'finding love again'. He gave an emotional speech at the Baftas last month, referencing his late wife, Samantha, who died last March, aged 53, and their two surviving children. While receiving his Bafta Fellowship award, the 55-year-old star thanked an anonymous woman called 'Sponge' for their help whilst he grieved. Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show, Davis said the woman reminded him of Cooper – who was also on the ITV talk show – playing Kerry Mucklowe in the BBC's Cotswolds-set series This Country. No one deserves the BAFTA Fellowship more than Mr Warwick Davis Huge Congratulations, enjoy your evening 🎊🎊🎊 @WarwickADavis 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺#BAFTA2025 #WarwickDavis — A TV Friend 📺 🍭 #FBPE Stan Nurse Crane Mr Jones (@atvfriend) February 16, 2025 Davis referenced the name sometimes given to Harry Potter antagonist Lord Voldemort – He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named – to avoid identifying the mystery woman. He said: 'I can reveal, sticking with the Harry Potter theme, Sponge is indeed She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. 'Sponge very much reminds me of Kerry. Some of the things she says and her accent.' Davis was awarded the Bafta Fellowship in February, which is described by the academy as the 'highest accolade Bafta can bestow on any one figure, recognising an exceptional contribution to film, television or games'. He told Ross how 'supportive' his wife was, saying she always encouraged him despite the difficult hours that came with the job. The couple co-founded dwarfism charity Little People UK, which helps provide 'friendship and financial support and guidance' to people with the condition and their families and friends. In his Bafta speech, Davis said: 'I'd like to dedicate and thank my wonderful wife Sammy who died almost a year ago. Recommended reading: Warwick Davis found out about his Bafta fellowship award while 'on the toilet' Warwick Davis dedicates Bafta film fellowship award to late wife 'She was always so supportive of my career, encouraged me to grab every opportunity with both hands. 'Since then life has been pretty tough for me but thanks to the support of our wonderful children, Annabelle and Harrison, I have been able to continue working and engaging in life. 'Special mention too should go to 'Sponge', you know who you are. Thank you for showing me that life can still have meaning and for helping me to laugh and love again.' The Jonathan Ross Show airs on Saturday at 9.20pm on ITV and ITVX.
