The biggest night in British film is upon us as scores of beautifully dressed celebrities get ready to congregate at the Royal Festival Hall for the 2025 EE Bafta Film Awards. On Sunday 16 February, stars including Demi Moore, Ralph Fiennes, Cynthia Erivo and Timothée Chalamet are expected to walk the red carpet at London’s Southbank Centre before entering the auditorium to discover who has won coveted prizes including the awards for Leading Actor and Leading Actress, Outstanding British Film, and the EE Rising Star Award – the only award voted for by the public.
The Princess of Wales could also add a dash of royal glamour, accompanying Bafta president Prince William, in what would be her first red carpet appearance since being declared cancer-free. The star-studded event is black tie, although last year Ryan Gosling bucked convention in a white suit with no tie, and Andrew Scott wore a red suit and open-necked shirt. Also standing out from the crowd in 2024 was host David Tennant. He rocked the red carpet in an embellished jacket and kilt, making several outfit changes over the course of the evening.
David is back on hosting duties this year. It’s a prestigious job, with famous names including Sir Billy Connolly, Sir Stephen Fry and Dame Joanna Lumley all having previously hosted. Doctor Who actor David is looking forward to returning to the Bafta stage. “It’s a lark! The night went past in a bit of a blur last year, but it was so much fun,” he says. “It feels like a real privilege to be part of it, and to get another crack at something so exciting is a real joy.
“I also didn’t want anyone to think I hadn’t been asked back, so I thought I’d better say yes! Luckily this is not what I do for my day job – if it all goes wrong I’ll just go back to pretending to be other people.”. The Bafta Awards are broadcast on BBC One a few hours after the actual ceremony begins, but David reveals that it is just like taking part in a live broadcast. “I’m nervous about certain elements of the gig – it’s quite an unnatural place to be, standing in front of that hall of stars and we treat it as a live broadcast, which keeps you on your toes,” he says.
He is also aware he’s not the only nervous person in the building. “It’s probably more nerve-wracking to be sitting out in the audience wondering if you’re going to win a prize or not, whereas I’m on the other side of it. Saying that, it is a little surprising when you look out at the front row and you see all of the most famous people in the world staring back at you! And they all have a certain anxiety in their eyes, because they are about to be celebrated or disappointed and that’s never easy for anyone, no matter who you are.”.
This year, nominees include Demi Moore for The Substance, Hugh Grant for Heretic, Cynthia Erivo for Wicked and Selena Gomez for Emilia Pérez, so the front row should look impressive from where David will be standing. “You don’t really get the chance to talk to people, because you have a very specific purpose on the night, and a very defined reason to be there,” David says. “As the host you’re standing in a corner while everyone accepts their awards, and it’s a bit like jumping out of a plane: once it starts you’re there for three hours until all those prizes are handed out, and you just have to be ready for the next link.”.
When the awards ceremony ends, celebrities can head to a post-awards dinner, and then after-parties. David, however, doesn’t intend to party the night away. “I’ll go to the dinner. Beyond that I tend not to make it to the real late-night stuff,” he says. “I don’t think I was ever young enough for that, but it doesn’t help being a parent and knowing that the alarm is going off at 6am whichever day of the week it is!”.
EE Bafta Film Awards 2025 is on Sunday 16 February, 7pm, BBC One. Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTubeand Threads. “I also didn’t want anyone to think I hadn’t been asked back, so I thought I’d better say yes! Luckily. this is not what I do for my day job – if it all goes wrong I’ll just go back to pretending to be other people.”.
