Jared Harris joked he has "ruined [his] losing streak" after winning the Leading Actor award at the 2020 TV BAFTAs.
The 58-year-old actor took home the gong for his work on the hit HBO series ‘Chernobyl’ during the annual awards ceremony, which was held virtually on Friday (31.07.20) in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking from home via video link, he said: "Wow, that’s a surprise. BAFTA, you’ve ruined my losing streak! I’m annoyed at you. You know … this show has won a lot of accolades and I think that’s testament to [producers] Craig Mazin and Carolyn Strauss and Jane Featherstone’s stewardship. I’d say the best decision they made was to put every single episode in [director] Johan Renck’s hands. He’s a bada**."
Jared also revealed in his acceptance speech that he wasn’t the first person producers considered for the role, as they were originally planning to hand the part to now-retired actor Daniel Day Lewis.
Recalling a meeting he had with an executive, Jared added: "About 10 minutes into our meeting he looked at me, and he said: ‘Jared I hope you don’t mind me telling you this, but you weren’t our first choice.’ And then he said, ‘Would you like to know who was?’
"I said ‘Oh I would, yes, very much’. [It was] Daniel Day Lewis, but he retired from acting. So I’d just like to say quickly to Daniel, don’t stay away too long. I miss seeing you up there."
Jared’s win marked one of two gongs for ‘Chernobyl’, which also walked away with the award for Best Mini-Series.
Elsewhere, Glenda Jackson took home the Leading Actress award for her work on ‘Elizabeth Is Missing’, whilst Naomi Ackie and Will Sharpe were given the Supporting Actress and Actor trophies.
‘The End of the F***ing World’ was crowned Best Drama Series, whilst ‘Emmerdale’ was named the Best Soap and Continuing Drama, and ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ bagged Best Entertainment Programme.
The full list of 2020 TV BAFTA winners:
BAFTA SPECIAL AWARD
Idris Elba
LEADING ACTRESS
Glenda Jackson – ‘Elizabeth is Missing’
LEADING ACTOR
Jared Harris – ‘Chernobyl’
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Naomi Ackie – ‘The End of the F***ing World’
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Will Sharpe – ‘Giri/Haji’
ENTERTAINMENT PERFORMANCE
Mo Gilligan – ‘The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan’
MALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY PROGRAMME
Jamie Demetriou – ‘Stath Lets Flats’
FEMALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY PROGRAMME
Sian Clifford – ‘Fleabag’
DRAMA SERIES
‘The End Of The F***Ing World’
SINGLE DRAMA
‘The Left Behind’
MINI-SERIES
‘Chernobyl’
SOAP AND CONTINUING DRAMA
‘Emmerdale’
INTERNATIONAL
‘When They See Us’
ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME
‘Strictly Come Dancing’
COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME
‘Taskmaster’
SCRIPTED COMEDY
‘Stath Lets Flats’
FEATURES
‘The Misadventures Of Romesh Ranganathan’
MUST-SEE MOMENT
‘Gavin and Stacey’ – Nessa proposes to Smithy
CURRENT AFFAIRS
‘Undercover: Inside China’s Digital Gulag’
SINGLE DOCUMENTARY
‘The Last Survivors’
FACTUAL SERIES
‘Leaving Neverland’
REALITY AND CONSTRUCTED FACTUAL
‘Race Across The World’
SPECIALIST FACTUAL
‘Yorkshire Ripper Files: A Very British Crime Story’
NEWS COVERAGE
Sky News – Hong Kong Protests
SPORT
ITV – 2019 Rugby World Cup Final: England V South Africa
LIVE EVENT
‘Blue Planet Live’
SHORT-FORM PROGRAMME
‘Brain In Gear’