British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series

British Academy Television Award
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byBritish Academy of Film and Television Arts
First awarded1992
Currently held byTop Boy (2024)
Websitehttp://www.bafta.org/

The British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series is one of the major categories of the British Academy Television Awards (BAFTAs), the primary awards ceremony of the British television industry. The category is described on the official BAFTA website as being open a drama series "of between two and 19 episodes, that is intended to return."[1]

The category has been through several name and category changes:

  • From 1958 to 1972 the award was presented usually individually under the name "Best Drama Production".
  • Also during the same period another category was awarded briefly as "Best Drama Series" from 1964 to 1970.
  • Then from 1970 to 1991 it was joined with drama serials into a category named "Best Drama Series or Serial" with the exception of the years 87, 88 and 89 where it was awarded just as "Best Drama Series".

From 1992 onwards,[2] the category was split in two, with a separate Best Drama Serial category also established.

Inspector Morse, Cracker, The Cops, The Street and Happy Valley have all won the category twice, all except the last in successive years.

Winners and nominees

1950s

Best Drama Production

Year Recipient(s)
1958 Rudolph Cartier
1959 Silvio Narizzano

1960s

Best Drama Production

Year Recipient(s) Title
1960 William Kotcheff
1961 Peter Dews
1962 Andrew Osborn
1963 David Rose, Charles Jarrott
1964 John Jacobs
1965 Philip Saville
1966 Peter Hammond The Count of Monte Cristo
Contract To Kill
Hereward The Wake
I Took My World Away
Ambrose
Cyril Coke Crime and Punishment
The Rules of the Game
Four of Hearts
Charles Jarrott Captain Carvallo
The Big Breaker
The Young Elizabeth
The Tea Party
Production Team The Wars of the Roses
1967 Ken Loach
1968 Ken Loach
1969 Anthony Page Parachute

Best Drama Series

Year Recipient(s) Title
1964 Philip Mackie
1965 Rex Firkin
1966 Philip Mackie, Silvio Narizzano Paris 1900
The Changeling
Women Beware Women
The Old Boys, The Babysitter
Peter Graham Scott Mogul
Memory of October
The Campaign
Redcap
Danger Man
Stella Richman Missing Believe Killed
Hidden Truth: One of the Hampshire Pargeters
Take Care of Madam, Kill Me!
Ralph Smart Danger Man
1967 Peter Graham Scott

1970s

Best Drama Production

Year Title Recipient(s)
1970 The Letter
Nora
You've Made Your Bed Now Lie On It		 Christopher Morahan
Rembrandt Rudolph Cartier
A Voyage Round My Father Claude Whatham
1971 The Lie Alan Bridges
Callan Reginald Collin
Mad Jack Jack Gold
The Roads To Freedom James Cellan Jones
The Six Wives Of Henry VIII Ronald Travers, Mark Shivas
The Six Wives Of Henry VIII: Catherine Of Aragon John Glenister
1972 Edna, The Inebriate Woman Ted Kotcheff
Cider With Rosie Claude Whatham
Eyeless In Gaza James Cellan Jones
The Snow Goose Patrick Garland
Upstairs, Downstairs (for "Episode 1") John Hawkesworth

Best Drama Series

Year Title Recipient(s)
1970 W Somerset Maugham Series Verity Lambert
Callan Reginald Collin
The Gold Robbers John Hawkesworth

Best Drama Series or Serial

Year Title Recipient(s)
1973 Country Matters Derek Granger
Upstairs, Downstairs John Hawkesworth
Colditz Gerard Glaister
1974 Upstairs, Downstairs John Hawkesworth
Country Matters Derek Granger
The Onedin Line Peter Graham Scott
Wessex Tales Irene Shubik
1975 South Riding James Ormerod
Jennie James Cellan Jones
Shoulder to Shoulder Verity Lambert
Upstairs, Downstairs John Hawkesworth
1976 Edward VII Cecil Clarke, John Gorrie
Day of Hope Tony Garnett, Ken Loach
The Sweeney Ted Childs
Upstairs, Downstairs John Hawkesworth
1977 Rock Follies Andrew Brown
The Duchess of Duke Street John Hawkesworth
The Glittering Prizes Mark Shivas
I, Claudius Martin Lisemore, Herbert Wise
When the Boat Comes In Leonard Lewis
1978 Marie Curie Peter Goodchild, John Glenister
Hard Times Peter Eckersley, John Irvin
The Norman Conquests Verity Lambert, Herbert Wise
When the Boat Comes In Andrew Osborn
1979 Edward and Mrs Simpson Andrew Brown, Waris Hussein
All Creatures Great And Small Bill Sellars
Lillie Jack Williams
Pennies From Heaven Kenith Trodd, Piers Haggard

1980s

Best Drama Series or Serial

Year Title Recipient(s) Broadcaster
1980 Testament of Youth Jonathan Powell, Moira Armstrong BBC Two
Rumpole of the Bailey Jacqueline Davis ITV
Telford's Change Mark Shivas, Barry Davis BBC One
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Jonathan Powell, John Irvin BBC Two
1981 Oppenheimer Peter Goodchild, Barry Davis BBC Two
Shoestring Robert Banks Stewart BBC One
To Serve Them All My Days Ken Riddington
Therese Raquin Jonathan Powell, Simon Langton BBC Two
1982 Brideshead Revisited Derek Granger, Charles Sturridge, Michael Lindsay-Hogg ITV
The History Man Michael Wearing, Robert Knights BBC Two
Private Schulz Philip Hinchcliffe, Robert Chetwyn
Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years Richard Broke, Ferdinand Fairfax ITV
1983 Boys from the Blackstuff Michael Wearing, Philip Saville BBC Two
Minder Lloyd Shirley, George Taylor ITV
The Barchester Chronicles Jonathan Powell, David Giles BBC Two
Smiley's People Jonathan Powell, Simon Langton
1984 Kennedy Andrew Brown, Jim Goddard ITV
Rumpole of the Bailey Jacqueline Davis ITV
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet Martin McKeand
Widows Linda Agran, Ian Toynton
1985 The Jewel in the Crown Christopher Morahan, Jim O'Brien ITV
Tenko Ken Riddington BBC One
Minder Lloyd Shirley, George Taylor ITV
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet Martin McKeand
1986 Edge of Darkness Michael Wearing, Martin Campbell BBC Two
Minder Lloyd Shirley, George Taylor ITV
Bleak House John Harris, Betty Willingale, Ross Devenish BBC Two
The Price Mark Shivas, Peter Smith Channel 4

Best Drama Series

Year Title Recipient(s) Broadcaster
1987 The Life and Loves of a She-Devil Sally Head, Philip Saville BBC Two
All Passion Spent Colin Rogers, Martyn Friend BBC
The Monocled Mutineer Richard Broke, Jim O'Brien BBC One
The Singing Detective Kenith Trodd, John Harris, Jon Amiel
Paradise Postponed Jacqueline Davis, Alvin Rakoff ITV
A Very Peculiar Practice Ken Riddington, David Tucker BBC Two
1988 Tutti Frutti Andy Park, Tony Smith BBC Scotland
Fortunes of War Betty Willingale, James Cellan Jones BBC One
Porterhouse Blue Brian Eastman, Robert Knights Channel 4
A Perfect Spy Colin Rogers, Peter Smith BBC Two
1989 A Very British Coup Alan Plater, Anne Skinner, Sally Hibbin, Mick Jackson Channel 4
Blind Justice Peter Flannery, Michael Wearing, Robert Walker, Michael Whyte BBC One
Talking Heads Alan Bennett, Innes Lloyd
Rumpole of the Bailey John Mortimer, Jacqueline Davis ITV

1990s

Best Drama Series or Serial

Year Title Recipient(s) Broadcaster
1990 Traffik Simon Moore, Brian Eastman, Alastair Reid Channel 4
Inspector Morse Chris Burt ITV
Summer's Lease John Mortimer, Colin Rogers, Martyn Friend BBC Two
Mother Love Andrew Davies, Ken Riddington, Simon Langton BBC One
1991 Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit Jeanette Winterson, Phillippa Giles, Beeban Kidron BBC Two
Agatha Christie's Poirot Brian Eastman ITV
Inspector Morse David Lascelles
House of Cards Andrew Davies, Ken Riddington, Paul Seed BBC

Best Drama Series

Year Title Recipient(s) Production company Broadcaster
1992 Inspector Morse David Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles Central Independent Television ITV
Agatha Christie's Poirot Brian Eastman London Weekend Television ITV
Casualty Geraint Morris BBC Bristol BBC One
Spender Martin McKeand BBC Television
1993 Inspector Morse Deirdre Kerr Central Independent Television ITV
Between the Lines Peter Norris World Productions BBC One
Casualty Gerraint Morris BBC Bristol
Jeeves and Wooster Clive Exton, Brian Eastman, Ferdinand Fairfax Carnival Films ITV
1994 Between the Lines Peter Norris World Productions BBC One
Cracker Gub Neal, Jimmy McGovern Granada Television ITV
Casualty Gerraint Morris, Michael Ferguson BBC Bristol BBC One
The Riff Raff Element Liz Trubridge, Simon Cellan Jones, Jeremy Ancock, Debbie Horsfield BBC Television
1995 Cracker Paul Abbott Granada Television ITV
The Bill Michael Chapman Thames Television ITV
Sharpe Simon Lewis, Tom Clegg Central Independent Television
Common As Muck John Chapman, William Ivory BBC Television BBC One
1996 Cracker Hilary Bevan Jones Granada Television ITV
Preston Front Chris Griffin, Tim Firth BBC Television BBC One
Prime Suspect Paul Marcus Granada Television ITV
A Touch of Frost Don Leaver Yorkshire Television
1997 EastEnders Corinne Hollingworth, Jane Harris BBC Television BBC One
This Life Jane Fallon World Productions BBC Two
Ballykissangel Joy Lale BBC Northern Ireland BBC One
Hamish Macbeth Deidre Kerr Skyline Films, Zenith Entertainment Ltd.
1998 Jonathan Creek Susan Belbin, Sandy Johnson, Marcus Mortimer, David Renwick BBC Television BBC One
Touching Evil Jane Featherstone, Paul Abbott Anglia Television ITV
Common As Muck Catherine Wearing, Metin Hüseyin, William Ivory BBC Television BBC One
Wing and a Prayer Jacinta Peel, Richard Laxton, Robin Sheppard, Matthew Hall Thames Television Channel 5
1999 The Cops Eric Coulter, Harry Bradbeer, Alrick Riley World Productions BBC Two
Jonathan Creek Verity Lambert, Keith Washington, David Renwick, Sandy Johnson BBC Television BBC One
Playing the Field Greg Brenman, Catherine Morshead, Paul Seed, Kay Mellor Tiger Aspect Productions
Undercover Heart Jane Fallon, John Strickland, Richard Signy, Peter Bowker BBC Television

2000s

Year Title Recipient(s) Production company Broadcaster
2000 The Cops World Productions BBC Two
Cold Feet Christine Langan, Mike Bullen Granada Television ITV
Playing the Field Greg Brenman, Hugh Warren, Kay Mellor Tiger Aspect Productions BBC One
Psychos Kudos Film & Television Channel 4
2001 Clocking Off Nicola Shindler, Ann Harrison-Baxter, Paul Abbott Red Production Company BBC One
The Cops World Productions BBC Two
Fat Friends Kay Mellor, Gareth Morgan Rollem Productions, Tiger Aspect Productions, Yorkshire Television ITV
The Sins Liza Marshall, William Ivory BBC Television BBC One
2002 Cold Feet Andy Harries, Spencer Campbell, Mike Bullen Granada Television ITV
Clocking Off Nicola Shindler, Juliet Charlesworth, Paul Abbott Red Production Company BBC One
At Home with the Braithwaites Carolyn Reynolds, Jacky Stoller, Sally Wainright Yorkshire Television ITV
Tales from Pleasure Beach Madonna Baptiste, Edmund Coulthard, Roger Williams Blast! Film Productions BBC Two
2003 Spooks Kudos Film & Television BBC One
Teachers Jane Fallon, Rhonda Smith Tiger Aspect Productions Channel 4
Clocking Off Red Production Company BBC One
Cutting It Debbie Horsfield, Diederick Santer, Andy De Emmony BBC Television
2004 Buried World Productions Channel 4
Clocking Off Red Production Company BBC One
Foyle's War Greenlit Productions ITV
William and Mary Trevor Hopkins, Stuart Orme, Mick Ford Meridian Broadcasting
2005 Shameless Company Pictures Channel 4
Spooks Jane Featherstone, Simon Crawford Collins, Andrew Woodhead Kudos Film & Television BBC One
Bodies Mark Redhead, Sue de Beauvoir, Jed Mercurio Hat Trick Productions BBC Three
Conviction Red Production Team
2006 Doctor Who Phil Collinson, Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner BBC Wales BBC One
Bodies Mark Redhead, Sue de Beauvoir, Jed Mercurio Hat Trick Productions BBC Three
Shameless Company Pictures Channel 4
Spooks Kudos Film & Television BBC One
2007 The Street Jimmy McGovern, Sita Williams, David Blair, Ken Horn Granada Productions BBC One
Shameless Company Pictures Channel 4
Sugar Rush Shine Productions
Life on Mars Kudos Film & Television BBC One
2008 The Street Jimmy McGovern, Sita Williams, Terry McDonough, John Chapman Granada Productions BBC One
Rome John Melfi, Anne Thomopoulos, Bruno Heller, Tim Van Patten HBO BBC Two
Life on Mars Kudos Film & Television BBC One
Skins Company Pictures Channel 4
2009 Wallander Richard Cottan, Kenneth Branagh, Philip Martin, Francis Hopkinson Left Bank Pictures, Yellow Bird, TKBC BBC One
Shameless Paul Abbott, George Faber, John Griffin, Johann Knobel Company Pictures Channel 4
Doctor Who Phil Collinson, Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner, Susie Liggat BBC Wales BBC One
Spooks Kudos Film & Television

2010s

Year Title Recipient(s) Production company Broadcaster
2010 Misfits Clerkenwell Films E4
Being Human Toby Whithouse Touchpaper Television BBC Three
Spooks Kudos Film & Television BBC One
The Street Jimmy McGovern, Sita Williams, Roxy Spencer, David Blair Granada Television
2011 Sherlock Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, Sue Vertue, Beryl Vertue Hartswood Films, BBC Wales BBC One
Being Human Rob Pursey, Philip Trethowan, Toby Whithouse, Colin Teague Touchpaper Television BBC Three
Downton Abbey Julian Fellowes, Gareth Neame, Liz Trubridge, Nigel Stafford-Clark Carnival Films ITV1
Misfits Murray Ferguson, Petra Fried, Howard Overman, Kate Crowe Clerkenwell Films E4
2012 The Fades Jack Thorne, Susan Hogg, Caroline Skinner, Farren Blackburn BBC Television BBC Three
Misfits Murray Ferguson, Petra Fried, Howard Overman, Matt Strevens Clerkenwell Films E4
Scott & Bailey Red Production Company ITV1
Spooks Kudos Film & Television BBC One
2013 Last Tango in Halifax Sally Wainwright, Nicola Shindler, Karen Lewis, Euros Lyn BBC Television BBC One
Scott & Bailey Red Production Company ITV1
Ripper Street Richard Warlow, Tom Shankland, Stephen Smallwood, Will Gould BBC Television BBC One
Silk Hilary Salmon, Peter Moffat, Richard Stokes, Jeremy Webb BBC Television
2014 Broadchurch Kudos Film & Television ITV
Top of the Lake Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Jane Campion, Philippa Campbell See-Saw Films, Screen Australia BBC Two
The Village Company Pictures BBC One
My Mad Fat Diary Tiger Aspect Productions E4
2015 Happy Valley Sally Wainwright, Karen Lewis, Euros Lyn, Nicola Shindler Red Production Company BBC One
Line of Duty Jed Mercurio, Simon Heath, Peter Norris, Douglas Mackinnon World Productions BBC Two
Peaky Blinders Tiger Aspect Productions
The Missing Charlie Pattinson, Willow Grylls, Jack Williams, Harry Williams New Pictures BBC One
2016 Wolf Hall Peter Kosminsky, Peter Straughan, Mark Pybus, Colin Callender Company Pictures BBC Two
The Last Panthers Jack Thorne, Johan Renck, Peter Carlton, Caroline Benjo Warp Films Sky Atlantic
Humans Channel 4 Channel 4
No Offence Paul Abbott, Martin Carr, Anna Ferguson, Catherine Morshead AbbottVision
2017 Happy Valley Sally Wainwright, Karen Lewis, Euros Lyn, Nicola Shindler Red Production Company BBC One
The Crown Left Bank Pictures Netflix
The Durrells Sid Gentle Films ITV
War & Peace The Weinstein Company BBC One
2018 Peaky Blinders Tiger Aspect Productions BBC Two
Line of Duty World Productions BBC One
The Crown Left Bank Pictures Netflix
The End of the F***ing World Clerkenwell Films All 4
2019 Killing Eve Sid Gentle Films BBC One
Save Me World Productions Sky Atlantic
Bodyguard World Productions BBC One
Informer Jonny Campbell, Rory Haines, Sohrab Noshirvani, Julian Stevens Neal Street Productions

2020s

Year Title Recipient(s) Production company Broadcaster
2020 The End of the F***ing World Clerkenwell Films Channel 4
The Crown Peter Morgan, Suzanne Mackie, Benjamin Caron, Michael Casey Left Bank Pictures Netflix
Gentleman Jack Sally Wainwright, Faith Penhale, Laura Lankester, Phil Collinson Lookout Point BBC One
Giri/Haji Sister Pictures BBC Two
2021
[3]		 Save Me Too Simon Heath, Jessica Sykes, Lennie James, Lizzie Rusbridger, Coky Giedroyc, Jim Loach World Productions Sky Atlantic
The Crown Peter Morgan, Suzanne Mackie, Michael Casey, Oona O’Beirn, Andy Stebbing, Martin Harrison Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television Netflix
Gangs of London Gareth Evans, Matt Flannery, Thomas Benski, Jane Featherstone, Lucas Ochoa, Hugh Warren Pulse Films, Sister Studios Sky Atlantic
I Hate Suzie Lucy Prebble, Billie Piper, Andrea Dewsbery, Julie Gardner, Georgi Banks-Davies, Anthony Neilson Bad Wolf
2022
[4]		 In My Skin Kayleigh Llewellyn, Nerys Evans, Molly Manners, Sophie Francis Expectation Entertainment BBC Three
Unforgotten Mainstreet Pictures ITV
Manhunt: The Night Stalker Ed Whitmore, Marc Evans, Jo Willett, Evie Bergson-Korn, Philippa Braithwaite Buffalo Pictures
Vigil Tom Edge, Simon Heath, Jake Lushington, Angie Daniell, James Strong, Isabelle Sieb World Productions BBC One
2023
[5][6]		 Bad Sisters Sharon Horgan, Dearbhla Walsh, Faye Dorn, Brett Baer, Dave Finkel, Johann Knobel Merman, ABC Signature Apple TV+
The Responder Chris Carey, Laurence Bowen, Tony Schumacher, Tim Mielants, Rebecca Ferguson, Toby Bruce Dancing Ledge BBC One
Sherwood James Graham, Lewis Arnold, Rebecca Hodgson, Juliette Howell, Tessa Ross, Harriet Spencer House Productions
Somewhere Boy Pete Jackson, Petra Fried, Emily Harrison, Gavin O'Grady, Alex Winckler Clerkenwell Films Channel 4
2024
[7][8]		 Top Boy Cowboy Films, Easter Partisan, DreamCrew, SpringHill Entertainment Netflix
Happy Valley Sally Wainwright, Sarah Lancashire, Jessica Taylor, Faith Penhale, Will Johnston, Fergus O'Brien Lookout Point TV BBC One
The Gold Tannadice Pictures
Slow Horses See-Saw Films Apple TV+
  • Note: The series that don't have recipients on the table had Production team credited as the recipients of the award or nomination.

Television Dramas with multiple awards nominations

Multiple awards

The following television series have won the British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series multiple times:

Multiple nominations

The following television series have been nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series multiple times:

References

  1. ^ "Rules and Guidelines" (PDF). British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  2. ^ "TV and Craft Winners 1990–1999" (PDF). British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
  3. ^ "BAFTA TV 2021: Nominations for the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards". www.bafta.org. 2021-04-28. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  4. ^ "Bafta TV awards 2022: full list of nominations". The Guardian. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  5. ^ Ritman, Alex (22 March 2023). "BAFTA TV Awards: 'This is Going to Hurt,' 'The Responder' Lead Pack of Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Bafta TV awards 2023: the full list of winners". Guardian. 14 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  7. ^ Szalai, Georg (March 20, 2024). "BAFTA TV Awards: 'The Crown,' 'Black Mirror' Lead Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  8. ^ "Bafta TV awards 2024: the full list of winners". The Guardian. May 12, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.