BAFTA TV Awards slammed after beloved star missed from in memoriam tribute

Theis under fire after leaving out a beloved British actress from its In Memoriam tribute on Sunday. The star-studded audience and viewers at home were moved to tears following the traditional tribute at the ceremony, which celebrates the screen stars who are sadly no longer with us.

Celebrities, including TV doctor Michael Moseley, and The Bill star Roberta Taylor, Going for Gold host Henry Kelly and Drag Race UK winner , were all included in the tear-jerking tribute. However, revered Downton Abbey and star, Dame Maggie Smith, was left out. Taking to social media, viewers expressed their anger, as one fumed: “No Maggie Smith?? Feels like quite an oversight!"

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Another added: “They left out Dame Maggie Smith from the list of those who died during the last year. DISGUSTING. SHAME on you."

"No mention of Dame Maggie Smith when remembering those who died in the last year. Shame on BAFTA," slammed a third.

Referencing the fact that another star of stage and screen, Dame Joan Plowright, was also left out, a fourth added: “Bafta TV Awards snubbed Maggie Smith and Joan Plowright, even if they are know mostly for film/theatre. They did a lot of TV, especially in the early days when they did plays on TV and period dramas especially Shakespeare. Maggie Smith was in iconic Downton Abbey. Plowright has a Golden Globe and Emmy for TV!”

Despite being left out of the TV tribute, both Maggie and Joan both received special tributes at the Bafta Film Awards In Memoriam segment earlier this year.

Actors who are more closely associated with TV are usually honoured at the television event, while those better known for their role on the big screen are given a special mention at the Film Awards.

When contacted by the , a spokesperson for BAFTA said: "Dame Maggie Smith was remembered in the In Memoriam Tribute in the EE BAFTA Film Awards in February."

Dame Maggie died in September 2024, aged 89 after an spectacular sixty year career. She won two Oscars: for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1970 and California Suite in 1979.

She was also famed for playing the formidable Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series as well as the no-nonsense Violet Crawley in the period drama Downton Abbey.

Dame Joan, who retired in 2014 after becoming legally blind, and who won two Golden Globe Awards, an Olivier Award, and a Tony Award as well as nominations for an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award, died in January this year.

The BAFTAs sent fans into a frenzy for a number of reasons on Sunday. topped the list with a total of eight nominations, followed by , Rivals and Slow Horses - which had six apiece.

However, it wasn't Baby Reindeer's night as they picked up just one of their nominated awards. suffered a worse snub, as despite being nominated for three gongs they walked away with nothing.

Meanwhile, Geordie veterans Ant and Dec missed out on a gong for Entertainment Performance after being beaten by star, .

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