ianwylie April 21, 2008 News

Backstage At The Baftas: Final Thought

JOHN Simm’s face said it all when Life On Mars lost out for the second year in a row.
The Street is an exceptional television series, which deserves every award it gets.
Even so, I still believe the small panel of Bafta judges which decided the fate of Best Drama Series got it wrong this year.
Harry Hill’s TV Burp was named Best Entertainment Programme.
No complaint with that decision.
But it must have been particularly galling for the Life On Mars team to watch one of the clips which secured Harry that particular award.
“My name is Sam Tyler. I had an accident and I woke up as an oven-ready chicken.
“Am I mad, in a coma or back in time?”

The comedy sketch, obviously, impressed the British Academy.
It’s just a shame they didn’t also recognise the brilliant, innovative drama series which inspired it.
As perceptive viewer Janet commented under another Backstage At The Baftas blog entry earlier today:
“I have now come to the conclusion that if Life On Mars had been nominated against a tomato, it would have been a red spherical object making its way to the stage last night.”
Cranford Star Shines At Baftas
TV Awards Blogs
Life On Mars Blogs
Ashes To Ashes Blogs

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1

FT on April 21, 2008 at 7:08 pm
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Still, I reckon that the panel got quite a few things right. At least Peep Show won best sitcom (finally). That said, I reckon that Life on Mars is a truly excellent show, and agree that John Simm’s face was rather devastating. Did you notice how his bleak mood seemed to have continued into his presentation of a later award?
2

Sasha Loncar on April 21, 2008 at 10:52 pm
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Hi Ian,
I was away for a while and all that I can say that this Bafta didn’t make a good welcoming party. I never watched serial The Street, I don’t even know what channel is on, this is not in the bad way, but I do consider my self as a TV drama serial fanatic and there for I really don’t get it how I missed it???
Anyway, point is that I doubt that they have such a devoted and grand fan base as Life on Mars / Ashes to Ashes, and I cannot believe that every year Bafta constantly closing their ears not willing to hear the only right and final judges of any art form, Audience.
They keep missing the pulse that is coming from the people, ordinary people, who after all are the consumers that keep “show to go on”.
I spent half a time flicking to watch The Aviator, that is how much I was…let’s say disappointed. I honestly think that if Bafta don’t start following the trends and keep insisting in using steam engine in the time of the super fast trains, they will lose one thing that they take for granted – first the audience trust and then audience itself.
3

daphne on April 21, 2008 at 11:05 pm
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It’s understandable that John wasn’t over the moon, as he stood there with the BAFTA someone else was going to get for filming a couple of documentary hours with no acting involved – after he had acted himself to a shadow throughout two punishing years in Life on Mars. (And didn’t win last year or even get a nomination this year.)
He is a great gentleman and did a nice job under the circumstances. But I fear Janet might be right about the tomato…and I can only assume that the jury must have decided to give WATCHING Cranford a miss. There is no other explanation for leaving it off the winner’s list. It was filled with exceptional individual performances and so beautifully adapted as well.
Thanks for blogging for us Ian – even when the news is shocking we like to get your take on it.
4

Dominic on April 22, 2008 at 10:58 am
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When I watched Life on Mars, as much as I loved it I had the feeling it would be ‘one of those shows’, phenomenally popular with audiences yet snubbed at awards ceremonies. I guess this makes it TV’s version of The Shawshank Redemption.
It baffles me that such a brilliant actor as John Simm has never won a best actor award of any kind. What a slap in the face it must be to not even be nominated.
5

Chris on April 22, 2008 at 11:39 pm
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After last year’s snub i never expected Life on Mars to be given a bafta. Wouldn’t worry about it though, at the end of the day it doesn’t matter what the critics think, its the audience that really count. Life on Mars captured the public’s imagination and this will not change just because they haven’t won a bafta.
6

Nancy on April 24, 2008 at 11:54 am
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Agree with all you said except the bit about The Street deserves all the awards it gets. For me, it was glum, dour, and completely overwrought. I loved this show the first time round — when it was called Clocking Off. I’m thinking of entering the world of television. I’m going to write and produce a programme about glum northerners and cast it with “serious”, glum northern actors and it’ll rain a lot. Someone will accidentally kill someone else. Maybe there’ll be some trouble down mill. I can smell the BAFTA now!
7

Ian Wylie on April 24, 2008 at 12:38 pm
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Hi Nancy – although they originate from the same part of the world, The Street the first time round was called…The Street. Clocking Off was a different show with different writers and cast, in what is now viewed as another TV era.
However disappointed we are about the the lack of Bafta recognition for Life On Mars (not to mention Phil and John), I think it’s unfair – and inaccurate – to shunt The Street into the “glum northerners” corner. Not all the actors involved were from the north, and the writing, storylines and performances were outstanding. Just a shame, as Sita Williams said, that both The Street and Life On Mars couldn’t have both won.
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Nancy on April 24, 2008 at 9:06 pm
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I was being facetious in my comment about The Street being Clocking Off. I realise they are separate shows, but they occupy the same, yes, “glum notherners” corner of TV to me. I thought The Street was overrated and derivative. But that’s why God created vanilla and chocolate.
9

Ian Wylie on April 25, 2008 at 7:48 am
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Apologies Nancy. Personally, I found plenty of humour in The Street alongside the “glum” stuff – but your comment about vanilla and chocolate is spot on!