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Adolescence scoops four top prizes at BAFTAS

Laura HardingPA
Stephen Graham has won his first BAFTA TV win after eight nominations. (EPA PHOTO)
Camera IconStephen Graham has won his first BAFTA TV win after eight nominations. (EPA PHOTO) Credit: AAP

Adolescence has made BAFTA history, completing its winning streak through awards season, taking four of the top prizes at Britain's TV awards.

The hit Netflix drama, about a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a classmate, claimed four British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards on Sunday - the most won by a single TV series.

Each episode of the series was shot in a single take and screened to international acclaim for addressing the online incel culture affecting young boys.

It was named best limited drama, while stars Stephen Graham, Christine Tremarco and Owen Cooper all won awards at the ceremony at London's Royal Albert Hall.

Graham was named best leading actor, Tremarco won the supporting actress prize and Cooper took supporting actor.

Graham, who co-wrote the script with Jack Thorne, has won a string of awards for his performance in the Netflix series, including an Emmy and a Golden Globe, but had never won a BAFTA.

"I might take my time. I've been nominated eight times and this is the first time I've won," he said.

"Nice one BAFTA, this is lovely."

"We're not digging holes, we're not digging ditches, we're not saving lives, but we have the opportunity to tell the human condition, and we have the obligation to tell beautiful stories and we need to keep that going."

Cooper, 16, who has also proved unbeatable through awards season, won the first prize of the night.

"A year ago, I was presenting an award and now I'm collecting one. This is a bit mad," he said.

"In the words of John Lennon, you won't get anything unless you have the vision to imagine it.

"So in my eyes, I think you only need three things to succeed: one, you need an obsession; two, you need a dream; and three, you need The Beatles."

Tremarco was named best supporting actress for playing Cooper's mother.

The show also won two prizes at the BAFTA Craft Awards last weekend for directing and sound.

The leading actress BAFTA was won by Narges Rashidi for her portrayal of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in Prisoner 951.

She dedicated the prize to the British-Iranian woman who was imprisoned in Tehran, and her family.

"Your resilience, your dignity, your love through impossible circumstances have moved us all," she said.

"Your courage will stay with me for the rest of my life. This is for you."

EastEnders was named best soap, while US comedy The Studio was named best international.

TV chef and former Bake Off judge Dame Mary Berry was honoured with the BAFTA fellowship.

"I'm really bowled over by this accolade. I'm a cook, I'm a teacher, so I feel very honoured to be given BAFTA's highest award."

She reflected on her career with the BBC and said the corporation was "the broadcaster that we must cherish".

Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, the documentary commissioned and then shelved by the BBC over impartiality concerns and later aired by Channel 4, won the current affairs BAFTA.

Executive producer Ben de Pear referred to the fact the BBC airs the ceremony on delay, saying: "Finally, just a question for the BBC: given you dropped our film, will you drop us from the BAFTA screening later tonight?"

Grenfell: Uncovered was awarded the BAFTA for single documentary, and director Olaide Sadiq used her acceptance speech to say the victims of the fire "deserve justice".

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