‘Blisteringly original storytelling that excelled in every area’
Dealing with the twin themes of sexual assault and race, I May Destroy You announced writer and star Michaela Coel as a global force to be reckoned with.
The innovative 12-parter, produced by Various Artists and Coel’s Falkna Productions, and based on the 2018 MacTaggart lecturer’s own experiences, has already picked up reams of nominations and is a worthy winner in an incredibly competitive field.
The judges were effusive in their praise, citing “phenomenal writing paired with raw and believable performances” and “blisteringly original storytelling that excelled in every area”.
“For a drama to deal so powerfully with the dual issues of race and consent was an extraordinary achievement,” said one judge. “That this same drama had at its heart one of the most powerful performances of a generation sets it ahead of what was an incredibly strong field.”
The series follows Arabella, a young woman who seeks to rebuild her life after being raped in the first episode. Each subsequent instalment subverts traditional storytelling methods.
I May Destroy You is one of the most influential and brave dramas of the past decade, and looks set to catapult the careers of actors Paapa Essiedu and Weruche Opia to new heights.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
I Hate Suzie
Bad Wolf for Sky Atlantic
Lucy Prebble/Billie Piper’s subversive and somewhat autobiographical take on 21st century fame wins a richly deserved Highly Commended from our judges. Piper’s performance as the troubled Suzie Pickles is immense as she moves through the gears of shock, denial, fear, shame, bargaining, guilt, anger and acceptance with ease.
SHORTLISTED
This haunting retelling of the story of serial killer Dennis Nilsen hit a peak viewing figure of almost 10 million for ITV as lead David Tennant demonstrated why he is one of the nation’s most-popular actors. The result was one of ITV’s finest scripted series of the past few years.
Normal People
Element Pictures for BBC3
Room director Lenny Abrahamson’s beautiful adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel captivated its audience from start to finish and has firmly kickstarted the careers of its young leads – Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones.
Quiz
Left Bank Pictures for ITV
Writer James Graham brilliantly captured the story of the ‘Coughing Major’ and gave a sense of importance to this bizarre tale that fascinated the nation two decades ago. The story was along by an impeccable ensemble cast.
The End Of The F**king World
Clerkenwell Films/Dominic Buchanan Productions for Channel 4
It’s rare for a second series to make this shortlist but this C4/Netflix comic-book adaptation is a rare show. Charlie Covell’s global hit dialled up the intrigue and irreverence and brought with it a host of compelling fresh characters, with Naomi Ackie outstanding as Bonnie.
Award sponsored by HelionPartners
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