The Stage

Branagh’s Wallander triumphs at Bafta Craft Awards

Published Monday 18 May 2009 at 10:48 by Matthew Hemley

Kenneth Branagh drama Wallander was the big winner at last night’s British Academy Television Craft Awards, walking away with four trophies.

The BBC drama took the Baftas for Original Television Music, Photography and Lighting - Fiction/Entertainment, Production Design, and Sound - Fiction/Entertainment.

Its success helped the BBC to score more wins than any other broadcaster, with the Corporation taking ten Baftas in total.

Peter Moffat, who wrote BBC1 drama Criminal Justice, took the Bafta for best writer at last night’s event, held to honour the work of those people who work behind the scenes of a production and which took place at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane in London.

Moffat beat competition from Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong, the writers of Peep Show, Doctor Who’s Russell T Davies and Simon Block, who penned Channel 4’s The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall.

However, The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall was successful elsewhere, with its director, Rowan Joffe, taking the Bafta for best director.

He beat Alex Holmes, who was behind BBC2’s House of Saddam, Otto Bathurst, who directed Criminal Justice, and Niall MacCormick, who led the crew of Margaret Thatcher - The Long Walk to Finchley.

In Make Up and Hair Design, Christine Walmesley-Cotham won for BBC1’s Miss Austen Regrets, while the Bafta for Costume Design was awarded to Michele Clapton for Channel 4’s The Devil’s Whore.

In Interactive Creative Contribution, E4 zombie horror Dead Set was triumphant, while Aardman Animations, which makes shows such as A Close Shave and A Matter of Loaf and Death, was presented the Special Award.

Last night’s ceremony was hosted by Alexander Armstrong. Presenters included Stephen Fry, Marc Warren, Ralf Little and Max Beesley.

A full list of winners can be found at www.bafta.org.