David Tennant, 53, brands award ceremonies 'fabricated nonsense' - days before hosting Bafta Awards

WATCH HERE: David Tennant pays tribute to Michael J. Fox during last year's Baftas

X: @JamesMelville
Marcus Donaldson

By Marcus Donaldson


Published: 11/02/2025

- 00:02

Updated: 11/02/2025

- 00:20

Tennant was himself nominated for Best Male Comedy performance in 2024 for Good Omens

David Tennant has rubbished the value of award ceremonies in a damning admission just days ahead of hosting the Baftas.

The 53-year-old Scottish actor is returning to host his second consecutive ceremony later this week.


Tennant was himself nominated for Best Male Comedy performance in 2024 for Good Omens but missed out to Mawaan Rizwan in Juice.

Despite facing the disappointment while hosting, that was not Tennant’s main regret of the night.

The 53-year-old admitted he reflected on a moment where actress Cate Blanchett appeared to take offence to a joke he made.

He actor recalled panicking at the sight of her looking “a little bit p****d off” at his jibe.

David Tennant

Tennant was reflecting on his previous turn hosting the awards

Getty

“I was just trying to be witty and make a point about how you’ve got lots of prizes, and we love you,” he pleaded to an imagined Blanchett while speaking with Radio Times.

Tennant has now committed to learning from the experience, emphasising that the awards are supposed to be “kind”.

His style for this year’s awards will avoid “picking fights” or making guests feel “uncomfortable”.

“If I have a style, it’s only that,” he declared.

Bafta trophy

Tennant blasted awards as being "fabricated nonsense"

Getty

Despite his commitment to being more compassionate, Tennant also slammed the concept of awards as “fabricated nonsense”.

While conceding that winning an award like a Bafta may be the highlight of someone’s career he added they ultimately don’t matter.

Explaining his belief, Tennant said actors undertake work that they are proud of and work they are not.

In his mind, awards function as a means to attract attention to the roles an actor takes on that might not receive attention otherwise.

Receiving the award also gives performers an opportunity to do more of the work they want to do.

“They mean things professionally to people, but I don’t suppose they change their life,” Tennant added.

David Tennant

The actor lost out on a Best Comedy Actor award in 2024

Getty

Despite his stance, the actor is perhaps still thinking about his own bid to take home a prestigious British award.

"It’s nicer to win one than to not,” he concluded somewhat soberly.

You may like