Bafta TV Awards to be held virtually on July 31

Bafta TV Awards 2020 had been due to take place on 17 May, but will now happen on 31 July. The nominations will be announced next Thursday.

The British Academy Television Awards will be broadcast from behind closed doors after being delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The honours are normally handed out at a glittering ceremony attended by the country’s biggest TV stars. But this year, Richard Ayoade will host from a closed studio and winners will give acceptance speeches virtually.

In a statement, actor, presenter Ayoade said: “I am as surprised as you are that this is still going ahead”.

Many of this year’s major film and TV awards – including the Oscars, Bafta Film Awards and National Television Awards – took place before the virus began to wreak havoc across the globe.

They will be followed by the British Academy Television Craft Awards on July 17.The ceremony will airlive on BBC One.