Comedian Brendan O’Carroll led the Irish winners at last night’s BAFTA Awards in London as he scooped the Situation Comedy prize for ‘Mrs Brown’s Boys’.
The Dublin-born actor brought his family on stage to accept the award for the comedy series, which is centred around Dublin mother-of-five Agnes Brown (played by O’Carroll) and her dysfunctional family and neighbours.
‘Mrs Brown’s Boys’ was a ratings success when it first aired on RTÉ in 2010 and subsequently aired on UK television where it was also well received. It went on to win an IFTA in 2012 in the Entertainment Programme category, and earned O’Carroll a BAFTA nomination for best Male Performance this year.
The remaining cast members are made up of O’Carroll’s family and close friends, including his wife Jennifer Gibney, his daughter Fiona O’Carroll and his son Danny O’Carroll.
Also triumphant on the night was Irish-born comedian Graham Norton who won Best Entertainment Performance for his BBC chat show ‘The Graham Norton Show’. Norton has been on the BBC since 2007, with the show moving from BBC Two to BBC One in 2009. Norton was on hosting duties at the Eurovision Song Contest for the BBC, so comedian Jack Whitehall and actor Melissa George accepted the award on his behalf.
Fellow Irish comedian Dara O’Briain hosted the awards at the Royal Opera House in London, where Irish actor Andrew Scott (Saving Private Ryan) also picked up the Best Supporting Actor award for his role as Jim Moriarty in BBC series ‘Sherlock’. Scott previously studied drama at Trinity College in Dublin, before enrolling at the Abbey Theatre.
Irish descendant Monica Dolan, whose parents are from Dublin and Wexford, picked up the Best Supporting Actress award for television film ‘Appropriate Adult’. The film focuses on the lives of Fred and Rosemary West, and stars Dominic West (The Wire) who picked up the Leading Actor award on the night.
Other Irish nominees include Stephen Rea, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in BBC Two series ‘Shadow Line’, and Dara O’Briain, who was nominated in the Entertainment Performance category for ‘Mock The Week’.
It was announced last week that Bray-born O’Briain will return to host the 11th season of the popular panel show on June 14. The BBC will celebrate the show’s 100th episode, airing on July 5.
Other winners at the BAFTA’s 2012 included Rolf Harris, who picked up the BAFTA Fellowship award, and BBC Entertainment and Events’ production team for its coverage of the royal wedding.
Earlier this month at BAFTA's separate Craft Awards ceremony, Irish-born colourist Aidan Farrell took home a BAFTA Special Award for his contribution to the film and television industry.
