The limited series drama “Trespasses,” based on Louise Kennedy’s 2022 novel about the Northern Irish Troubles, was among the most-nominated titles for this year’s BAFTA Television Awards. 

The nominations for the 2026 awards ceremony were announced March 24 and included a whopping 124 individual programs, 15 of which were adapted from books and plays. 

“Trespasses,” which starred Lola Petticrew, Tom Cullen and Gillian Anderson, racked up six nominations, including Director: Fiction for Dawn Shadforth, Writer: Drama for Ailbhe Keogan, Limited Drama, Costume Design, Photography & Lighting and Production Design. 

Also up for Limited Drama is “What It Feels Like for a Girl,” the biographical coming-of-age story about a teen exploring life, sexuality and drugs in the early 2000s. Journalist Paris Lees received a nomination for Writer: Drama for adapting her autobiographical story first published in 2021. The series also received nominations for Leading Actor for Ellis Howard and Scripted Casting. It was also one of six titles nominated for the P&O Cruises Memorable Moment Award, which is voted upon by the public. 

A miniseries about the Pan Am 103 bombing over Scotland in 1988, titled “Lockerbie: A Search for Truth,” received four nominations, including Leading Actor for Colin Firth, Costume Design, Make Up & Hair Design and Sound: Fiction. Based on Jim Swire and Peter Biddulph’s 2021 book, “The Lockerbie Bombing: A Father’s Search for Justice,” it tells the story of Swire’s quest to seek justice for the death of his daughter, Flora, in the bombing. 

Also receiving four nominations was the adaptation of musician Nick Cave’s “The Death of Bunny Munro.” It’s a dark comedy about a man played by Matt Smith who connects with his son (Rafael Mathé) during a road trip after his wife’s suicide. Smith and Mathé received acting nods, while Nick Cave and Warren Ellis were nominated for Original Music: Fiction. The miniseries also received a nomination for Titles & Graphic Identity. 

The Gary Oldman-led series “Slow Horses,” based on the series of thrillers by Mick Herron, earned nominations for Editing: Fiction, Make Up & Hair Design, Sound: Fiction and Writer: Drama for Will Smith. 

Another Herron adaptation, “Down Cemetery Road,” starring Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson, received a nomination for Supporting Actor for Fehinti Balogun. 

Coming in with two nominations each were “Prisoner 951,” based on Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Richard Ratcliffe’s book “A Yard of Sky” (Leading Actress for Narges Rashidi and Editing: Fiction); and “I Fought the Law,” based on Ann Ming’s book “For the Love of Julie” (Leading Actress Sheridan Smith and Limited Drama). 

Six adaptations picked up a nomination each: “Horrible Science” for Children’s: Scripted; “The Scarecrows’ Wedding” for Children’s Craft Team; “Just Act Normal” for Emerging Talent: Fiction for the play’s author, Janice Okoh; “Amadeus” for Make Up & Hair Design; “Mussolini: Son of the Century” for Original Music: Fiction; and “The Witcher” for Special, Visual & Graphic Effects. 

The BAFTA Television Awards are spread across two productions. The BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises will air May 10 and will be hosted by “Taskmaster” host Greg Davies, and the BAFTA Television Craft Awards with Samsung OLED will take place April 26 with host Maisie Adam. 

About the writer

Danielle Haynes is the co-founder and co-editor of Booked & Screened, covering book-to-screen adaptations, film and TV development. She’s embarrassed that she had no idea until this moment that Joe Wright directed a TV series (“Mussolini: Son of the Century”).