Emmy-winning and BAFTA-nominated television producer and director Krishnendu Majumdar has been announced as the new chair of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) just as the nominations for the 2020 Television Award were unveiled.
Majumdar becomes the first Global Indian to be appointed to the prestigious role in BAFTA's 73-year history and the youngest chair in 35 years.Born in South Wales to Bengali parents who arrived in the UK from India in the 1960s, Majumdar's father was a GP who worked for the National Health Service (NHS) for over 40 years.
“I want BAFTA to be at the heart of rebuilding the industry post-Covid. It is vital to ensure that we support people of all backgrounds,races and genders. Diversity and inclusion are crucial for the lifeblood of BAFTA, and we will continue to be a leader for real change across our industry,” said Majumdar.
Majumdar co-founded the independent production company Me + You Productions in 2012, alongside Richard Yee. Since then, Majumdar has produced the critically-acclaimed Dominic Savage drama series 'I Am' for Channel 4 and the International Emmy-winning comedy 'Hoff The Record'. Majumdar was also a'showrunner on the BAFTA-nominated global hit franchise 'An Idiot Abroad'.
His appointment comes in the week when BAFTA's Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards were unveiled. Sky Original mini-series 'Chernobyl' leads with 14 nominations, followed by seven for the Netflix hit 'The Crown'.
Other nomination highlights include:
Six nominations for 'Fleabag' and 'Giri/Haji'
Five nominations for 'His Dark Materials' and 'The Virtues'
Four nominations for 'Killing Eve', 'Sex Education' and 'Top Boy'
Despite the ceremony being postponed due to the pandemic lockdown, the annual celebration of television will go ahead in July in a virtual ceremony.
The nominations for the public-voted Virgin Media Must-See Moment are open for votes:
Coronation Street: The Death of Sinead Osbourne
Fleabag: Confessional scene
Game of Thrones: Arya kills the Night King
Gavin and Stacey: Nessa proposes to Smithy
Line of Duty: John Corbett's Death
Love Island: Michael recouples after Casa Amor