BAFTA Awards: Tennant ropes in stars, from Martin Sheen to Judi Dench, for opening act

‘Doctor Who’ star David Tennant has made a star-studded opening monologue at the BAFTAs, with a little help from his celebrity friends, reports ‘Variety’. The 2024 show kicked off at the Royal Festival Hall in London, with Tennant re-enacting his hit pandemic show ‘Staged’ alongside Michael Sheen. The premise was that Sheen wants Tennant to dog-sit his pup Bark Ruffalo on the same night as the BAFTAs.

Tennant attempted to pass the dog on to his friends, including Stanley Tucci, Himesh Patel, Tom Hiddleston, and Judi Dench. But with no one willing to help, Tennant showed up in person at the venue with Bark Ruffalo in tow. On stage, Tennant joked that his monologue was more than three and a half hours long and predicted that the evening would go “smoother than Ken’s chest”, referencing the plastic doll played by Ryan Gosling in ‘Barbie’.

He also compared the audience’s black-tie attire to a scene in ‘Saltburn’ but hoped the end of the night wouldn’t be reminiscent of a certain movie’s final scene, which sees a nominee stripping off. This year’s awards marked Tennant’s first time hosting the BAFTAs, following last year’s host Richard E. Grant.

Speaking to ‘Variety’ before the ceremony, Tennant revealed that he had taken notes from the recent Golden Globes, where host Jo Koy’s jokes did not land well. “Don’t diss Tay Tay,” Tennant said, “I live in a house of Taylor Swift fans, so I know better.”

Overall, Tennant’s performance drew laughs and set the tone for the evening’s festivities. The star-studded event was a success, with Tennant’s opening monologue adding a touch of humor and camaraderie to the prestigious awards show.

The BAFTAs saw a mix of humor, glamour, and celebration, with Tennant’s hosting debut being a highlight of the evening. And with the star’s comedic timing and charm, it was a memorable start to one of the most anticipated nights in the British film and television industry.