Danny Dyer stunned viewers at the BAFTA TV awards on May 11, when his acceptance speech for Best Male Comedy Performance was heavily edited by the BBC after he used multiple swear words live on stage. The actor, recognized for his role in Mr. Bigstuff, delivered a passionate and unfiltered address that prompted network censors to intervene, ensuring only a muted and trimmed version made it to air.
As Danny Dyer took to the podium, he kicked off his speech with heartfelt words, saying,
“What a touch! Comedy performance. I thought my acting was so bad it was funny. I want to thank Sky for giving our show a shot…,”
before uttering a phrase that was only partly heard as, “Fucking hell, I’m choked up.” The broadcast immediately cut or muted sections containing Dyer’s strong language, a decision made evident as his emotions ran high in front of the crowd.
Throughout his speech, Danny Dyer did not hold back. He dedicated the award to Ryan Sampson, his fellow actor and the show’s writer, joking,
“One of the greatest things to come out of Rotherham – that’s not saying much. But one of the best actors this country’s ever produced, I’m telling you. Never done the same thing twice. Which is not something I can say.”
Reflecting on the collaboration, he added,
“He wrote this part for me, so you know… I’m getting choked up again,”
with another expletive quickly cut from the version seen by viewers at home.
In a final, edited flourish, Danny Dyer gave a shout-out to his daughters Sunnie and Dani, declaring,
“I’ve done it girls, I’ve fucking done it!”
This, too, was heavily edited for television. Following the speech, host Alan Cumming addressed the audience, saying,
“I’ve been asked to apologise for the naughty language there.”
Major wins of the night included Industry’s Marisa Abela for Leading Actress and Baby Reindeer’s Jessica Gunning for Best Supporting Actress, with Ruth Jones and Joe Lycett also picking up major honors. The event’s coverage made Danny Dyer’s BAFTA speech a focal point of conversation, raising questions about live broadcasting, on-air censorship, and the unpredictable energy of award shows. The incident is expected to spark wider debate on how such moments are handled on television in the future.
