After a stellar six Emmy wins just last year, the acclaimed Netflix series “Baby Reindeer” is set to shine again, topping the nominations list at the upcoming BAFTA TV and Craft Awards with an impressive eight nods. This award season, it's gunning for the prestigious titles of Limited Drama, Leading Actor for Richard Gadd, and Support Actress for both Jessica Gunning and Nava Mau. Notably, Mau’s nomination marks a historic milestone as she becomes the first openly transgender nominee for a BAFTA TV Award.

Trailing closely behind “Baby Reindeer” are ITV’s “Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office,” Disney+’s Jilly Cooper adaptation “Rivals,” and Apple TV+’s espionage thriller “Slow Horses,” each racking up six nominations. Not to be overlooked, the IRA drama “Say Nothing” and the BBC documentary “Life and Death in Gaza” both secured four nominations as well.

Among the performance nominees, 21 out of 44 have received their first BAFTA TV nominations. This new class includes veteran actors like Jonathan Pryce (“Slow Horses”) and Marisa Abela (“Industry”), alongside the emerging talent of Nicola Coughlan (“Big Mood”).

These nominations come at a make-or-break moment for the UK TV industry, with local broadcasters finding it increasingly challenging to finance high-quality drama projects, particularly those with distinctively British narratives. The producer of “Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office” recently admitted that making the drama under the current financial pressures is a daunting task. Likewise, the director behind the much-adored “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light,” which has also earned nominations in key categories, revealed that its financing was only possible because the lead actor Mark Rylance took a substantial pay cut.

The BAFTA TV Awards ceremony is set to occur on May 11 at London’s iconic Royal Festival Hall. This year’s nominations highlight not only the amazing array of talent but also the struggles faced by the industry in maintaining its creative edge amidst financial constraints.

With such fierce competition and a host of groundbreaking nominees, all eyes will certainly be on “Baby Reindeer” and its rivals as the awards night approaches! Don't miss what promises to be an exciting battle for the BAFTAs this year.