A Harry Potter star has slammed the Bafta awards after attending the ceremony.
The biggest night in British TV was held in London on Sunday night, with shows like Happy Valley, Top Boy and The Sixth Commandment walking away with several awards each.
However, the focus of one of the documentaries that missed out on an award has now taken aim at the organisers.
David Holmes, 40, was nominated in the single documentary category for the project The Boy Who Lived.
For the first six films of the Harry Potter franchise, David was the stunt double for Daniel Radcliffe however in 2009 he broke his neck and was left partially paralysed after an accident during the filming of a stunt test for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
The documentary that was nominated at the Baftas told the story of his life, but the award went to Ellie Simmonds: Finding My Secret Family.
The day after the event David congratulated the Paralympian, 29, but also pointed out what he labelled an ‘unacceptable’ fact about the awards.
‘The BAFTAs last night was a fun adventure. My documentary was nominated but unfortunately didn’t win. I want to congratulate Ellie Simmonds and her team for the well deserved win and also say congrats to every one at the event,’ he posted alongside a series of snaps taken on the night,
He continued: ‘It’s still unacceptable that I was the only stunt performer in the room and if I’d of won I’d have said something on stage about my department being overlooked.
‘Honestly it was fun but unless BAFTA starts recognising stunts I wouldn’t do it again. I didn’t see any other department members who were willing to risk their lives and bodies for the sake of storytelling and I just sat in a room too cold for a quadriplegic surrounded by people from a whole industry who don’t think stunt performers deserve a category.’
His sentiments were supported by many.
‘Stunt performers definitely deserve a category! Your documentary was exceptional- heartwarming, interesting and inspiring!! Bravo and thank you for sharing the intimate and hard moments of your story and life, and how you are triumphing and making a difference in the face of adversity,’ user Matilda commented on his Instagram post.
‘Completely agree with you that stunt performers deserve their own category at awards. I watched an interview where Ryan Gosling and David Leitch were saying the same (promo for The Fall Guy). It’s 2024, shamefully late in the day to still not recognise the hard work and risk to life that stunt performers put in every single day,’ Sarah added.
Even actress Joely Richardson weighed in, writing: ‘Stunt performers deserve a category !!!!’
David’s documentary marked the first time he’d ever spoken about his accident, 14 years after it happened.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk, he said it was ‘heartbreaking’ that he couldn’t return to set and ‘see Harry to the end’.
‘It was heartbreaking for me that I couldn’t go back to work and see Harry to the end,’ David said.
However, he added that he quickly came to terms that his ‘risky’ job made him ‘own (what happened) very quickly’.
‘In all things in life, you’re either a survivor or a victim, and I chose and still choose to be a survivor, despite all the challenges that I live with, and might possibly be in my future.’
Metro.co.uk has contacted the Baftas for comment.
Hot Property Picks from Metro
This former council house in London is on the market for £3,500,000
Not spotting these common property issues could end up costing you £40,000
What I Own: My partner and I bought our own home before we were 30 — through a loophole
'We went on TV to help us get onto the property ladder – here's what we learned'
I pay £395 a month to live in an underground doomsday bunker
The Bafta Television Awards are streaming on BBC iPlayer.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : EastEnders star Bobby Brazier kisses TV star at Baftas afterparty after denying co-star romance
MORE : MasterChef star reveals reason why fancy London restaurant closed down
MORE : The Traitors winner Harry Clark reveals why he still hasn’t spent his £95,000 prize money
Share this with