Alan Cumming’s stint as this yr’s Bafta Awards presenter has come underneath fireplace following what some followers deemed to be a “painful” opening monologue.
The 61-year-old Traitors USA host was in command of proceedings on Sunday evening as Hollywood’s greatest names descended on the Royal Competition Corridor in London’s Southbank Centre.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After One other topped this yr’s nominations with 14 nods, whereas shut behind with 13 nominations was Ryan Coogler’s vampie action-thriller Sinners.
Elsewhere, Marty Supreme and Hamnet every acquired 11 nominations, whereas Frankenstein secured eight nods. I Swear, the biographical drama chronicling Scottish Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson, picked up 5 nominations.
Baftas 2026: Alan Cumming’s opening speech fell flat with followers at residence
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It was left to Mr Cumming to introduce every of this yr’s movies throughout his opening gambit.
Usually, the presenter will use this chance to poke enjoyable at these nominated or present a joke. Nonetheless, when it got here to Mr Cumming, many felt he missed the mark.
Mr Cumming started by reflecting on this yr’s greatest movies, describing it as an amazing yr for “daddy points” movies.
He proceeded to ridicule every movie for being “anxiety-ridden”, earlier than joking he was on the verge of a “nervous breakdown” watching every of the flicks.
Baftas 2026: Alan Cumming joked about US politics throughout his opening speech
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Mr Cumming stated that watching Marty Supreme was like a “core exercise” and complained that Hamnet’s story of kid dying was removed from straightforward watching.
His mockery wasn’t reserved only for the highly-nominated movies both, as when Mr Cumming turned to this yr’s animated choices, he could not resist a political dig.
“Are you aware the plot of Zootropolis 2? Lies, corrupt leaders, poisoning, and persecution of a race. Too quickly, Disney, come on,” he quipped.
Taking the prospect to swipe on the Trump administration throughout the pond, Mr Cumming went on: “It’s virtually as if, I don’t know, there are occasions occurring in the actual world which can be influencing filmmakers.
Baftas 2026: Alan Cumming on the pink carpet earlier than the present
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“Anybody know what I’m speaking about? No. Ring any bells for you Individuals, significantly?”
The jibe drew a reasonably flat response from the auditorium, together with a barely bemused look on the face of One Battle After One other star Teyana Taylor.
In an try to attract the viewers in, Mr Cumming then prompt that the state of present affairs warranted a joint “primal scream”.
“I believe it’d be a good suggestion if all of us simply had one massive collective primal scream. Prepared?” he stated.
Baftas 2026: Alan Cumming set free a ‘primal scream’
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Mr Cumming then bellowed out a scream on stage, as a number of members of the star-studded crowd joined in.
“That felt higher, didn’t it?” the Scottish presenter requested earlier than transferring on with the remainder of his monologue.
Sadly for Mr Cumming, the remainder of his set appeared to fall flat with each viewers members and TV viewers watching at residence.
He joked concerning the B in Michael B Jordan’s identify standing for “Buffy,” given his muscular physique and his Sinners character’s prowess at vampire slaying.
Alan Cumming’s Bafta monologue was extensively panned
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Mr Cumming additionally took half in a weird airline-esque announcement skit. Actually, the largest cheer Mr Cumming acquired on the night was when he highlighted how Hamnet was essentially the most nominated movie by a feminine director of all time.
Taking to X quickly after Mr Cumming’s monologue aired, a number of viewers slammed the contents of his opening speech.
“Alan Cummings already dying on his a**e… #Baftas,” one X person critiqued moments into Mr Cumming’s monologue.
In the meantime, a second was eager to see Mr Cumming changed: “#Baftas want it was David Tennant presenting…”
Baftas 2026: Alan Cumming was internet hosting after taking up the Bafta TV Awards final yr
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“Oh pricey, jokes that aren’t touchdown. #BAFTAs,” a 3rd identified whereas a fourth stated: “Alan Cumming is making me cringe already #BAFTAs.”
Elsewhere, a fifth merely put: “This monologue is painful #Baftas.”
“Yeah let’s convey David Tenant again that is terrible #BAFTAs,” one other weighed in, whereas a seventh brutally put: “WTAF is happening on the #BAFTAs? #AlanCummings is AWFUL and no person is laughing.” (sic)
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