Viewers of the 2026 Baftas were left confused after host Alan Cumming appeared to be heckled during his opening monologue.
Celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B Jordan, and Emma Stone arrived at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday night (22 February) to honour the best in British film.
Hosting this year’s ceremony is Alan Cumming who took over the mantle following a two-year stint by fellow Scotsman David Tennant.
Cumming appeared to run into trouble early on, however, when he was “heckled” twice during his opening monologue. The Traitors US star forged ahead seemingly without paying any attention to the disruption.
At the live event, which took place hours before the televised broadcast, Cumming had explained to the audience that such disturbances might occur due to John Davidson, who was in attendance and who has severe Tourettes.
A Tourette Syndrome campaigner, Davidson is the subject of the Bafta-nominated drama I Swear, starring Best Actor nominee Robert Aramayo, who went on to win the EE Rising Star prize for his performance.
“John Davidson is the most remarkable man,” Aramayo said in his acceptance speech.
Cumming then took the opportunity to explain the situation, this time in a televised moment in which he said: “The tics you heard tonight are involuntary […] we apologise if you were offended.”
His early explanation of Davidson’s Tourettes, however, did not make it into the broadcast, leaving viewers at home initially confused over the apparent heckling.
“I thought the heckling was planned but it appears not,” wrote one person on X. “Oh dear, jokes that aren’t landing and the heckling,” said someone else.
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Follow along with all live updates from the Baftas at The Independent’s live blog here, and all the winners here.
