The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences gives out the Primetime Emmy Awards each September in what is, for many nominees, the biggest night of the TV calendar. In fact, given that we are in a golden age of TV and negotiating our way through a bigger and better crop of small-screen entertainment than at any time in history, they’re arguably just the biggest night of the calendar for many people, full stop. So who are the UK based runners and riders this year? Well, we’ve gathered them here – and it’s an astonishingly strong line-up.
Over the course of its run, The Crown has racked up over 80 Emmy nominations across the Primetime and Creative Arts categories (the latter includes things like costume design, casting and cinematography). Its final season is heavily nominated this year, where it will compete for Outstanding Drama Series. Director Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot) has been recognised for his direction of the very final episode, while show creator Peter Morgan (The Queen) is nominated for his writing, alongside co-writer Meriel Sheibani-Clare (Marple, Poirot), for the 8th episode of the season, Ritz. That is a flashback that focuses on the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret on VE Day (a story also addressed in the charming film A Royal Night Out, fact fans) but also covers the death of Princess Margaret, played in later life by Lesley Manville (Back to Black, Mrs Harris Goes to Paris). Manville is nominated as Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series, where she’ll compete against her co-star Elizabeth Debicki (The Night Manager, Widows), who played Princess Diana to memorable effect. Jonathan Pryce (One Life, The Two Popes) is up for Outstanding Supporting Actor too, as the late Prince Phillip. And of course the show’s leads are nominated. Dominic West (Colette, Pride) will compete as Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series for his role as Prince Charles, while the show’s final actor to play Queen Elizabeth II, Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), is nominated as Outstanding Lead Actress.
Nor is that the only British show that’s heavily featured this year. Slow Horses, based on Mick Herron’s novels, is a spy thriller that may not be as glamorous as a James Bond or The Man From U.N.C.L.E., but it’s utterly gripping in its portrayal of the grubby business of uncovering – or hiding – critical information. That’s why the show is nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, with director Saul Metzstein (Suffragette, Ripper Street) getting a nod for the third season opener, and showrunner Will Smith – no, not that guy; this one worked on The Thick of It – nominated for writing the third episode. Naturally, there are acting nods too. Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour, Mank, Nil By Mouth) is up for Outstanding Lead Actor in A Drama series for his role as Jackson Lamb, and his colleague Jack Lowden (Fighting With My Family, Dunkirk) is nominated for his supporting role.
The Crown
Slow Horses
Another UK production has made a very strong showing of nominations under the Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series banner, and that’s Baby Reindeer. The deeply dark comedy-drama is based on Scottish comedian Richard Gadd’s experiences as a victim of stalking, which he turned into first a one-man show and now a stunning series. The show itself is nominated, and then Gadd has a nomination for his writing, as well as Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie. Not bad for a guy who had previously been confined to pretty small screen roles, though to be fair some were in hit shows like Humans and Outlander. His co-stars Tom Goodman-Hill (The Imitation Game) and Jessica Gunning (The Outlaws) are nominated; the latter competing against another co-star, Nava Mau. And London-based director Weronika Tofilska (Love Lies Bleeding) has a nod for her directing to boot.
That is, however, far from the only UK talent who will be waiting to find out if they’re a winner on the night. Matt Berry, known for Toast of London and The IT Crowd, already has arguably the best voice in showbusiness. Now he’s nominated as Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series for his role in vampire mockumentary What We Do In The Shadows. Dominic West and Gary Oldman will have heavyweight competition in the Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series category from Idris Elba (Yardie, Luther), who’s nominated against them for the thrilling Hijack. Will one of the two co-stars of The Wire be able to beat the Oscar-winning Oldman? It’s quite a match-up!
Baby Reindeer
What We Do In The Shadows
Meanwhile, Richard Gadd will have to fight for his Outstanding Actor In A Limited Series against the ever-entertaining Tom Hollander (Breathe, The Night Manager), who’s recognised for his extraordinary performance as Truman Capote in Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans. And both will have to get past Irish star Andrew Scott, who follows an astonishing performance in the film All of Us Strangers with a nod for his performance in the title role of Ripley. As long as none of them goes for a boat ride with Ripley, they’re in with a shot.
Juno Temple, the British star of TV like Little Birds and Ted Lasso as well as films like The Other Boleyn Girl, is nominated as Outstanding Lead Actress In An Anthology Series for her role in the hit anthology show Fargo. More recent breakthrough Jonathan Bailey (Testament Of Youth, Broadchurch, Bridgerton) gets a nod as Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Series for his work in Fellow Travellers, a searing drama about two gay men trying to sustain a secret relationship throughout the tumult of American mid-century politics. Given Bailey’s own quiet activism, it’s an important role for him.
Ripley
Fargo
Wrapping up the UK hopes this year are two creators. Guy Ritchie, the director who basically reinvented the British crime drama with Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, can now cross “get an Emmy nomination” off his To Do list. He’s recognised this year for his direction on The Gentlemen, the aristocrats-doing-crime TV spin-off from his film of the same name. And, surprising no one, the great satirist Charlie Brooker (Brass Eye, Nathan Barley) is nominated for his writing on the “Joan Is Awful” episode of Black Mirror. It’s an award he has won twice before, as well as the three wins that Black Mirror picked up as Outstanding Television Movie, so you can’t bet against him.
The Gentlemen
Black Mirror
We’ll have to wait until September 15 to find out who actually takes home the prizes, of course, but that should give us all just long enough to catch up on any of the nominated work by this talented bunch. Will The Crown take home the metaphorical crown once more? Will the Slow Horses prove fast enough after all? It’s good to see an awards race this rich in quality work, whoever wins.
