Adolescence favourite Stephen Graham breaks down amid co-star’s emotional BAFTAs 2026 speech

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Stephen Graham, who created and stars in the show Adolescence, was visibly emotional and crying while his co-star, Christine Tremarco, accepted an award at the 2026 BAFTA TV Awards.

The show ‘Adolescence’ was filmed in single, unbroken shots for each episode. It features Owen Cooper, a new actor, as Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old student who is arrested because the police suspect him of killing his classmate, Katie.

The Netflix series quickly became a global phenomenon, sparking conversations everywhere – from family dinners to online forums and even political debates.

The show received widespread praise from both viewers and critics, culminating in a successful night at the BAFTA TV Awards 2026. It earned a total of 12 nominations, and won awards including best limited drama, with Stephen Graham named best leading actor, and Ashley Walters and Owen Cooper and Christine Tremarco recognized for their supporting roles.

The show received two BAFTA Television Craft Awards, with Owen Cooper and Christine Tremarco both winning in their respective fields.

Tremarco gave a heartfelt acceptance speech when receiving her award, moving Stephen Graham and his wife, Hannah Walters, to tears.

  • Read more: BAFTA TV Awards 2026 winners: Full list of winners

I was so touched watching Tremarco’s speech! She was absolutely lovely, starting with a sweet ‘Oh, my goodness,’ and then expressing how incredibly grateful she was to BAFTA. You could just feel how honored she was to be up there holding the award – it was a truly special moment.

I’m incredibly honored to be recognized during this exciting time. I want to especially thank Hannah Walters and Stephen Graham, and I’m so grateful for our lasting friendship.

The camera focused on Stephen and Hannah in the crowd, who were clearly touched by what she said and were wiping tears from their eyes.

She went on to express her gratitude, thanking Jack Thorne, our incredibly talented director Phil Bantini, and the amazing young actors Owen and Emily. She also thanked the entire cast, with a special mention to Ashley and Fay.

To the incredible team – thank you! This achievement is a celebration for all of us. I’m especially grateful to my agent, Jack Collins, and to my family and friends for their unwavering support. And a special dedication to my sister, Jane – this is for you. Thank you all so much.

Owen Cooper, who began acting on the show at age 14, won the award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Jamie.

When he began his speech on stage, he thanked his cast and family, and said he would always cherish the experience.

You know, I was really struck by something he said. He quoted John Lennon, and it totally resonated with me. He said, basically, that you can’t achieve anything if you don’t first have the imagination to picture it. It’s such a simple but powerful idea!

I believe the key to success is really simple: you need to be passionate about something, have a big dream, and, of course, appreciate The Beatles. Thank you!

As a huge TV fan, I was really excited to see the BAFTA nominations! Stephen Graham absolutely dominated this year – his show ‘Adolescence’ racked up twelve nominations, and ‘A Thousand Blows’ got another seven. That means he’s leading the pack with the most nominations overall at the 2026 awards. It’s fantastic to see his work getting so much recognition!

Authors

Phoebe Kowhai BarnesFreelance Writer

Phoebe Kowhai Barnes is a freelance writer specializing in pop culture and entertainment for TopMob. Before that, she was a Senior Assistant Editor at The Tab, where she oversaw their local team. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Nottingham.

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Tilly PearceFreelance Writer

Tilly Pearce is a TV journalist who writes about a wide variety of shows, from reality TV like Love Is Blind to science fiction series like Fallout. She’s a highly qualified journalist, holding NCTJ Gold Standard accreditation, and has experience working as a deputy editor at both Digital Spy and Daily Express US.

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2026-05-10 22:36