The BBC series adaptation of Nigerian-British author Bernardine Evaristo’s seventh novel Mr Loverman has been nominated for the 2025 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) for Television in three categories!

Lennie James, of Trinidadian descent, (who also plays Morgan Jones in The Walking Dead series) has been nominated in the Lead Actor category for his portrayal of Barrington Jedidiah ‘Barry’ Walker, the protagonist of Mr Loverman. This would be James’s second accolade for this role; he won Best Leading Actor at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards in March 2025.

Two other members of the cast have received 2025 BAFTA nominations. Nigerian-British actor Ariyon Bakare (known for playing Ben Kwarme in the BBC soap opera Doctors) has been nominated for the Supporting Actor category. Nominated for the Supporting Actress is Sharon D. Clarke (known for playing  Lola Griffin in the medical drama Holby City and Grace O’Brien in Doctor Who).

This groundbreaking series explores themes of identity, love, aging, and sexuality in Britain’s Caribbean community. Born in Antigua and now a Londoner, protagonist Barry Walker leads a double life as a devoted husband and father while also maintaining a long-term secret relationship with his best friend, Morris. Mr Loverman has received a lot of praise for its heart-wrenching portrayal of repressed homosexuality in immigrant communities, a topic that remains under discussed.

The series first premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival this June and was broadcasted on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK on October 14. It is not yet available to stream internationally.

In recognition of the nomination, BAFTA shared an interview with some of the cast and crew of Mr Loverman including director Hong Khaou, writer Nathaniel Price, and nominees Lennie James, Sharon D. Clarke, and Ariyon Bakare, speaking about the experience of bringing the novel to life and the significance of this kind of representation. “A whole generation that weren’t able to talk about their love,” reflects James. Bernardine Evaristo also appears in the interview, reflecting on the process of experiencing the adaptation of her novel. Check out the full clip from BAFTA below:

The winners of the BAFTAs will be televised on Congratulations to the nominees, Evaristo, and the entire cast & crew of Mr Loverman! The main Bafta Television Awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 11.