LORRAINE Kelly was overcome with emotion this evening as she was presented with the special award at the BAFTA TV Awards.

The 64-year-old watched on a film about her impressive TV career played out and Succession star Brian Cox paid tribute to the “queen of daytime TV”, who has hosted ITV chat show Lorraine for the past 30 years.

Lorraine was delighted with her win
4

Lorraine was delighted with her winCredit: Getty

The star hugged Brian Cox
4

The star hugged Brian CoxCredit: Getty

It was a very emotional evening for the star
4

It was a very emotional evening for the star
He described Kelly as having “infectious humour, boundless enthusiasm and genuine, genuine kindness”.

During her moving speech, Lorraine said “don’t pull up the ladder” to those from working-class backgrounds to break into the TV industry.

“I suppose if I’ve learned anything at all over the past 40 years, it’s what’s the point of having all that experience if you don’t actually share it, and if you don’t actually pass it on, and help other people,” she said.

“So I would just say don’t pull up the ladder, please make it possible for kids like me from my background, from a very working class Glasgow background, rise the same from Dundee.

“We’ve had amazing opportunities, but I just want everyone to have those opportunities the same that we did.”

It comes after she said it is now “almost impossible” for those from working-class backgrounds to break into the industry, calling for more opportunities outside of London – having been told she would never make it on the screen due to her Scottish accent.

Kelly thanked her mother and father for her “work ethic”, as well as her “fantastic” husband Steve Smith and her daughter Rosie, who is pregnant with her first child.

“And my daughter Rosie who is working on the most exciting production. She’s having a baby and making us grandparents and I’m so proud – this means the world,” she said of the award.

Bafta hosts Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganatha kick off show with series of shock gags
She added that she was “honoured” that viewers of the show “think of me as a pal – they think of me as their friend”.

And in perhaps a nod to the critism she has received over her working schedule, she said: “I’m on the telly tomorrow but I’m going to celebrate tonight.”

Despite the award, she was still trolled online by those who think she doesn’t works enough – and is replaced by Christine Lampard too much.

BAFTA TV Awards 2024 winners

Best Supporting Actress

WINNER: Jasmine Jobson, Topboy, Netflix

Best Supporting Actor

WINNER: Matthew MacFadyen, Succession, Sky Atlantic

Best Entertainment

WINNER: Strictly Come Dancing, BBC One

Comedy Entertainment Programme

WINNER: Rob & Romesh Vs, Sky Max

Short Form 

WINNER: Mobility, BBC Three

Specialist Factual

WINNER: White Nanny, Black Child, Channel 5

Factual

WINNER: Lockerbie, Sky Documentaries

Reality Series

WINNER: Squid Game: The Challenge, Netflix

Sports coverage 

WINNER Cheltenham Festival Day One, ITV1

Male Performance in a Comedy

WINNER: Mawaan Rowan, Juice, BBC Three

Female Performance in a Comedy

WINNER: Gbemisola Ikemelo, Black Ops, BBC One

Limited Drama

WINNER: The Sixth Commandment, BBC One

Current Affairs

WINNER: This World: The Shamima Begum Story, BBC Two

News Coverage

WINNER: Sky News, Israel and Hamas at War

International

WINNER: Class Act, Netflix

Daytime TV

WINNER: Scam Interceptors, BBC One

Soap

WINNER: Casualty, BBC One

Factual Entertainment

WINNER: Celebrity Race Across the World, BBC One

TV moment of the Year

WINNER Happy Valley’s Final Showdown, BBC One

Single documentary

WINNER: Ellie Simmonds – Finding my Secret Family – ITV1

One person raged:  “Lorraine can’t turn up to her own show half the time, but she’s straight onto the stage at #BAFTATVAwards for her award. Wonder if she’s gonna share it with Ranvir and Christine Lampard ?????”

A second said: “I love how Lorraine has to confirm that she will be on the tele tomorrow because she has so much time off.”

While a third added: “Waiting for ChristineLampard or RanvirSingh to jump on stage and claim the award from Lorraine.”

Lorraine thanked her husband, daughter and her viewers
4

Lorraine thanked her husband, daughter and her viewersCredit: Getty