Martin Freeman, 53, shares a giggle with girlfriend Rachel Benaissa, 30, as French actress kicks off her heels after the BAFTA TV Awards

Daily Mail​

12-05-2025

was in good spirits as he departed the BAFTA TV Awards alongside French actress girlfriend Rachel Benaissa on Sunday.
The actor, 53, appeared happier than ever as he shared a giggle with his glamorous partner, 30, as they exited The Royal Festival Hall.
Martin, who missed out on the Lead Actor gong to Lennie James, was spotted chatting to Gavin and Stacy star Rob Brydon.
The couple looked to have had a good evening as Rachel kicked off her heels and waited for their car barefoot.
Earlier in the night, Martin and Rachel put on a loved-up display as they cosied up for a sweet photo.
Martin looked handsome as ever in a black two-piece suit which he layered over a crisp pale blue shirt.
Martin finished his sophisticated look with a modest dickie bow, shiny leather black shoes as he posed with Rachel on the star-studded red carpet.
As usual, the Sherlock star was supported by his other half, Rachel, who looked classy in an ankle-length red dress.
Her one-sleeved garment featured an elegant scarf which draped over her shoulder and showcased her unique arm tattoos.
She added inches in her frame as she slipped into a pair of gold strapped sandals and chunky gold hoops.
Martin was up for Lead Actor at the ceremony for his part as troubled police response officer Chris Carson in BBC One hard-hitting drama The Responder.
The award-winning BBC crime drama The Responder has been shelved despite having a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score and Hollywood talent.
The Responder has aired two successful series since it first aired in 2022 and is based in Liverpool.
Martin who had been demoted from inspector and struggled to keep a grip on his mental health as he dealt with work and his personal life.
However, insiders have revealed that the popular crime show, created by Tony Schumacher, will not be made into a third season just yet, according to The Sun.
A source told the publication: 'The BBC are really invested in the series but due to schedules the show has had to be put on ice.
'Tony is currently working on another project but there is a hope a third series will be made at some point in the future.'
Martin and Rachel come across as a rock solid showbiz couple, despite keeping their relationship so low key that it's easy for fans to forget they're together.
The pair have been in a relationship for around five years, following his split from his ex-partner of 16 years, Amanda Abbington, who admits she was a 'mess' following their breakup in 2016, which came about after they 'just couldn't live with each other anymore'.
While it's unclear when Martin found love again with Rachel, the couple were first spotted together in 2020 and she appears to have formed a strong bond with his children Joe and Grace.
Martin went public with his romance with the Toulouse-born actress in 2021 but the pair are fiercely private about their relationship and she recently deleted her Instagram account which gave fans a handful of glimpses into the couple's relationship.
However, Rachel is happy to play the supportive partner and she's often by Martin's side on the red carpet to promote his film and TV projects.
She added inches in her frame as she slipped into a pair of gold strapped sandals and chunky gold hoops
2025 BAFTA TV AWARD WINNERS AT A GLANCE
Drama Series - Blue Lights (BBC One)
Limited Drama - Mr Bates vs the Post Office (ITV1)
International - Shogun (Disney+) - WINNER
Scripted Comedy - Alma's Not Normal (BBC Two)
Entertainment - Would I Lie To You? (BBC One)
Entertainment Performance - Joe Lycett, Late Night Lycett (Channel 4)
Strictly Come Dancing: Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell's Waltz to You'll Never Walk Alone (BBC One)
Factual Entertainment - Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour (BBC Two)
Factual Series - To Catch a Copper (Channel 4)
Specialist Factual - Atomic People (BBC Two)
Live Event Coverage - Glastonbury 2024 (BBC Two)
News Coverage - BBC Breakfast: Post Office Special (BBC One)
Single Documentary - Ukraine: Enemy In The Woods (BBC Two)
Leading Actress - Marisa Abela, Industry (BBC One)
Leading Actor - Lennie James, Mr Loverman (BBC One)
Supporting Actress - Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
Supporting Actor - Ariyon Bakare, Mr Loverman (BBC One)
Female Performance in a Comedy - Ruth Jones, Gavin & Stacey (BBC One)
Male Performance in a Comedy - Danny Dyer, Mr Big Stuff (Sky Comedy)
Reality - The Jury: Murder Trial (Channel 4)
Soap - EastEnders (BBC One)
Daytime - Clive Myrie's Caribbean Adventure (BBC Two) - WINNER
Current Affairs - State of Rage (Channel 4)
Shortform - Quiet Life (BBC Three)
Sport - Paris 2024 Olympics (BBC Sport)
Children's Non Scripted - FYI Investigates: Disability and Me (Sky Kids)
Children's Scripted - CBeebies As You Like It at Shakespeare's Globe (CBeebies)
The 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises saw a slew of celebrities take home awards celebrating excellence in TV on Sunday, at the glitzy ceremony held in the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall.
Mr. Bates vs The Post Office led the big winners of the evening, scoring two more awards to add to the ground-breaking ITV show's ever-growing list of accolades.
However, it was the BBC who came out on top, scoring 17 wins in total after a year of triumphant programming, in the ceremony - presented this year by actor Alan Cumming.
While Netflix smash Baby Reindeer and the climactic Gavin & Stacey Christmas special also won key awards.
Widely expected to claim much of Sunday evening's spotlight, Mr. Bates vs The Post Office picked up an early award for Limited Drama.
Accepting the gong from Russell Tovey and Daniel Mays, producer Patrick Spencer said: 'We could only film this because Polly Hill at ITV saved us from getting cancelled and this story only had the impact it did because the people who watched it stood up as one and demanded action with such rage, that the government had no choice but to respond.
'Our show didn't change the law, the people of this nation did. They showed in their response to Mr. Bates vs The Post Office that our country cannot abide liars and bullies.'
He added: 'May it be a warning to those who are supposed to have our backs, that they better not abuse their power.
Mr. Bates vs The Post Office led the big winners of the evening, scoring two more awards to add to the ground-breaking ITV show's ever-growing list of accolades (Toby Jones, Monica Dolan and Alan Bates pictured)
'When accepting this award, we would like to go on record that being trusted by the post-masters to tell their story has been the greatest privilege of our lives.'
ITV went on to claim a Special Award, presented by Baroness Floella Benjamin - for its work in commissioning Mr. Bates vs The Post Office.
Urging Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government to rush through arranged compensation payments for affected former postal employees, ITV boss Kevin Lygo said: 'Hurry up and pay these people what they are due.'
The night began with Jessica Gunning collecting the award for Best Actress after winning accolades for her portrayal of crazed stalker Martha in Richard Gatt's hugely successful Netflix drama Baby Reindeer.
Danny Dyer then forced the BBC to do some quick editing, after he let slip several swear words during his acceptance speech for best Male Performance in a Comedy.
The actor, 47, won his first BAFTA for his role as Lee in Mr. Bigstuff, and allowed his excitement to get the better of him in his typically expletive-laden speech.
After first saying: 'F***ing hell, I'm choked up', the EastEnders star then shared a sweet and hilarious tribute to Mr. Bigstuff writer and his co-star Ryan Sampson, which led him to turning the air blue once more.
Danny said: 'But I got to dedicate this to Ryan Sampson. One of the greatest things to come out of Rotherham. Which is not saying much.
'But one of the best actors this country's ever produced, I'm telling you. Never done the same thing twice. Which is not something I can say.
'He wrote this part for me, so you know... I'm getting choked up again, f**k me. So you won this for me mate, I really appreciate it, thank you so much.'
He finished by addressing his two daughters Dani, 28, and Sunnie, 18, who were sat in the audience and took the opportunity to swear one last time, declaing: 'Girls, Sunnie and Dani. I've done it girls, I've f***ing done it!'
However, the BBC were less than impressed by the star breaking the watershed, with host Alan being forced to say: 'I've been asked to apologise for the naughty language there.'
And when the moment was aired just an hour later, the broadcaster made sure to trim down Danny's speech and cut out all of his curses.
Alan later accidentally let slip a swear word of his own, while presenting the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship award to journalist Kirsty Wark.
The Scottish star suffered an unfortunate blunder by mistakenly introducing the award as the 'b*****d fellowship', and upon realising his error, the mortified actor let loose yet another swear, as he sheepishly muttered: 'Oh f*** me!'
The Fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed by BAFTA upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, games or television.
It was a special night for Ruth Jones, who accepted the award for female Performance in a Comedy after playing the iconic Nessa for a final time in December's Gavin & Stacey finale
Kirsty was honoured for her unwavering dedication and unmatched legacy in the world of news and current affairs broadcasting.
It was also a special night for Ruth Jones, who accepted the award for female Performance in a Comedy after playing the iconic Nessa for a final time in December's Gavin & Stacey finale.
Accepting the award from Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall, she said: 'I really wasn't expecting this, so I wanted to thank the wonderful cast.
'Huge thank you to the BBC, such a fantastic institution which I am so proud to have worked with so many times.'
Turning to her writing partner, Ruth added: 'The person I would like to thank most is my dear, kind and talented friend James Corden, with whom I have shared this astonishing journey for 17-years and without whom Vanessa Shanessa Jenson would not have existed.'
Hinting at the potential of a new TV project with James, she said: 'I love you James, I love writing with you. Long may it continue.'
However the show suffered disappointment in the P&O Cruises Memorable Moment category, with blind comedian Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell's Strictly Come Dancing waltz beating Smithy's wedding to the accolade.
Popular BBC show Would I Lie To You claimed the Entertainment Programme accolade (pictured L-R David Mitchell, Rob Brydon and Lee Mack)
Scooping one of the biggest awards of the night, British star Marisa Abela won the Leading Actress accolade for her starring role in BBC hit Industry.
Collecting her award, the tearful actress said: 'I've been filming Industry for about six years now and (production company) Bad Wolf and HBO, the fact that they let us carry on after season one is mental.'
She also said she booked the BBC series, about a group of young finance graduates, in her first year of drama school and said the role of Yasmin 'changed my life' as she has gone on to play the late singer Amy Winehouse in the film Back To Black.
Over in the category for Leading Actor, Rivals star David Tennant - one of the favourites for the award - lost out to Lennie James for his starring role in BBC show Mr Loverman.
A shocked Lennie admitted he hadn't prepared a speech, as he 'didn't think this was coming my way'.
It was the second award of the night for Mr Loverman, with Lennie's co-star Ariyon Bakare winning the Supporting Actor gong earlier that night and giving an emotional speech that moved much of the audience.
Popular BBC show Would I Lie To You claimed the Entertainment Programme accolade, with stars Lee Mack, Rob Brydon and David Mitchell causing the audience to crack up with their usual witty banter.
David said: 'We have been nominated eight times but this is the first time we have won. They actually abolished the category we were nominated for last year and so we thought next year we would be nominated in news, maybe a short-form drama on something that Prince Andrew has done.'
Robert Rinder and Rylan Clark also found themselves among the winners, with BBC show Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour winning the Factual Entertainment award.
Elsewhere Joe Lycett beat Stacey Solomon, Romesh Ranganathan, Claudia Winkleman, Graham Norton, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly to the Entertainment Performance award for Channel 4 show Late Night Lycett.
Meanwhile, Glastonbury won its first TV BAFTA in an astonishing 33-years for the BBC's extensive Live Event Coverage of the event at Somerset's Worthy Farm.
EastEnders also got in on the act, with the long-running BBC flagship claiming the award for Best Soap as it celebrates its milestone 40th anniversary.
The broadcasting giant claimed another gong courtesy of BBC Breakfast, with the morning show winning its first ever TV BAFTA for their Post Office Special.
The glitzy ceremony also saw powerful musical performances from pop stars Jessie J and Tom Grennan, marking Jessie's first TV performance in six years.
And award-winning concert violinist and social media sensation Esther Abrami performed Apple Tree for the In Memoriam tribute to the TV stars that passed away this year.