‘Disgraceful!’ Bernard Cribbins’ Bafta tribute omission angers viewers

Dominique Hines
·2 min read
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Viewers have slammed Bafta for not including the late Bernard Cribbins from their ‘stars that we lost’ feature in their awards ceremony on Sunday night.

Every year, the independent British arts charity pays tribute at the glitzy event to the stars who died over the past 12 months.

But Cribbins, a legend of stage and screen, who died last July at age 94, was left out of the in memoriam slot, which did feature the likes of Anne Heche, Olivia Newton-John, William Hurt and Robbie Coltrane.

Viewers were left stunned and bemused by the omission and took to Twitter, including his Railway Children co-star Sally Thomsett who was one of the first to voice her criticism.

“Have watched The BAFTA on TV and I’m absolutely appalled that the fabulous Bernard Cribbins was not mentioned in stars that we’ve lost within the last year," she wrote on Twitter.

“They should be disgusted with themselves, words fail me.”

Responding to her tweet, which garnered thousands of likes, one person replied: “If anybody straddled the different worlds of entertainment and ages – it was the multi-faceted and talented Bernard Cribbins.

“Talk about a national treasure, I can’t believe he wasn’t mentioned.”

Another added: “Oh Sally. I am gobsmacked by this unfortunate omission. The BAFTA people should be thoroughly ashamed and contrite.”

The filming of The Railway Children on location at Oakworth in West Yorkshire with Bernard Cribbins and actresses, Sally Thomsett (left) and Jenny Agutter (PA)
The filming of The Railway Children on location at Oakworth in West Yorkshire with Bernard Cribbins and actresses, Sally Thomsett (left) and Jenny Agutter (PA)

A third said: “Considering the contribution Bernard made to UK entertainment over all those years, too, then yes, Sally, it’s absolutely disgraceful and extremely disrespectful to the memory of the late, great Bernard Cribbins.”

BAFTA responded to the criticism in a statement which read: “With limited time in our broadcast it isn’t possible to honour all those who have sadly passed away.

“Bernard features in our online records… and given his influential work in TV, he will be considered for inclusion in the next Television Awards broadcast.”

Cribbins’ career started in the early 1950s right up to his death last year.

Cribbins, pictured reading an excerpt from Winnie The Pooh, worked in the industry up until his death (PA Wire)
Cribbins, pictured reading an excerpt from Winnie The Pooh, worked in the industry up until his death (PA Wire)

Along with The Railway Children, he also appeared in Carry On films, Dr Who, Fawlty Towers, Coronation Street and, more recently, Old Jack’s Boat.

He was also the voice of The Wombles and starred in a string of other movies and TV shows.

Cribbins was also a successful singer with two Top 10 hits in the 1960s with Hole In The Ground and Right Said Fred.

He died on July 27 last year, just under a year after his wife Gillian passed away.