It was a landslide for Adolescence at the 2026 BAFTA TV awards and… anyone else have a spot of déjà vu? Don’t worry, there’s a simple reason the Netflix series is still picking up trophies. Let’s get one thing clear: Adolescence was one of the best TV show debuts of 2025 and it deserves its flowers (the reason I say “one of the” is because Pluribus is also up there). The series follows Stephen Graham’s Eddie Miller and his 13-year-old son Jamie (Owen Cooper), who murdered his classmate Katie. Graham co-created the show with Jack Thorne, while Philip Barantini directed it using one continuous take. As well as impeccable cast performances, the series deftly tackled serious issues like the manosphere’s increasing influence on teen boys. So, it came as no surprise that when awards season rolled around, Adolescence won big, bagging a whopping nine accolades at the 2025 Emmys. A similar situation unfolded over the weekend at the 2026 BAFTA (British Academy Film Awards) TV event, where the Netflix series broke a record for most wins in a single year. While fans are applauding Adolescence for its achievements, plenty of viewers are asking the same question: How is it still up for awards? No, Adolescence hasn’t secretly been airing for two years straight Credit: Netflix The answer is pretty simple: the BAFTAs ceremony only acknowledges titles that have been released the year prior, and this year’s TV edition is Adolescence’s last awards season haul. It probably feels like a long time because the Netflix drama has already dominated other major ceremonies, including the 2025 Emmys, making it seem like the show has been sweeping awards season forever. But unlike the Oscars or Golden Globes, TV awards bodies all use slightly different eligibility periods. In this case, shows had to have been released between January 1st and December 31st, 2025. And since Adolescence dropped in March 2025, it perfectly fits the bill. That hasn’t stopped fans from questioning it, especially given how Cooper has grown significantly since he appeared in the series. One wrote on X, “I feel like they’ve been awarding that one season of Adolescence for at least two years.” I was ready to defend the lengthy awards season for Adolescence & explain how they can still be winning but then I saw this & my brain isn’t processing pic.twitter.com/dCPyyt1KxU — Ruchi (@rfruitwa) May 10, 2026 Another said, “Not to be that guy but I feel like Adolescence came out SO long ago and has been on the go for about three award seasons now, HOW is it still eligible. They deserve their awards, don’t get me wrong, but it’s boring now.” A third quipped, “The year is 2049: Adolescence has just won its 1000th ‘Best Limited Series’ award at the BAFTAs. There is still only a single series.” What exactly did Adolescence win at the 2026 BAFTA TV Awards? Adolescence took home four awards at the event, including the best limited drama title, as well as acting prizes for Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, and Christine Tremarco. Here’s the full list of its record-breaking run: Best Limited Drama – Adolescence Best Leading Actor – Stephen Graham Best Supporting Actor – Owen Cooper Best Supporting Actress – Christine Tremarco For all the latest film and TV updates and hot takes, like our Facebook page. Featured image credit: Netflix/Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock Post navigation Next storyPrevious story
