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Champagne Taittinger and Villa Maria Toast the Winners at the Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards in 2018

14th May 2018: Last night the Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards in 2018 took place at the Royal Festival Hall, where television royalty gathered to hear news of the winners.  As Official Champagne and wine partners to BAFTA, Champagne Taittinger and Villa Maria added sparkle and elegance to the evening.

Some of the top awards of the night included Peaky Blinders for Drama Series and Murdered for Being Different for Single Drama. Two awards were won by Bafta Breakthrough Brits, This Country written by Daisy May Cooper and Three Girls, for which Molly Windsor, won leading actress. Sean Bean won the BAFTA for Leading Actor for his portrayal of a priest at the centre of a troubled community, in the drama series Broken.

Attendees toasted the winners at the ceremony with Champagne Taittinger, Official Champagne Partner to BAFTA, which was served to guests throughout the evening from special BAFTA labelled Magnums and 75cl bottles. Taittinger is one of the few premium Champagne houses to remain owned and actively managed by the named family. 

As Official Wine Partner to BAFTA, Villa Maria, New Zealand’s most awarded winery for over 30 years, provided the wines for the Award ceremony dinner. Guests enjoyed a vegetarian starter followed by a delicious roast spring lamb cannon and maple shoulder, which were paired with Villa Maria’s Private Bin Pinot Noir 2016 and Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2017, the UK’s number one selling Sauvignon Blanc. The glamorous guests were then invited to relax in the Villa Maria wine bar at the after-party.

John Motson OBE was honoured with the Special Award on the night in recognition of his outstanding contribution to sports broadcasting. This followed the announcement he will retire from the BBC after a legendary 50-year career. John Motson OBE, who is much loved by the nation’s football fans, celebrated the award with close friends and family at a lunch hosted by Villa Maria at the Mondrian London last week.

Kate Adie OBE was presented with the Fellowship, the highest honour awarded by the Academy, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to television. Kate has shown immense bravery throughout her career as a journalist reporting from hostile environments and Jane Lush, Chair of BAFTA describes Kate as ‘a true trailblazer and very deserving of the Fellowship’.