Glenda Jackson wins best actress at digital Scottish Baftas

Glenda Jackson was among those to be honoured at a special socially-distanced Bafta Scotland awards night.

Jackson was honoured as best actress for her role as Maud in STV Productions’ drama Elizabeth Is Missing.

The ceremony, which included two outstanding contribution awards and a new audience award, was presented digitally on Tuesday night.

Host Edith Bowman led a socially-distanced, closed-studio show alongside actor and comedian Sanjeev Kohli and other guest presenters.

Jackson’s character is an elderly woman living with dementia who struggles to piece together a double mystery.

She said she was interested in the role as conditions such as Alzheimer’s was something she had been “banging on about for quite some time”.

The actress said: “Let’s hope these particular illnesses are going to go higher up the political stepladder so we can tackle it in a comprehensive and national way.”

Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwar picked up the best actor gong for his role as Eric in the hit Netflix TV show.

He said: “Thank you so much for this award – it means the world to me to receive this award and be recognised in Scotland, my body home.

“It means the world to play Eric and be part of of a show that’s so empowering and inclusive.”

Meanwhile, Outlander picked up the inaugural audience award while Guilt received the best TV scripted gong, a series which director Robert McKillop was also honoured for.

Other awards went to Astronauts for gaming, Being Gail Porter for best documentary, Greg Davies: Looking For Kes in the specialist factual category, as well as A Country Life For Half The Price in features.

Betty was honoured in the short film and animation category. Scots Squad: The Chief’s Election Interviews won best entertainment, while the War Next Door: Scotland and the Troubles received a gong for news and current affairs.

The best factual director award went to Matt Pinder for his work in Murder Trial: The Disappearance of Margaret Fleming, which also picked up best factual series.

Paul Laverty was awarded in the writer category award for Sorry We Missed You, while entertainer Stanley Baxter received the Outstanding Contribution to Film & Television gong and Phyllis Ironside was honoured for Outstanding Contribution to Craft.