British Academy Television Award for Best Actor

This is a list of the British Academy Television Awards for Best Actor. The Best Actor award was initially given as an "individual honour", without credit to a particular performance, until 1962, when Rupert Davies won for his performance in Maigret.
Since 1970, nominees have been announced in addition to the winner. The Actor category was split into Leading Actor and Supporting Actor starting in 2010.
Michael Gambon holds the record of most wins in this category with four, including three consecutive wins, followed by Robbie Coltrane with three, all of them also being consecutive. Additionally, Alan Badel, Peter Barkworth, Sean Bean, Alec Guinness, Mark Rylance, John Thaw, and Ben Whishaw, all have received the award twice. Benedict Cumberbatch has received the most nominations for this award with six, followed by Coltrane with five.

Winners and nominees

1970s

Year	Actors	Work
1970	-	-
1970	Edward Woodward	Callan
1970	John Alderton	Please Sir!
1970	Colin Blakely	Son of Man, The Way We Live Now
1970	Arthur Lowe	Dad's Army
1971	-	-
1971	Keith Michell	The Six Wives of Henry VIII
1971	Michael Bryant	The Roads to Freedom
1971	Anthony Hopkins	The Great Inimitable Mr. Dickens, Uncle Vanya, Hearts and Flowers, Danton
1971	Michael Jayston	Charles Dickens, Mad Jack, Beethoven
1971	Freddie Jones	Germinal/Omnibus: John Clare "I Am..."/Sweeney Todd/Uncle Vanya/Menace: The Straight And Narrow
1972	-	-
1972	John Le Mesurier	Traitor
1972	Alfred Burke	Public Eye
1972	Frank Finlay	Casanova
1972	Kenneth Haigh	Search for the Nile, Man at the Top
1973	-	-
1973	Anthony Hopkins	War and Peace
1973	Michael Bryant	The Duchess of Malfi, Colditz
1973	Nicol Williamson	The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
1974	-	-
1974	Frank Finlay	The Adventures of Don Quixote; Candide; The Death of Adolf Hitler
1974	Michael Crawford	Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
1974	Bernard Hepton	The Adventures of Don Quixote, Colditz
1974	Laurence Olivier	Long Day's Journey Into Night
1975	-	-
1975	Peter Barkworth	Crown Matrimonial
1975	Michael Bryant	Mr Axelford's Angel
1975	Gordon Jackson	Upstairs, Downstairs
1975	Arthur Lowe	Microbes and Men, David Copperfield
1976	-	-
1976	John Hurt	The Naked Civil Servant
1976	Alan Bates	Plaintiffs and Defendants, Two Sundays
1976	Tony Britton	The Nearly Man
1976	Timothy West	Edward the Seventh
1977	-	-
1977	Derek Jacobi	I, Claudius
1977	James Bolam	When the Boat Comes In
1977	Tom Conti	The Glittering Prizes
1977	Jack Shepherd	Bill Brand, Ready When You Are Mr McGill
1978	-	-
1978	Peter Barkworth	Professional Foul
1978	James Bolam	When the Boat Comes In
1978	Derek Jacobi	Philby, Burgess and Maclean
1978	Robert Powell	Jesus of Nazareth
1979	-	-
1979	Edward Fox	Edward and Mrs Simpson
1979	Tom Bell	Out
1979	Ian Holm	Night School, Flayed, Mirage, The Lost Boys
1979	Bob Hoskins	Pennies From Heaven

1980s

Year	Actors	Work
1980	-	-
1980	Alec Guinness	Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
1980	Robert Hardy	Speed King & All Creatures Great and Small
1980	Leo McKern	Rumpole of the Bailey
1980	Timothy West	Churchill and the Generals; Henry VIII; Crime and Punishment; Timothy West as Beecham
1981	-	-
1981	Denholm Elliott	Gentle Folk; In Hiding; Blade on the Feather; The Stinker
1981	Trevor Howard	The Shillingbury Blowers; Staying On
1981	Leo McKern	Rumpole's Return
1981	Sam Waterston	Oppenheimer
1982	-	-
1982	Anthony Andrews	Brideshead Revisited
1982	Robert Hardy	Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years; Fothergill
1982	John Gielgud	Brideshead Revisited
1982	Nickolas Grace	Brideshead Revisited
1982	Jeremy Irons	Brideshead Revisited
1983	-	-
1983	Alec Guinness	Smiley's People
1983	George Cole	Minder
1983	Bernard Hill	Boys from the Blackstuff
1983	Laurence Olivier	A Voyage Round My Father
1984	-	-
1984	Alan Bates	An Englishman Abroad
1984	Leo McKern	Rumpole of the Bailey; Reilly, Ace of Spies
1984	Ronald Pickup	Orwell on Jura; Waters of the Moon
1984	Martin Sheen	Kennedy
1985	-	-
1985	Tim Pigott-Smith	The Jewel In The Crown
1985	George Cole	Minder
1985	Charles Dance	The Jewel In The Crown
1985	Art Malik	The Jewel In The Crown
1986	-	-
1986	Bob Peck	Edge of Darkness
1986	Alec Guinness	Monsignor Quioxte
1986	Joe Don Baker	Edge of Darkness
1986	Ben Kingsley	Silas Marner
1987	-	-
1987	Michael Gambon	The Singing Detective
1987	Colin Blakely	Drums Along Balmoral Drive
1987	Denholm Elliott	Hotel du Lac
1987	Paul McGann	The Monocled Mutineer
1987	Patrick Malahide	The Singing Detective
1987	David Threlfall	Paradise Postponed
1988	-	-
1988	David Jason	Porterhouse Blue
1988	Kenneth Branagh	Fortunes of War; The Lady's Not for Burning
1988	Ray McAnally	A Perfect Spy; Scout
1988	Robbie Coltrane	Tutti Frutti
1989	-	-
1989	Ray McAnally	A Very British Coup
1989	Alan Bennett	A Chip in the Sugar
1989	Colin Firth	Tumbledown
1989	Ian Holm	Game, Set and Match

1990s

Year	Actors	Work	Character	Network
1990	-	-	-	-
1990	John Thaw	Inspector Morse	Endeavour Morse	ITV
1990	Joss Ackland	First and Last	Alan Holly	BBC One
1990	Alfred Molina	The Accountant	Lionel Ellerman	BBC One
1990	John Gielgud	Summer's Lease	Haverford Downs	BBC Two
1991	-	-	-	-
1991	Ian Richardson	House of Cards	Francis Urquhart	BBC
1991	John Thaw	Inspector Morse	Endeavour Morse	ITV
1991	David Suchet	Agatha Christie's Poirot	Hercule Poirot	ITV
1991	Albert Finney	The Green Man	Maurice Allington	BBC One
1992	-	-	-	-
1992	Robert Lindsay	G.B.H.	Michael Murray	Channel 4
1992	John Thaw	Inspector Morse	Endeavour Morse	ITV
1992	Tom Bell	Prime Suspect	Bill Otley	ITV
1992	Michael Palin	G.B.H.	Jim Nelson	Channel 4
1993	-	-	-	-
1993	John Thaw	Inspector Morse	Endeavour Morse	ITV
1993	Alan Bates	Unnatural Pursuits	Hamish Partt	BBC Two
1993	Brian Cox	The Lost Language of Cranes	Owen Benjamin	BBC Two
1993	Ian Richardson	An Ungentlemanly Act	Rex Hunt	BBC Two
1994	-	-	-	-
1994	Robbie Coltrane	Cracker	Dr. Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald	ITV
1994	Michael Kitchen	To Play the King	The King	BBC
1994	Ian Richardson	To Play the King	Francis Urquhart	BBC
1994	Neil Pearson	Between the Lines	Tony Clark	BBC One
1995	-	-	-	-
1995	Robbie Coltrane	Cracker	Dr. Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald	ITV
1995	Pete Postlethwaite	Martin Chuzzlewit	Montague Tigg	BBC Two
1995	Paul Scofield	Martin Chuzzlewit	Old Martin Chuzzlewitt	BBC Two
1995	Tom Wilkinson	Martin Chuzzlewit	Seth Pecksniff	BBC Two
1996	-	-	-	-
1996	Robbie Coltrane	Cracker	Dr. Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald	ITV
1996	Colin Firth	Pride and Prejudice	Mr. Darcy	BBC One
1996	Benjamin Whitrow	Pride and Prejudice	Mr. Bennet	BBC One
1996	Robert Lindsay	Jake's Progress	Jamie Diadoni	Channel 4
1996	Ian Richardson	The Final Cut	Francis Urquhart	BBC
1997	-	-	-	-
1997	Nigel Hawthorne	The Fragile Heart	Edgar Pascoe	Channel 4
1997	Albert Finney	Cold Lazarus / Karaoke	Daniel Feeld	BBC One / Channel 4
1997	Christopher Eccleston	Our Friends in the North	Dominic 'Nicky' Hutchinson	BBC Two
1997	Peter Vaughan	Our Friends in the North	Felix Hutchinson	BBC Two
1998	-	-	-	-
1998	Simon Russell Beale	A Dance to the Music of Time	Kenneth Widmerpool	Channel 4
1998	Derek Jacobi	Breaking the Code	Alan Turing	BBC
1998	Robert Carlyle	Hamish Macbeth	Hamish Macbeth	BBC One
1998	Tom Wilkinson	Cold Enough for Snow	Hugh Lloyd	BBC One
1999	-	-	-	-
1999	Tom Courtenay	A Rather English Marriage	Roy Southgate	BBC
1999	Robert Carlyle	Looking After Jo Jo	John Joe "Jo Jo" McCann	BBC Two
1999	Timothy Spall	Our Mutual Friend	Mr. Venus	BBC Two
1999	Albert Finney	A Rather English Marriage	Reggie Conyngham-Jervis	BBC

2000s

Year	Actors	Work	Character	Network
2000	-	-	-	-
2000	Michael Gambon	Wives and Daughters	Squire Hamley	BBC One
2000	Aidan Gillen	Queer as Folk	Stuart Alan Jones	Channel 4
2000	Pete Postlethwaite	Lost for Words	Deric Longden	ITV
2000	Timothy Spall	Shooting the Past	Oswald Bates	BBC Two
2001	-	-	-	-
2001	Michael Gambon	Longitude	John Harrison	Channel 4
2001	Steven Mackintosh	Care	Davy Younger	BBC One
2001	Pete Postlethwaite	The Sins	Len Green	BBC One
2001	Ken Stott	The Vice	Pat Chappel	ITV
2002	-	-	-	-
2002	Michael Gambon	Perfect Strangers	Raymond Symon	BBC Two
2002	Alan Bates	Love in a Cold Climate	Matthew Alconleigh	BBC One
2002	David Suchet	The Way We Live Now	Augustus Melmotte	BBC One
2002	Timothy Spall	Vacuuming Completely Nude in Paradise	Tommy Rag	BBC Two
2003	-	-	-	-
2003	Albert Finney	The Gathering Storm	Winston Churchill	BBC
2003	James Nesbitt	Bloody Sunday	Ivan Cooper	ITV
2003	Kenneth Branagh	Conspiracy	Reinhard Heydrich	BBC Two/HBO
2003	Kenneth Branagh	Shackleton	Ernest Shackleton	Channel 4
2004	-	-	-	-
2004	Bill Nighy	State of Play	Cameron Lloyd	BBC One
2004	Christopher Eccleston	The Second Coming	Steven Baxter	ITV
2004	Jim Broadbent	The Young Visiters	Alfred Salteena	BBC One
2004	David Morrissey	State of Play	Stephen Collins	BBC One
2005	-	-	-	-
2005	Rhys Ifans	Not Only But Always	Peter Cook	Channel 4
2005	Benedict Cumberbatch	Hawking	Stephen Hawking	BBC Two
2005	Mark Strong	The Long Firm	Harry Starks	BBC Two
2005	Michael Sheen	Dirty Filthy Love	Mark Furness	ITV
2006	-	-	-	-
2006	Mark Rylance	The Government Inspector	Dr. David Kelly	Channel 4
2006	Denis Lawson	Bleak House	John Jarndyce	BBC One
2006	Rufus Sewell	ShakespeaRe-Told: The Taming of the Shrew	Petruchio	BBC One
2006	Bernard Hill	A Very Social Secretary	David Blunkett	Channel 4
2007	-	-	-	-
2007	Jim Broadbent	Longford	Frank Pakenham	Channel 4
2007	John Simm	Life on Mars	Sam Tyler	BBC One
2007	Andy Serkis	Longford	Ian Brady	Channel 4
2007	Michael Sheen	Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!	Kenneth Williams	BBC Four
2008	-	-	-	-
2008	Andrew Garfield	Boy A	Jack Burridge / Eric Wilson	Channel 4
2008	Tom Hardy	Stuart: A Life Backwards	Stuart Shorter	BBC Two
2008	Matthew MacFadyen	Secret Life	Charlie Webb	Channel 4
2008	Antony Sher	Primo	Primo Levi	BBC Four
2009	-	-	-	-
2009	Stephen Dillane	The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall	Anthony Hurndall	Channel 4
2009	Jason Isaacs	The Curse of Steptoe	Harry H. Corbett	BBC Four
2009	Ken Stott	Hancock & Joan	Tony Hancock	BBC Four
2009	Ben Whishaw	Criminal Justice	Ben Coulter	BBC One

2010s

Year	Actors	Work	Character	Network
2010	-	-	-	-
2010	Kenneth Branagh	Wallander	Kurt Wallander	BBC One
2010	Brendan Gleeson	Into the Storm	Winston Churchill	BBC
2010	John Hurt	An Englishman in New York	Quentin Crisp	ITV
2010	David Oyelowo	Small Island	Gilbert Joseph	BBC One
2011	-	-	-	-
2011	Daniel Rigby	Eric and Ernie	Eric Morecambe	BBC Two
2011	Jim Broadbent	Any Human Heart	Logan Mountstuart	Channel 4
2011	Benedict Cumberbatch	Sherlock	Sherlock Holmes	BBC One
2011	Matt Smith	Doctor Who	The Doctor	BBC One
2012	-	-	-	-
2012	Dominic West	Appropriate Adult	Fred West	ITV
2012	Benedict Cumberbatch	Sherlock	Sherlock Holmes	BBC One
2012	John Simm	Exile	Tom Ronstadt	BBC One
2012	Joseph Gilgun	This Is England '88	Richard Woodford	Channel 4
2013	-	-	-	-
2013	Ben Whishaw	The Hollow Crown	Richard II	BBC Two
2013	Sean Bean	Accused	Simon/Tracie	BBC One
2013	Derek Jacobi	Last Tango in Halifax	Alan Buttershaw	BBC One
2013	Toby Jones	The Girl	Alfred Hitchcock	BBC Two
2014	-	-	-	-
2014	Sean Harris	Southcliffe	Stephen Morton	Channel 4
2014	Jamie Dornan	The Fall	Paul Spector	BBC Two
2014	Luke Newberry	In the Flesh	Kieren Walker	BBC Three
2014	Dominic West	Burton & Taylor	Richard Burton	BBC Four
2015	-	-	-	-
2015	Jason Watkins	The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies	Christopher Jefferies	ITV
2015	Benedict Cumberbatch	Sherlock	Sherlock Holmes	BBC One
2015	James Nesbitt	The Missing	Tony Hughes	BBC One
2015	Toby Jones	Marvellous	Neil Baldwin	BBC Two
2016	-	-	-	-
2016	Mark Rylance	Wolf Hall	Thomas Cromwell	BBC Two
2016	Stephen Graham	This is England '90	Andrew "Combo" Gascoigne	Channel 4
2016	Idris Elba	Luther	John Luther	BBC One
2016	Ben Whishaw	London Spy	Daniel Holt	BBC Two
2017	-	-	-	-
2017	Adeel Akhtar	Murdered by My Father	Shahzad Khan	BBC Three
2017	Babou Ceesay	Damilola, Our Loved Boy	Richard Taylor	BBC One
2017	Robbie Coltrane	National Treasure	Paul Finchley	Channel 4
2017	Benedict Cumberbatch	The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses	Richard III	BBC Two
2018	-	-	-	-
2018	Sean Bean	Broken	Michael Kerrigan	BBC One
2018	Jack Rowan	Born to Kill	Sam Woodford	Channel 4
2018	Joe Cole	Black Mirror	Frank	Netflix
2018	Tim Pigott-Smith	King Charles III	King Charles III	BBC Two
2019	-	-	-	-
2019	Benedict Cumberbatch	Patrick Melrose	Patrick Melrose	Sky Atlantic
2019	Hugh Grant	A Very English Scandal	Jeremy Thorpe	BBC One
2019	Lucian Msamati	Kiri	Tobi Akindele	Channel 4
2019	Chance Perdomo	Killed by My Debt	Jerome Rogers	BBC Three

Actors with multiple wins and nominations

Multiple wins

The following people have been awarded the British Academy Television Award for Actor multiple times:
4 wins

Michael Gambon

3 wins

Robbie Coltrane

2 wins

Multiple nominations

The following people have been nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Actor multiple times:
6 nominations

Benedict Cumberbatch

5 nominations

Robbie Coltrane

4 nominations

3 nominations

2 nominations