David Tennant Takes Center Stage With Star-Studded BAFTA Monologue

Golden Globe winner David Tennant captivated audiences at the prestigious BAFTA Awards with his star-studded opening monologue, setting the tone for a night filled with laughter and anticipation.

In a delightful skit inspired by his popular pandemic series ‘Staged,’ Tennant enlisted the help of his friend Michael Sheen, who humorously tasked him with dog-sitting Bark Ruffalo on the same night as the BAFTAs. The playful banter continued as Tennant attempted to pass the adorable pup to celebrity pals including Stanley Tucci, Himesh Patel, Tom Hiddleston, and Judi Dench before making a surprise appearance at the Royal Festival Hall with Bark Ruffalo in tow.

Stepping onto the stage, Tennant kicked off his monologue with a tongue-in-cheek remark about its expected length, promising the evening would run ‘smoother than Ken’s chest,’ a nod to Ryan Gosling‘s portrayal of the plastic doll in ‘Barbie.’ He further teased the audience, comparing their elegant attire to a scene from ‘Saltburn’ and humorously praying that the night wouldn’t conclude with a ‘Barbie’-esque scene involving BAFTA nominee Barry Keoghan.

Marking his debut as a BAFTA host, the ‘Doctor Who’ star embraced the spotlight following Richard E. Grant’s memorable stint as last year’s host, exuding charisma and wit throughout the evening.

Prior to the awards ceremony, Tennant revealed his humor strategy after observing the recent Golden Globes debacle, advising against poking fun at Taylor Swift, as evident in Jo Koy‘s misfire. The actor, who resides in a household of Swift fans, cleverly noted the golden rule: ‘Don’t diss Tay Tay.’

The glitzy BAFTA Awards, held at the esteemed Royal Festival Hall in London, featured leading nominees like ‘Oppenheimer‘ and ‘Poor Things,’ with the former snagging an impressive 13 nominations and the latter closely following with 11. Notable categories include Best Film, Adapted Screenplay, and Director for Christopher Nolan, among others.