Donald Trump mocked by David Tennant at BAFTA Awards as US president branded 'villain'
David Tennant returned to host the BAFTAs on Sunday evening - and didn't hold back when it came to mocking the US president
David Tennant, the host of the BAFTA Film Awards 2025, took a swipe at US President Donald Trump during his opening monologue on Sunday evening (16th February).
The Doctor Who star was back to host the awards for the second consecutive year, making his entrance to The Proclaimers’ I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).
He quipped he "walked 500 miles just to host one BAFTAs more" and didn't shy away from addressing contentious issues in his opening remarks.
Following Trump’s controversial re-election in November 2024, Tennant didn't hold back in criticising the president in front of an audience filled with Hollywood celebrities and British A-listers.
He made a cheeky reference to Trump while discussing The Brutalist, describing it as "a film about incredible architecture. In fact, it’s the boldest architecture in film this year, apart from Donald Trump’s hair in The Apprentice."
Referring to the biopic based on Trump’s life, which features Sebastian Stan as the property tycoon, he joked that it's unlikely the president had watched it. "It’s a 15 and it’s not on Nickelodeon," Tennant teased, according to Deadline, prompting laughter from the crowd.
"Donald Trump... I’m worried. I’ve said his name three times. It’s like Beetlejuice - I’ve summoned him."
He then segued, "Talking of villains", pausing for a moment as the audience continued to chuckle. "We’ve got many this year, not just Nosferatu."
Tennant, who wowed viewers last year with his lead role in the sizzling Disney+ drama Rivals, had already raised eyebrows with another jibe.
During his BAFTA hosting debut, he couldn't resist a dig at Trump while discussing the Yorgos Lanthimos film Poor Things, describing the premise as "a child’s brain is put in an adult’s body."
He then quipped: "And later this year, one of those may be reelected president."
The Trump-centric film The Apprentice is in the running for three BAFTAs, including Best Casting and acting nods for lead Stan and Jeremy Strong's portrayal of Roy Cohn.
Ralph Fiennes' religious thriller Conclave is leading the pack with a whopping 12 nominations.
Hot on its heels is the divisive musical Emilia Perez, boasting 11 nods, while Brady Corbet's powerful historical epic The Brutalist has secured nine.
UK gems like the raucous biopic Kneecap, about the eponymous Belfast rap group, have earned six nominations, alongside Steve McQueen's WWII drama Blitz, featuring Saoirse Ronan, with three.
The BAFTA Film Awards 2025 airs from 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.