Baby Reindeer won a blockbuster four awards at the 2024 Primetime Emmys in LA on Sunday – with Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning triumphing.
Gadd, 35, was visibly emotional as he won the awards for Writing for a Limited or Anthology series or Movie and Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology series or Movie for the Netflix phenomenon – based on his own harrowing experiences.
Martha actress Gunning, 38, won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie prize for her role as the crazed fan of Gadd’s Donny Dunn and the show also triumphed in the Outstanding Limited or Anthology series category.
Beating Black Mirror, Fargo, Fellow Travelers, Ripley and True Detective: Night Country to the Writing award, Gadd said: ‘Oh, wow. Thanks so much. This is the stuff of dreams. Thanks so much to the Academy. Thank you to Netflix for letting me tell the story to the world.
‘Thank you to Petra, my brothers Matt and Ed. Thank you to all the amazing cast and crew, my amazing cast and team.’
Baby Reindeer won a blockbuster four awards at the 2024 Primetime Emmys in LA on Sunday – with Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning triumphing
Baby Reindeer was created by Scottish comedian Gadd who also starred in the series alongside Gunning, who played his stalker Martha Scott
Reflecting on his own struggles and battle with mental health issues, the star added: ‘Look, ten years ago, I was down and out, right? I never ever thought I would get my life together. I never thought I would be able to rectify myself and get myself back on my feet again.
‘Here I am just a decade later picking up one of the biggest awards in television, yeah. Now, I don’t mean that – I don’t mean that to sound arrogant. I mean that for anyone going through a difficult time right now to persevere.
‘I don’t know much about this life. But I do know nothing lasts forever. And no matter how bad it gets, it always gets better. If you are struggling, keep going. And I promise you things will be okay. Thank you so much for this award.’
It was Gadd’s night with the comedian taking home his second award for lead actor, beating Matt Bomer – Fellow Travelers, Jon Hamm – Fargo, Tom Hollander – Feud: Capote vs. The Swans and Andrew Scott – Ripley.
Gadd said: ‘You’re all crazy, honestly. Thank you. Thank you so much. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting this one at all, and I didn’t prepare. I’m not Jon Hamm. I’m your biggest fan, as I told you last night over and over again.
‘Thank you. Thank you to the directors, Veronica and Josephine. Thanks to all the people I mentioned previously as well. I’d like to thank my mum and dad, a glaring omission from the previous one as well. They’re the best.
‘We’ve had trying times as a family and they have been there for me, a constant course of love and support. They never ever told me what I needed to do with my life and they never told me what I needed to be.
‘I think that’s the greatest gift a parent can give a child. They always said follow your heart and the rest will fall into place. I think that’s good advice. Follow your heart and the rest will fall into place.’
Gadd, 35, was visibly emotional as he won the award for Writing for a Limited or Anthology series or Movie for the Netflix phenomenon – based on his own harrowing experiences of being stalked
Reflecting on his own struggles and battle with mental health issues, the star added: ‘Look, ten years ago, I was down and out, right? I never ever thought I would get my life together. I never thought I would be able to rectify myself and get myself back on my feet again
Martha actress Gunning, 38, won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie prize for her role as the crazed fan of Gadd’s Donny Dunn and the show also triumphed in the Outstanding Limited or Anthology series category
Jessica took the award ahead of Dakota Fanning (Ripley), Lily Gladstone (Under the Bridge), Aja Naomi King (Lessons in Chemistry), Diane Lane (Feud: Capote vs. the Swans), co-star Nava Mau and Kali Reis (True Detective: Night Country)
She said: ‘Oh my Goodness me, blinking heck. Thank you so much. I honestly think I’m going to wake up any minute now and this whole thing has been a dream. Thank you very, very much indeed’
The show also triumphed in the Outstanding Limited or Anthology series category over Noah Hawley – Lessons in Chemistry, Lee Eisenberg – Ripley, and Steven Zaillian. True Detective: Night Country.
An aghast Gadd was back on the podium for a victory speech, saying: ‘Thank you so much. This is unbelievable. To our wonderful directors, wonderful cast and director. Amazing cast. I can’t believe I forgot to thank you guys.
‘Look, you know, I know the industry is in a slump right now, and I know that it might force or put pressure on networks and stuff to tighten the purse-strings and broaden the But I do believe no slump was ever broken without willingness to take risks.
‘I think if Baby Reindeer has proved anything is that there is no formula to this. You don’t need big stars, long-running series to have a hit. The only constant across any success in television is good story telling. Good story telling that speaks to our times. So take risks, push boundaries, explore the uncomfortable, dare to fail in order to achieve. Thanks so much for this award.’
Baby Reindeer enjoyed a stellar start to the night with Gunning’s win – which left her completely shocked.
She said: ‘Oh my Goodness me, blinking heck. Thank you so much. I honestly think I’m going to wake up any minute now and this whole thing has been a dream. Thank you very, very much indeed.
‘I’m so incredible proud to be a part of ‘Baby Reindeer’ so I just want to say a huge thank you to everybody who let me. Netflix and Clerkenwell films, Nina Gold casting, our amazing directors Ronald and Josephine, the show wouldn’t have been what it was without you.
‘Our incredible cast and crew, I loved coming to work with you all every day. It’s been a dream, thank you very much indeed.
‘Thank you so much to my agent… Thank you to everyone at prosper for all that you are and all that you do. To my friends and family, I love you more than anything.’
Jessica ended her speech with a heartfelt message for her co-star Gadd.
She said: ‘My biggest thanks has to go to Mr Richard Gadd – I’m going to burst out crying.
Gadd looked close to tears as his series won yet another Emmy
Gunning was joined by the cast and crew of the hit show as he accepted the Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series award
The series was a hit and became one of Netflix’s most watched shows ever. But the dark comedy thriller has came under fire from those who claimed to have been depicted by the series
Fiona Harvey came forward claiming to be the inspiration behind Martha, alleging the story was inaccurate, and filed a lawsuit against Netflix
Fiona Harvey came forward claiming to be the inspiration behind Martha, alleging the story was inaccurate, and filed a lawsuit against Netflix
‘”I’ve tried so many times to put into words what working on Baby Reindeer meant to me and I fail every time so I’m going to sing… No, imagine! I’ll keep it simple and just say thank you for trusting me to be your Martha. I’ll never ever forget her or you, or this. It really means a lot, thank you Reindeer.
‘And thank you for this, I’m thrilled.’
Jessica took the award ahead of Dakota Fanning (Ripley), Lily Gladstone (Under the Bridge), Aja Naomi King (Lessons in Chemistry), Diane Lane (Feud: Capote vs. the Swans), co-star Nava Mau and Kali Reis (True Detective: Night Country).
Baby Reindeer was created by Scottish comedian Gadd who also starred in the series alongside Gunning, who played his stalker Martha Scott.
The series was a hit and became one of Netflix’s most watched shows ever.
But the dark comedy thriller has came under fire from those who claimed to have been depicted by the series.
Fiona Harvey came forward claiming to be the inspiration behind Martha, alleging the story was inaccurate, and filed a lawsuit against Netflix.
At the beginning of the first episode, text appears on the screen which says: ‘This is a true story.’
In the drama, said to be inspired by the real-life experiences of Gadd, his character Donny Dunn is hounded by Martha after he serves her a free cup of tea in the pub where he works.
In the TV series, Martha receives a nine-month prison sentence and a five-year restraining order, which Ms Harvey has disputed.
MailOnline reported in July that Ms Harvey was demanding £135million from the streaming giant, claiming they spread ‘brutal lies’ because ‘it was a better story than the truth’.
Ms Harvey said: ‘The problem for Richard Gadd and now for Netflix is that Baby Reindeer is not a true story at all.
‘I am not a convicted stalker’.
Gadd was joined onstage by Gunning, and co-stars and nominees Nava Mau (Teri) and Tom Goodman-Hill (Darrien O’Connor)
The cast and crew looked over the moon as they marked the show’s momentous night
Ms Harvey’s US legal representative Richard Roth said she has a ‘very, very strong case’ and he expects Ms Harvey, Gadd and Netflix executives to testify in court in California.
In a candid interview with Piers Morgan in June, Mr Roth said the fallout from the Baby Reindeer case ‘could be a watershed moment for streaming TV’.
Speaking about why he had taken the case, Mr Roth said: ‘[It] is really just reprehensible when someone says something’s ‘a true story’ […]. And if Netflix is going to say this is a true story, then it better well be true. And to do that is irresponsible of them.’
Speaking at Edinburgh TV Festival, Ms Mensah said publicity is ‘the antithesis of what I believe in’, when asked if the headlines about the show were good for Netflix.
She added: ‘I really believe the UK is this amazing place for content creators and the writers and the directors… and it’s 100 per cent about finding ways to take this space.
‘It’s not about trying to manipulate anybody (with) an algorithm. The truth is way simpler, which is the audience is incredibly clever and incredibly diverse, and they spot good and not boring.’
The 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards is set to honor the best of television at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California on Sunday, September 15.
The ceremony will be hosted by Eugene Levy and Dan Levy, who are making history as the first father-son duo to emcee the program.
In 2020, the actors took home their own respective Emmy Awards for their work on their hit series, Schitt’s Creek, which they created and starred in for six seasons.
‘For two Canadians who won our Emmys in a literal quarantine tent, the idea of being asked to host this year in an actual theater was incentive enough,’ they said in a statement to Vanity Fair, last month, while confirming their hosting gig.
The pair continued: ‘We’re thrilled to be able to raise a glass to this extraordinary season of television and can’t wait to spend the evening with you all.’
The Bear set a new record for nominations in a single year in the Comedy category with 23 (previously held by 30 Rock with 22 nominations in 2009), and Shōgun leads this year’s Drama category with 25 nominations.
The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, Jennifer Aniston, Selena Gomez, Jon Hamm and Quinta Brunson are among the nominees that are vying for some the evening’s top prizes.
The Bear, left, and Shogun, right, received the most Emmy Awards nominations this year
Abbott Elementary costars Sheryl Lee Ralph, left, and Quinta Brunson, right, both received nods
Jennifer Aniston, pictured, and Reese Witherspoon are nominated in the same category for The Morning Show
This marks Gomez’s first nomination in the lead actress category for her role as Mabel Mora in Only Murders in the Building.
Following the news, she told her followers that she felt ‘honored and insanely grateful’ for the recognition.
Kristen Wiig is nominated for best actress in a comedy series for Apple TV+’s Palm Royale and best guest actress for a comedy series for hosting Saturday Night Live.
‘What the,’ Wiig said in a statement, obtained by E! News. ‘Still in shock over here! I’m so happy for everyone that worked so hard on Palm Royale and SNL! And for all my fellow nominees!! Everyone at Apple, Lorne Michaels and the casts, writers, and crews!!! I can’t believe this.’
Nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series went to Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Hacks, Only Murders In The Building, Palm Royale, Reservation Dogs, and What We Do In The Shadows.
Aniston’s Morning Show costar Jon Hamm was nominated for his work on Fargo in the category Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
From left, Selena Gomez, Martin Short and Steve Martin in Only Murders in the Building. They were all Emmy nominated
Sofia Vergara, left, was nominated for her role as a drug lord in Griselda and Jean Smart, right, was recognized for her work on Hacks
Baby Reindeer, Fargo, Lessons In Chemistry, Ripley, True Detective were nominated for Outstanding Limited Anthology Series or Movie.
For Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Anthology Series or Movie the nominations were: Jodie Foster for True Detective, Brie Larson in Lessons in Chemistry, Juno Temple in Fargo, Sofia Vergara for Griselda and Naomi Watts for Feud.
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie nominations went to Matt Bomer for Fellow Travelers, Richard Gadd for Baby Reindeer, Jon Hamm for Fargo, Tom Hollander for Feud, and Andrew Scott for Ripley.
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series nominations went to Jennifer Aniston for The Morning Show, Carrie Coon for The Gilded Age, Maya Erskine for Mr and Mrs Smith, Ana Sawai for Shogun, Imelda Stanton The Crown, and Reese Witherspoon for The Morning Show.
Nominees for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series were Quinta Brunson for Abbott Elementary, Ayo Edebiri for The Bear, Selena Gomez for Only Murders In The Building, Maya Rudolph for Loot, Jean Smart for Hacks and Kristen Wiig for Palm Royale.
The nominations for Outstanding Reality Competition Program went to Amazing Race, RuPaul Drag Race, Top Chef, The Traitors and The Voice.
This year’s ceremony will take place less than a year after the 75th edition of the show.
It took place this past January after being moved back from its intended September 2023 date due to the writers and actors strikes.
Eugene Levy and Dan Levy are making history as the first father-son duo to co-host the show; seen in 2020
This year’s ceremony will take be held less than a year after the 75th edition of the show
Emmy Award winners Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon along with Emmy-nominated Jeannae Rouzan-Clay of Jesse Collins Entertainment are set to return as executive producers of the 76th Emmy Awards.
This marks their second consecutive year as producers of television’s biggest night.
The 2024 Emmys ceremony airs live on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
It will also be available to stream the next day on Hulu.