Marvellous wins two BAFTAs

Sun,10 May 2015
News Equality & Rights

The film is at heart a celebration of the positive contribution that everyone can make irrespective of ability or disability. It’s a celebration of diversity of community and spiritual optimism and I think these are values worth fighting for, more so now than ever - Marvellous writer Peter Bowker

Marvellous, the BBC drama inspired by the life of Neil Baldwin has won two BAFTA awards.

Marvellousis a drama based on the true story of Neil ‘Nello’ Baldwin. Neil is labelled as having learning difficulties, but has led a remarkable life.

With a commendable lack of self restraint he persuaded a circus to take him on as Nello the clown.

Neil Baldwin and Lou Macari

After leaving the circus, a conversation with Lou Macari, the then manager of Stoke City Football club, led to him being taken on as a kit man.

Neil has also been given an honorary degree at Keele University, has had sherry in Prince Edward’s private rooms at Cambridge and dined in the House of Commons (he asked to speak to Tony Benn as he knew his son, who was studying at Keele).

The BAFTAs

Neil Baldwin at the BAFTAs

Marvellous won awards for:

  • Best single drama
  • Best supporting actress

Neil Baldwin took to the stage to give a speech at the award ceremony.

You can view this at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b05v2dxq/the-british-academy-television-awards-2015 (the announcement and speeched for the single drama award start 1hour 25 minutes into the ceremony).

About Marvellous, the drama

You can watch Marvellous on BBC2 iPlayer at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04jmx7l/marvellous.

About Neil Baldwin

Find out more about Neil Baldwin at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tv/posts/Marvellous-Lou-Macari and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-27584577

You can view reactions to the programme at http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Tears-laughter-Marvellous-reaction-time-Stoke/story-23000785-detail/story.html