Bafta is undertaking a review into whether historic guest ticket allocations for trustees at its ceremonies breached charity law, with the outcome expected to be delivered in a matter of weeks.
The review has been underway since August and is led by three screen industry professionals who are not part of Bafta governance but are understood to be Bafta members.
Michael Pritchett, chair of Bafta’s membership council, told members at Bafta’s annual general meeting on Monday (October 26) that trustees who received complimentary tickets for a plus one to attend the film, television and games awards might have breached charity and company laws. The charity’s accounts said that trustees – who are volunteers – had received no renumeration or benefits. The accounts are approved by trustees.
Pritchett’s comments were first reported by The Guardian.
Pritchett, who is also a member of Bafta’s governance and appointments committee, claimed trustees had received complimentary tickets for themselves and a guest at the film, television and games awards, potentially for as long as 20 years, with the guest tickets at top-table seats, and a second ticket at the film awards selling for £2,000.
Bafta ended the practice of giving trustees a guest ticket to awards ceremonies in 2025, following a recommendation from its governance committee.
Bafta trustees still receive complimentary tickets for themselves, as they are invited to awards ceremonies in a working capacity, hosting tables and acting as academy ambassadors. The guest complimentary tickets were understood to have been a hangover from when demand for tickets and cost of tickets at the ceremonies were far lower.
Pritchett also raised questions about possible tax liabilities, noting that benefits of this kind were likely to have been taxable since 2016.
A Bafta spokesperson said: “Trustees of Bafta are invited to attend events in a working capacity, representing the Academy in an ambassadorial role, and prior to 2025 they could also bring a ‘plus one’ guest to accompany them. In 2025 Bafta decided to review its guest tickets arrangements and discontinued the longstanding custom and practice of trustees inviting a plus one.
“The Board has since established an independent review group to consider the historic guest ticket arrangement – the review is underway.”
The next Bafta film awards are scheduled to take place on February 21, 2027.
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