BAFTAs 2025 viral moments: From Zoe Saldana’s expletive-laden speech to Selena Gomez’s blunder and Kylie Jenner’s VERY bemused reaction  to host David Tennant

The 2025 BAFTAs took over London on Sunday, with Hollywood’s biggest names descending on Royal Festival Hall for a night at the movies. 

Whilst The Brutalist and Conclave led the winners, it was the moments inbetween the gong-giving that had everyone talking.

Host David Tennant, returning for his second year, sparked a flurry of online reaction with his ‘iconic’ opening, before major stars like Selena Gomez and Kylie Jenner had on-camera blunders.

There were also tears as Fellowship awardee Warwick Davis had the A-listers and the BBC audience at home in floods of tears.

MailOnline runs down the best of BAFTAs 2025… 

David Tennant jump scares Selena Gomez

Doctor Who legend David leaned into his Scottish heritage, ignoring the bemusement of the US stars with an all-singing, all-dancing rendition of I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers. 

BBC viewers praised the actor’s ‘brave’ and ‘brilliant’ opening performance as he made a grand entrance into the auditorium surprising Selena Gomez. 

The Only Murders In The Building actress was left shocked as David strutted down the stairs towards the stage as he sang, ‘When I’m working, I know I’m going to be the man working hard for you Selena’.

Not realising the host was walking towards her, Selena’s jaw dropped before she started laughing and clapping along to the 1988 track. 

David Tennant kicked-off the 2025 BAFTAs at the Royal Festival Hall in style on Sunday as he sang I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers

BBC viewers praised the actor’s ‘brave’ and ‘brilliant’ opening performance as he made a grand entrance into the auditorium surprising Selena Gomez 

During the big opening number David marched over to the likes of Hugh Grant, Anna Kendrick, Camila Cabello and Celia Imrie, sticking a microphone in their faces for some a-list duets. 

‘David Tennant in a kilt doing the Elphaba battle cry at the end of 500 Miles whilst every American celeb in the room has the biggest ‘wtf?’ look on their face gives me a level of pride in this country that after recent years felt simply impossible,’ declared one gobsmacked viewer.    

Zoe Saldana’s expletive-laden speech 

Zoe Saldana couldn’t hold back her tears or her foul language as she accepted Best Supporting Actress gong for Emilia Perez.

The actress, 46, was quickly pulled off camera for swearing as she shouted ‘f***, f***, f***’ when the countdown hurried her to finish her speech. 

Zoe was in floods of tears as she accepted the award, admitting it is ‘so validating and a true honour’ to received the gong after being previously told by dialect coaches that her British accent wasn’t going to work.

Zoe Saldana couldn’t hold back her tears or her foul language as she accepted Best Supporting Actress gong for Emilia Perez at the EE BAFTA Film Awards at The Royal Festival Hall on Sunday

Listing off her thank yous, Zoe said: ‘Oh my god I’m getting a countdown. F*** f*** f***!’

Zoe also surprised viewers by namechecking her disgraced co-star Karla Sofía Gascón .

Spanish actress Karla, 52, was left off the BAFTA guest list, after several of her offensive social media posts resurfaced and sparked controversy amid allegations of racism, homophobia and body shaming.

Kylie Jenner meets David Tennant 

Kylie Jenner fans joked she is ‘not in Calabasas anymore’ as BAFTAs host David interacted with her and boyfriend Timothée Chalamet. 

David joked that the Wonka actor was actually the ‘runner up’ of the Timothée Chalamet lookalike competition which he turned up to himself back in October. 

David said: ‘We are very privileged tonight to be joined by the runner up in New York’s recent Timothée Chalamet competition. Welcome to the BAFTAs. I can see it young man. There is a definite likeness isn’t there. How long are you in London?’ 

Timothée replied: ‘Three days’.

David joked: ‘You got to work on the voice, not quite got the voice yet. Lovely attention to detail though he is with a Kylie Jenner lookalike.’

Kylie Jenner fans joke she is ‘not in Calabasas anymore’ as BAFTAs host David Tennant interacted with her and boyfriend Timothée Chalamet during the star-studded ceremony on Sunday

The former Doctor Who actor, who is presenting the British awards held at the Royal Festival Hall, poked fun at the loved-up couple

Fans quickly rushed to X – formerly known as Twitter – to say they were ‘losing their minds’ over seeing Kylie interact with David and that the pair were definitely not on their 2025 bingo cards.  

They wrote: ‘Kylie Jenner experiencing The Proclaimers and Take That in one night. She’s not in Calabasas anymore; David Tennant calling Kylie Jenner a lookalike TO HER FACE is sending me;

‘Didn’t ever think I’d see David Tennant and Kylie Jenner interact but here we are; Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner’s lookalikes at the BAFTAs;

‘Losing my mind watching Kylie Jenner seeing Wallace and Gromit win multiple awards, (as it should) and Take That perform’.

Warwick Davis has everyone in tears 

Warwick Davis left BBC viewers ‘absolutely sobbing’ on Sunday night, as he gave a heartfelt tribute to his late wife during his acceptance speech.

The actor, 55, was honoured with a BAFTA Fellowship, which recognises those who have made an ‘outstanding and exceptional’ contribution to the screen.

He fought back tears as he accepted the gong and dedicated it to his wife Samantha, who tragically died last year, visibly moving both the star-studded audience and viewers watching at home.

Warwick Davis left BBC One viewers ‘absolutely sobbing’ on Sunday night, as he gave a heartfelt tribute to his late wife during his acceptance speech at the 2025 BAFTAs 

He fought back tears as he accepted the gong and dedicated it to his wife Samantha, who tragically died last year, visibly moving both the star-studded audience and viewers watching at home (pictured together) 

Warwick said: ‘Above all I would like to dedicate and thank my wonderful wife Sammy who died almost a year ago. 

‘She was always so supportive of my career and encouraged me to grab every opportunity with both hands.’

Samantha – who was herself an actor – had been married to Warwick for 33 years, welcoming three children together, before her devastating death on March 24.

Their daughter Annabelle, 27, and son Harrison, 21, were both seen crying in the audience as their dad thanked them helping him get through the tough year.

He said: ‘Since then, life has been pretty tough for me but thanks to the support of our wonderful children Annabelle and Harrison, I’ve been able to continue working and engaging in life.’

Warwick then gave a special shout out to a mystery person he referred to as ‘sponge’ and thanked them for helping him ‘love again’.

Fighting back tears, he voice broke as he said: ‘Special mention should go to Sponge, you know who you are. Thank you for showing me that life can still have meaning and for helping me to laugh and to love again’.

Selena Gomez’s awkward blunder

Selena Gomez was tasked with reading out a winner’s name alongside Best Supporting Actress Zoe Saldana – but made an accidental hiccup.

Selena Gomez, 32, suffered an awkward blunder on stage while presenting an award at the 2025 BAFTAs, at The Royal Festival Hall on Sunday night

Selena struggled to read her part of the script to reveal who bagged the Outstanding Debut gong.

The nominees included movies Santosh, Kneecap, Money Man, Hoard and Sister Midnight.

Before announcing the winner, Selena and Zoe both said: ‘And the Bafta goes to…’

Selena told Zoe: ‘You read it’, before Zoe responded: ‘You read it.’

After a moments pause, Selena whispered: ‘I don’t know what it says.’

She then added: ‘Sorry, Kneecap… Rich [Peppiatt]…’