TV’s leading ladies have joined forces in a dazzling new photo shoot ahead of the hotly-contested BAFTA Television Awards on Sunday. 

Jessica Gunning, Monica Dolan, Sophie Willan, Lolly Adefope, Katherine Parkinson, Anjana Vasan, Kate O’Flynn and Nicola Coughlan all looked sensational for their individual cover shots with Radio Times magazine.

Each has had an impressive year on screen and been acknowledged by a nod in either the leading actress, supporting actress or female performance in a comedy categories ahead of the glitzy ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall.

Jessica, who was nominated for best supporting actress for her role in Netflix hit Baby Reindeer, looked glamorous in a white off-the-shoulder dress with a white mesh shawl and let her long auburn tresses loose.

The star, 39, sported gold rings on each finger as she held a stone bust to the camera.

She revealed the secrets behind her now iconic portrayal of Martha in Richard Gadd’s drama. 

TV’s leading ladies, including Jessica Gunning (pictured), have joined forces in a dazzling new photo shoot ahead of the hotly-contested BAFTA Television Awards on Sunday

Nicola Coughlan, who got the nod for her role in Big Mood, looked striking in a black off-the-shoulder dress and let her blonde tresses loose for the shoot

Katherine Parkinson continued the monochrome theme by wearing a stone-coloured button-down dress and wearing a silver bracelet and silver drop earrings

The star said: ‘As soon as I read the scripts, I was just playing a character. I never would have wanted to play Martha as a villain or a baddie, because I never saw her in that way. She’s multi-faceted and nuanced.

‘I’m not on social media and I’ve never felt the pressure to join. I don’t see myself as a celebrity and I don’t think actors need to be in the public eye. Sometimes you can just do your job and that’s that.’

Nicola, 38, who got the nod for female performance in a comedy for Big Mood, looked striking in a black off-the-shoulder dress and let her blonde tresses loose for the shoot. 

She said: ‘There were definitely lots of moments where I thought, “Should I quit?” It’s a difficult industry to break into and I didn’t have any connections or money. 

‘It didn’t seem sensible for me to keep going, but I got Derry Girls at 30, which was an amazing turning point.’

Monica, 56, who was nominated for leading actress in Mr Bates Vs The Post Office and supporting actress in Sherwood and matched Jessica in a white ruffled shirt with high-waisted black trousers, adding silver and black drop earrings. 

The star explained the difficulties female playwrights experience, saying: ‘Certainly in theatre, I feel as if sometimes, if there’s been a slot and the writer or creator has been a woman, they think, “We’ve done that, so we don’t need another for a while” – because we do live in a bit of a tick-boxy culture. 

‘I’ve seen some incredible plays by women, then wait for the next one, and I just don’t think they get nurtured in the same way as male playwrights do. 

Monica got the nod for leading actress in Mr Bates Vs The Post Office and supporting actress in Sherwood and matched Jessica in a white ruffled shirt with high-waisted black trousers

On a competitive shortlist for female performance in a comedy for her role in Alma’s Not Normal, Sophie opted for a black off-the-shoulder dress with a pearly white and silver choker

Lolly also wowed in a ruffled white shirt, accessorising with some silver floral rings and earrings, showing off her pixie cut

‘And, even though women are 51 per cent of the population, for some reason I think the male voice is seen as the objective voice.’ 

On a competitive shortlist for female performance in a comedy thanks to her role in Alma’s Not Normal, Sophie, 37, opted for a black off-the-shoulder dress with a pearly white and silver choker.

She compared having a BAFTA to having a penis, saying: ‘I’ll be too powerful. They’ll have to kill me. A woman with four knobs? Too dangerous.

‘I’m an exec producer, writer and actress and, actually, in that respect, I’m no different from Phoebe Waller-Bridge. I just have bigger boobs and a northern accent. Have you noticed that posh women always have tiny breasts?’

Lolly, 34, also wowed in a ruffled white shirt, accessorising with some silver floral rings and earrings, showing off her pixie cut. She was nominated for the same catergory thanks to her showing in The Franchise.

She told the magazine: ‘I have had success, for sure, but I don’t know if I feel successful. I feel grateful to be an actor who works a lot, to have an element of choice in the things I do, and to feel aligned with the characters I play.’

Katherine, 47, continued the monochrome theme by wearing a stone-coloured button-down dress and wearing a silver bracelet and silver drop earrings, having been handed a nod for supporting actress for her role in Rivals.

She discussed the advantages of working with a woman while shooting the hit show. 

Nominated for female performance in a comedy for her showing in We Are Lady Parts, Anjana smouldered in a white dress with a silver floral pattern, adding a sheer black shawl

Kate looked nothing short of sensational in a shiny lilac puff dress, wearing a series of dark silver and pearl necklaces and tying her brunette hair up

Each has had an impressive year on screen and been acknowledged by a nod in either the leading actress, supporting actress or female performance in a comedy categories

‘As an actor, I have found that working with Laura Wade [a co-writer on Rivals] – who is the same age as me and the same gender – there is often a shared sensibility that can be lacking in some scripts written by some men,’ the actress said. 

Nominated for female performance in a comedy for her showing in We Are Lady Parts, Anjana, 38, smouldered in a white dress with a silver floral pattern, adding a sheer black shawl and boasting a silver bracelet and earring.

She said: ‘People can be quite scared to make something different, but audiences aren’t scared. The biggest opportunities I’ve ever had have come from women.’ 

And Kate, 39, looked nothing short of sensational in a shiny lilac puff dress, wearing a series of dark silver and pearl necklaces and tying her brunette hair up. She has been placed on the female performance in a comedy shortlist for her role in Everyone Else Burns.

The star described how difficult it can be waiting for acting jobs, saying: ‘Honestly, I have had such a quiet year of nothing. Then, I suddenly got a job in America. 

‘Then, I heard about this. It’s like, you wait ages on a bus and then two come at once. I’ll probably be at the next bus stop for a while, too. But I’ll enjoy the journey in between.’

It comes after Scottish star Alan Cumming was announced as the host of the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards.

The actor and US Traitors host, 60, is renowned for his celebrated career in the arts, spanning television, film, and theatre.

It comes after Scottish star Alan Cumming was announced as the host of the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards (pictured in February)

He will take over hosting duties at the 2025 ceremony, replacing Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett (pictured in 2024)

He will take over hosting duties at the 2025 ceremony, replacing Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett who have been at the helm for the last two years. 

From his Tony and Olivier award winning performance in Cabaret, to his memorable performance in The Good Wife, Alan is recognised for his versatility both on-screen and behind the scenes.

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Scottish star to host TV BAFTAs for the first time as Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett replaced

More recently, his signature charm has captivated TV audiences worldwide as host of The Traitors US, for which he has won two Emmys and two Critics Choice awards.

‘We’re delighted that Alan Cumming will be hosting this year’s BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises, he will definitely bring a playful sense of mischief and fun to the ceremony, so audiences should expect the unexpected at Britain’s biggest celebration of TV on Sunday 11 May,’ said Emma Baehr, executive director of awards and content at BAFTA.

‘We’ll be revealing the nominations for the 2025 BAFTA Television Craft Awards and BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises on Thursday 27 March.

‘The sheer quality, innovation, and breadth of talent in British television in front of and behind the camera is second to none, and we look forward to honouring and celebrating these talented people at our upcoming awards ceremonies.’