'Dopamine dressing' dominates 2026 Bafta TV Awards
Amanda Holden, Jodie Whittaker and Rose Ayling-Ellis were among the stars embracing dopamine dressing at the Bafta TV Awards in London on Sunday, as fiery reds, sunshine yellows and sparkling silvers dominated the red carpet.
Celebrities embraced what is known as “dopamine dressing”, stepping out in gowns of ruby, tangerine and shimmering metallics, while halter-necks and flowing draped designs proved the stand-out silhouettes.
Holden and Alan Carr, both nominated for their house transformation series Amanda And Alan’s Spanish Job, stepped out in quintessential high-end glamour.
Amanda Holden and Alan Carr on the Bafta red carpet (Ian West/PA)
Holden wore a daring two-piece by Lebanese designer Basil Soda with a beaded fringe bralette and panelled satin and mesh skirt with a crystal-embroidered train. Celebrity Traitors champion Carr opted for a classic black double-breasted tuxedo.
While Holden opted for cool metallics, fiery red emerged as one of the evening’s themes, with a number of stars embracing bold scarlet and ruby hues.
Jodie Whittaker was striking in red (Ian West/PA)
Jodie Whittaker, nominated for leading actress in Toxic Town, chose a halter-neck, vibrant ruby gown by Solace London. The Doctor Who star completed the look with gold jewellery and pointed black pumps.
Roisin Conaty wore Needle and Thread (Ian West/PA)
Comedian Roisin Conaty was in a bold red Needle & Thread tulle off-the-shoulder dress with a red lip and Hollywood-style curls.
Rhea Seehorn in Rodarte (Ian West/PA)
American actress Rhea Seehorn, nominated for her role in Pluribus, opted for a striking V-neck bias-cut red gown with black bow detailing by Rodarte.
Adam Scott also opted for red (Ian West/PA)
American actor Adam Scott, nominated for his role in Severance, followed suit in a ruby red double-breasted tux with black loafers and a white pocket square.
Other stars chose bright citrus, including Lucy Punch and Philippa Dunne, nominated for their roles in the BBC comedy series Amandaland alongside Jennifer Saunders.
Amandaland star Lucy Punch in Stella McCartney (Ian West/PA)
Punch represented British designer Stella McCartney in a tangerine orange maxi dress with a cut-out shoulder and sheer mesh panel. The actress completed the look with clear acrylic bangles and a two-tone metallic clutch by Stone and Mason.
Philippa Dunne in Sister Jane (Ian West/PA)
Irish actress Philippa Dunne wore a lime-green sequin midi-dress by Sister Jane from the Dream: The Garden Atelier collection, complete with white floral accents.
Rose Ayling-Ellis in sunshine yellow (Ian West/PA)
Rose Ayling-Ellis, nominated for her role in the four-part BBC One thriller Reunion, chose a sunshine-yellow silk dress with a halter-neck and wing-caped detail.
Lorraine Kelly, left, and Rosie Smith in icy shades (Ian West/PA)
Lorraine Kelly and her daughter Rosie Smith opted for icy shades of silver and blue, with the TV presenter in a long-sleeved metallic gown by Ralph Lauren, while Smith wore a muted powder-blue strapless gown with a pleated skirt.
Aimee Lou Wood opted for black (Ian West/PA)
Another exception to the colourful trend was Aimee Lou Wood, nominated for leading actress in Film Club and supporting actress in White Lotus, who was buckled into a black strapless gown with rosette ruching.
Paloma Faith in a black fringed gown (Ian West/PA)
Singer and Celebrity Traitors star Paloma Faith also opted for monochrome glamour in a fringed black gown with a dramatic headpiece.
Reeta Chakrabarti in Victoria Beckham (Ian West/PA)
Sabina Emrit Harper in Victoria Beckham (Ian West/PA)
BBC news correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti and stylist and producer Sabina Emrit Harper embraced wintry tones in designs by Victoria Beckham.
Chakrabarti opted for a plum satin midi-dress with silver jewellery, while Emrit Harper stepped out in a long-sleeved dark teal maxi-dress with a twisted waist detail.
