It’s time to ban the televising of awards shows
The Baftas, the Grammys and the Oscars are all shedding TV viewers – we should have learned by now not to give celebrities any more attention
Last weekend was terrible for awards ceremonies. The Baftas, defined by a painful monologue from Joanna Lumley, was watched by 500,000 fewer people than last year. Meanwhile, the number of 18 to 49-year-olds watching the Grammys has reached an all-time low.
Don’t expect the Oscars to fare any better; they have lost millions of viewers since 2014. Add to this the fact that comparatively few people have watched most of the nominated films (show me a single member of the public who paid to see The Wife, I dare you) and you have got a ratings timebomb.