The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has today announced that Jon Snow, the acclaimed news correspondent, journalist and presenter, will be honoured with the Fellowship at the House of Fraser British Academy Television Awards at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London on Sunday 10 May.
Awarded annually, the Fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed by BAFTA upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, television or games.
Fellows previously honoured for their work in television include Michael Palin, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, Bruce Forsyth, Melvyn Bragg and David Attenborough. Julie Walters received the Fellowship at last year’s Television Awards.
Jon Snow said: “I am genuinely overwhelmed by the honour of being awarded a BAFTA Fellowship. There is no greater recognition than that of one’s own industry. When I saw the list of Fellows I was daunted by the idea that I could in some way be ranked amongst them. I thought at first BAFTA must have the wrong Snow… There are several of my cousins they could have chosen. I’m genuinely looking forward to the ceremony on 10 May. I think my daughters have concluded I’ve finally done something cool!”
Anne Morrison, Chair of BAFTA, said: “Jon Snow has become one of the most iconic and successful broadcast journalists of our time. With his innate ability to engage with audiences, his leadership of the flagship Channel 4 news programme and career spanning over 40 years at ITN, Jon is an inspiration across the industry and a very worthy recipient of this year’s Fellowship.”
With a career spanning over 40 years in the industry, Jon Snow has become one of the most highly respected and prolific news broadcasters in Britain. Starting his career on the first day LBC Radio began broadcasting in 1973, Snow went on to join ITN in 1976 as the Washington correspondent. He has since travelled the world covering the news, from the release of Nelson Mandela and the fall of the Berlin Wall to Barack Obama’s inauguration as President of the United States and the earthquake in Haiti. He has been presenting the Channel 4 News for over 25 years, reporting from every war and current affairs event to interviewing some of the highest profile statesmen, politicians and personalities. He has also presented numerous televised public debates, including Russell Brand on UK Drug Laws and the series Drugs Live.
Previous BAFTA recognition of his work includes seven Television Awards nominations and a Richard Dimbleby award for Factual Contribution to Television in 2005. He has also been named the Royal Television Society’s Journalist of the Year in 2006 and Presenter of the Year in 2009 and 2011.
The House of Fraser British Academy Television Awards will be hosted by Graham Norton at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London, and broadcast on BBC One on Sunday 10 May.
Image: BAFTA/Richard Kendall
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