The talent of Liverpool is on display for all to see this evening
Ellis Howard attends the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards (Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Ellis Howard has been recognised for his incredible performance in the groundbreaking drama, What It Feels Like For A Girl. The series is adapted from Paris Lees’ coming of age memoir and Ellis received universal acclaim for the role as a queer teen grappling with gender identity.
He is another actor making Walton proud at the BAFTA Television awards, alongside James Nelson-Joyce. The Liverpool stars are both nominated in the Best Actor category today. Other stars hailing from Merseyside making up the nominees are Stephen Graham and Taron Egerton. Ahead of the ceremony, Ellis spoke to the ECHO on the red carpet at the event.
Laura Haddock, Ellis Howard and Hannah Walters attend the BAFTA Television Awards (Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Ellis said: “I feel incredible, I am so buzzing to be here and so grateful. To be nominated alongside two other Scousers is like heaven to me. It’s so humbling and so encouraging in equal measure. I feel like I am Scouse before anything else.”
The 29-year-old added: “Growing up listening to someone like Stephen Graham on television really blew up the parameter for the dreams I had for myself. I suddenly felt like there was a world out there that allowed me to dream bigger.
“I am part of a city that is incredibly open minded and is full of storytellers. Liverpool has a sensibility and comedy to them – that is what makes me proud about our city. Every year on JustGiving we are the city that donates the most to charity and I just love us. I am so proud to be a Scouser.”
Ellis was overcome with emotion when he found out his work had been recognised on one of the biggest stages, as he said: “I cried my eyes out when I found out I was nominated. I was in an airport terminal and they must have thought I was mental. I looked down and Stephen had phoned me, which I was so grateful for. To hear my name uttered next to these men is just amazing.
Ellis Howard attends the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards (Image: 2026 Getty Images)
“It encourages me to just work harder and to keep going. I am currently filming a TV show called The Rachel Incident in Dublin at the moment. I have two weeks left on that. They very kindly let me come out and enjoy the BAFTAs tonight.”
Ellis and James Nelson-Joyce both attended Archbishop Beck Catholic College, formerly on Cedar Road and now on Long Lane. James and Ellis may not have attended the school at the same time, but they did share the same English teacher, who told the ECHO how immensely proud she is to see two former students excel on the national stage.
Emma Griffiths said: “What are the chances that two students from Archbishop Beck Catholic College would be in the same category [at the BAFTAs]? To see that, you’re just in absolute awe. It makes us do what we do.
“Teaching is challenging, without a shadow of a doubt, but it’s so rewarding when you see people do well. That sustains us, enthuses us and keeps us going.”
James Nelson-Joyce has heaped praise on Liverpool this evening as he attended the BAFTAs with his parents.
He told the ECHO: “I am doing something people only dream of and I just feel lucky. You can’t ignore our city [Liverpool], we are from the greatest city in the world. They will try and hold us back and block us, but we always find a way through.”
