Guernsey Press

Bafta craftsman reveals quirky repair jobs carried out for award winners

The bronze masks are being made at a west London foundry ahead of this year’s awards show, which is being held in less than two weeks.

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Bafta trophies have been repaired after award recipients damaged them in incidents including using them as a doorstop, according to a craftsman for the manufacturing firm.

A repair was required for another recipient after they threw their bronze mask at their spouse, he added.

The trophies are hand-made at a factory in west London in a process that has remained largely unchanged for about 40 years.

Mr Helly, who has been involved with the manufacture of the trophies since 1978, added it is “quite good fun when we get asked to repair Baftas from people who have won them in previous years”.

“People might use them as a doorstop and the door has whacked against it and bent it,” he said.

Preparations are currently under way for this year’s awards show, which is in less than two weeks’ time.

Mr Helly added that the casting of the Baftas is “the high point” of the year for the firm.

For the foundry’s staff, watching the trophies being handed out is an enjoyable moment, he added.

BAFTA masks casting
The bronze masks are made using a sand cast (Steve Parsons/PA)

The mask was created in 1955 by US sculptor Mitzi Cunliffe after she was commissioned to design the trophy.

It is based on the tragicomic mask of Ancient Greek theatre.

The awards are made from bronze, which is cast inside a sand casing before being polished and placed into its stand.

The casting process takes around three hours, with a total of about 280 trophies made each year in small batches.

This year’s awards ceremony, which is being hosted by TV presenter Graham Norton, will take place at the Royal Albert Hall on February 2.

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