Awards for best male and best female

An extra Bafta will be given out for comedy performances next year.

Until now, just one award has been given out in that category, but from 2010 there will be separate prizes for males and females.

Similarly, the award for best supporting actor will be split into two.

Bafta also said the ceremony would be pushed back from April to June 6 to move it out of the film awards season.

John Willis, chairman of the television committee, said: ‘We are delighted to be introducing these changes for 2010.

‘As a committee, we annually review all categories to ensure the ceremony is relevant to, and reflects, the industry's output, and these additional categories do exactly that.’

David Mitchell won best comedy performance at this year’s Bafta TV Awards, with Harry Hill named best entertainment performer.

Published: 2 Dec 2009