Today, BAFTA launches the second series of BAFTA Playback sponsored by Samsung, a digital series presented in collaboration with Samsung, the Official Screen Partner of BAFTA. The six-part series delves into the career-defining moments and influences behind some of the most celebrated talents in film and TV, featuring commentary and clips chosen by the actors.

Premiering on BAFTA’s YouTube channel, the series boasts an exceptional line-up of acclaimed actors, with BAFTA winners and nominees including Alex Skarsgard and Olivia Coleman, Jessie Eisenberg, Mahershala Ali, Pedro Pascal and Tom Hiddleston with more to be announced.

The opening episode features Tom Hiddleston reacting to scenes from his latest film, Tenzing, exclusively revealing the challenges of shooting in real conditions on a mountain, including being struck by a falling sheet of ice. Tom also reflects on how playing Loki has “completely changed his life,” and discusses his influences, including Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in Heat, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Mary Poppins.

Recalling the moment he was struck by a falling sheet of ice while shooting Tenzing, Tom Hiddleston said:

“Right towards the end of our shooting schedule, we were on a crevasse field. I was dangling 50 feet down… something happened where, because of the nature of the drop of my body, the rope on the lip of the crevasse had dislodged a sheet of ice…which came off in real time.

“And I saw this enormous what felt like the size of a bedsheet, a sort of a plate of ice coming towards me. I thought, ‘okay, that’s coming. I can’t move because I have no purchase on the mountain. I’m just suspended here.’ And I could see it getting bigger and bigger, and it crashed over my head and then fragmented and shattered into a million pieces…

“I wasn’t sure if we were rolling yet because I hadn’t heard action, and I just shouted up, into the blue sky. I said, ‘did you get it?’ And I had a radio in my pocket, and Jen Peedom came over and said, ‘we got it. It looked amazing.’”

Read the full transcript here

Filmed in a bespoke, lounge-style set, complete with memorabilia and personalised nods to each guest’s career and influences, each episode sees the actor watch their handpicked scenes on a Samsung TV screen.

Emma Baehr, Executive Director of Awards and Content, BAFTA, said: “Championing the people and the craft behind the screen industries is at the heart of everything we do at BAFTA, so we are thrilled to welcome back BAFTA Playback sponsored by Samsung for a second series. Made possible with the Official Screen Partner of BAFTA, Samsung, it’s a real privilege to give audiences another chance to hear directly from the exceptional people behind some of their favourite performances.”

Zeena Hill, Senior Marketing Director for Home Entertainment and Appliances at Samsung Electronics UK, said: “As BAFTA’s Official Screen Partner, Samsung is proud to help bring audiences closer to the creative process through BAFTA Playback. These intimate conversations explore the defining moments, bold ambitions and influences behind remarkable careers, offering fresh perspectives and inspiring viewers to imagine what’s possible. We believe that inspiration deserves to be experienced in every home. Samsung TVs combine rich picture quality with immersive viewing experiences to help audiences appreciate the detail, emotion and artistry that creators bring to the screen. Together with BAFTA, we’re celebrating the power of storytelling to spark curiosity, connect us and inspire the next generation.”

Full episodes of BAFTA Playback sponsored by Samsung will be available to watch on BAFTA’s YouTube, alongside episode highlight clips across BAFTA and Samsung’s Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook channels.