Paddington Bear Makes History, Presents

Bear in mind: this is Paddington’s first time at an award show.

But nevertheless, the beloved bear projected nothing but confidence when he took to the stage at the 2026 British Academy Film and Television Arts Awards—broadcast on E! and hosted this year by Alan Cumming—to present the award for Children’s & Family Film category.

Dressed in his signature blue toggle coat (see every star’s look here), Paddington Bear admitted to the audience he was just as “surprised” to be onstage as they were to see him, noting, “I don’t usually talk in front of lots of people, and there are rather a lot of you.”

However, he referred to his Aunt Lucy’s advice that it’s always better to face your fears. Unless, of course, “it’s a snake,” he said. “Then you have to walk away very slowly.”

But excitingly, Paddington shared that his foster mother Mrs. Brown had informed him his time on stage would mark a historic moment at the award show: “I am the first ever bear to present an award,” he revealed, before nodding to his favorite snack, “and also the first presenter to get marmalade all over a BAFTA. Sorry about that.”