The 2014 Bafta for supporting actor has been awarded to Barkhad Abdi for his performance in Captain Phillips, who received huge cheers as he ascended the stage.

Abdi played a Somali pirate captain in Paul Greengrass's film, starring Tom Hanks. He thanked Bafta, Paul Greengrass "for believing in me before I believed in myself", and Hanks, as well as his fellow actors, saying "We came from nothing and we have this".

It's an extraordinary success for a man who was working as a limo driver in Minneapolis when he attended an open audition for the role. He is also nominated for an Oscar in the same category, and tonight's surprise win boosts his chances.

The award was presented by Emma Thompson, who Fry referred to beforehand as "a ghastly piece of shrieking stinking offal".

• The Baftas ceremony is on BBC1 from 9pm. You can watch along with Xan Brooks's live blog, which begins at 8pm