Sheep addicts, Vera and Look North shine at Royal Television Society Awards

The RTS North East & The Border Centre Awards, sponsored by Virgin Trains, were held at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead on Saturday February 27th 2016, and presented by Steph McGovern.

Former broadcaster Graeme Thompson, now dean of Arts, Design, Media and Culture at Sunderland University, is chairman of the North East & The Border Centre, was able to hand out awards to some of his own graduates and students during the glittering ceremony.

He said: "I don’t know what you were doing 29 years ago — I was obviously still in short trousers — but we were watching shows such as Highway and The Tube from Tyne Tees, Look Who’s Talking with Derek Batey on Border and Look North and Eastenders on BBC1. How times have changed.

"Tonight we’re celebrating the talent and expertise of those producing television for a very different market….mobile, on-line and on-demand. We’re part of the fastest-growing sector of British industry.

Mr Thompson said the awards highlighted successes in what is a massively important sector of British industry.

He said: "The creative industries are worth £84billion to the UK economy. Much of that of course is currently focused on the capital, but I’m hoping that this kind of showcase will encourage more investment and production here in this corner of nation. It’s our shop window, ladies and gentlemen.

"That’s why I’m so pleased that alongside our programme and craft categories, we also celebrate the achievements of the next generation of TV professionals with our Student Awards.

"The Royal Television Society is doing its bit to encourage more young people to consider careers in our sector by offering a total of 70 production and technical bursaries to students from low income households studying at UK universities. And I’m delighted we have some excellent bursary students right here in the North East."

See a gallery with more pictures here

The winners:

Non Broadcast Factual: Magali Pettier, Janice Cawood

TITLE: ADDICTED TO SHEEP

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Provenance Films

NOMINEES:

Mark Chapman - BREECH

Siobhan Fenton - CAMREX

This award recognises the wealth of documentaries and on-line productions which begin life without a broadcast commission.

Broadcast Factual: Andrew Sheldon

TITLE: GIFT OF LIFE — Episode One

PRODUCTION COMPANY: True North Productions

NOMINEES:

Paul McCoy - MY LIFE — WE LIVE IN A ZOO

Jacqui Hodgson - THE GEORDIE SYMPHONY SCHOOL

Drama — Big Budget: Dan Crow, Katie Bartlett (Exec Prod)

TITLE: VERA

BROADCASTER: ITV

NOMINEES:

Cat Morgan - INSPECTOR GEORGE GENTLY

This year, the RTS has decided to divide the Drama category into two section to better refect the range of drama production across the region. So we have big-budget peaktime drama, and lower-budget drama, with the dividing line being £600,000 an hour.

This year, two shows have made it to the 'Bigger-budget' short list.

Drama — Lower Budget: DUMPING GROUND

PRODUCTION COMPANY: CBBC

NOMINEES:

WOLFBLOOD

This is the competition for Best Drama in the under £600,000 category:

Promotion or Commercial: Stephanie Robinson

TITLE: FEEL GOOD – CITY ELECTRICAL FACTORS

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Brightstar Productions

NOMINEES:

Future & Co - MULTIYORK SPRING SALE

Brightstar Productions - THE ACADEMY AT SHOTTON HALL

Best News Programme: Look North

TITLE: REDCAR STEELWORKS

BROADCASTER: BBC North East & Cumbria

NOMINEES:

ITV News North East - REDCAR STEELWORKS

Outstanding Journalism Award: Katie Hunter (On-screen Journalist)

BROADCASTER: ITV Border

NOMINEES:

Dan Farthing (Producer/Director)

The Award was announced by Jayne Secker from Sky News, who paid tribute to the memory of her mother Kathy, who died in December. Kathy was a much-loved member of the North East & Border television community, and will be greatly missed.

The impressive glass Northumbrian Water Trophy was presented as usual by Alistair Baker... but possibly for the last time as Alistair is retiring. He and his company have supported this category for over 2 decades — much appreciated by the RTS.

Presenter of the Year: Chris Jackson

BROADCASTER: BBC North East & Cumbria

NOMINEES:

Pam Royle - ITV

Tessa Padden - BECOMING VISIBLE

Rising Star Award: Elliott Kerrigan (Writer)

TITLE: BOY MEETS GIRL

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Tiger Aspect

NOMINEES:

Glen College (Junior Editor/Camera) - MCC Media

Lori Carnochan (On-screen Journalist) - ITV Border

The Royal Television Society has a real passion for new talent in the industry. The Judges gave the award (and the Andrea Wonfor Trophy) to new sitcom writer of 'Boy Meets Girl', Elliott Kerrigan.

Photography: Topher McGrillis

NOMINEES:

Adam Gilroy

Some great examples of the art of television camerawork.

Animation, Graphics, Titling: Richard Murton

PRODUCTION COMPANY: IG Media

NOMINEES:

Darren Bykerk

Eddie Scrimgour

Editing: Chris Middis

BROADCASTER: BBC North East & Cumbria

NOMINEES:

David Fisher - JUST LIFE

Stephen Hedley

Outstanding Contribution: Alex Duguid

PRODUCTION COMPANY: ITV Signpost

NOMINEES:

Alex Duguid

The Centre Award: Will Nicholson

NOMINEES:

Will Nicholson

Student Awards — Animation: Domareen Fox

TITLE: Dresslocked

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Teesside University

NOMINEES:

Daniel Crook, Robin Sowden Garcia, Domareen Fox, Claire Frankland - Nigel the Necromancer

Shaun - Real Monster

Michael - Tick

Another extremely competitive field as you will see from the shortlist.

Student Awards — Comedy & Entertainment: Natacha Richardson, Ellie King

TITLE: THE FAMILY FOOD FIGHT

PRODUCTION COMPANY: University of Sunderland

NOMINEES:

Koysal Rahman, Garry Aggett, Robyn Mitchell, Jonny Pope - FULL OF SKIT

Student Awards — Drama: Stephanie Kiewel, Finn H.Drude

TITLE: FUNKENFLUG — CHRONICLES OF A CATASTROPHE

PRODUCTION COMPANY: University of Cumbria

NOMINEES:

Richard Johnston, Tony Ferguson, Karl Sherwin - BENEATH THE TREES

Aijin Lu, Jing Zhao (Coco) - BREATHLESS LOVE

Student Awards — Factual: Jing Zhao

TITLE: Eat, then Wait for the Night

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Teesside University

NOMINEES:

Richard Berry, Harrison Duff - Arbolivia

Glen Harris, Michael Johnson, Inbeom Jeong, Rebecca Roberts - I am Normal

As usual the winners of all our student categories will go forward to the Royal Television Society’s National Student awards held in London.