RTS Student Television Awards 2010 Shortlist

I’m very much looking forward to this event:

The Royal Television Society (RTS), Britain’s leading forum for television and related media, has announced the shortlist for the RTS Student Television Awards 2010. Sponsored by Welcome to Yorkshire, the event will take place on 20 May at the National Media Museum, Bradford and will be hosted by comedian Seann Walsh.

Chaired by Peter Salmon, the RTS Student Television Awards celebrate the best in student television from across the UK – the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Awards are judged in four categories including Fiction, Entertainment, Factual and Animation.

The Shortlist:

Undergraduate Animation:

Mars, Joe Bichard & Jack Cunningham, Kingston University
The Little Red Plane, Charlotte Blacker, University of Central Lancashire
Vovô, Luiz Lafayette Stockler, University of Wales, Newport

Undergraduate Entertainment:

Cardiff Love Story, Tom Gatley & Victor Ortega, University of Wales, Newport
Roots, Faolan Jones, Confetti Institute of Creative Technology
Shadowed, Hamish Anderson, Annabelle Draper, Tom Coulson & Team, Bournemouth University

Undergraduate Factual:

Britain’s Young Soldiers, Danielle Clark, Joseph Martin & Team, University for the Creative Arts
Don’t Give Up Your Guns, Juris Kudeiko, University of the West of England
Our Life, Matthew Morris, Anthony Allen & Elvis Katoto, University of Teesside

Undergraduate Fiction:

Love Inc, Alex Battershall, Sam Ely, Anthony Woodley & Team, University for the Creative Arts
Not Enough Time, Samantha France, Anthony Dugdale & Team, University of Sunderland
Small Change, Cathy Brady, Tom Fitzpatrick & Team, National Film School, Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology

Postgraduate Animation:

Matter Fisher, David Prosser, Royal College of Art
The Boy Who Wanted To Be A Lion, Alois Di Leo Gremmelspacher, Jérémie Dubois, Polly Stokes & Team, National Film and Television School
The Eagleman Stag, Mike Please, Royal College of Art

Postgraduate Entertainment:

Creatures of the Compost, Justine Allan, University of Salford
Investigation, Laurène Delaporte & Team, National Film and Television School
Viral, Thomas Murphy & Team, National Film and Television School

Postgraduate Factual:

A Miracle in West Brom, Billy Dosanjh & Team, National Film and Television School
Living Without Men, Luo Yi, Goldsmiths, University of London
Noctuaries, Olivia Humphreys, Goldsmiths, University of London

Postgraduate Fiction:

Solstice, David Stoddart, Justine Watson & Team, National Film and Television School
The Confession, Tanel Toom, Caroline Bruckner, Emily Williams & Team, National Film and Television School
Until The River Runs Red, Paul Wright, Poss Kondeatis & Team, National Film and Television School

The fifth Student Television Awards Day, encompassing a series of masterclasses, will be held prior to the awards ceremony. Here students will be given the opportunity to benefit from the experience of respected industry professionals. Further details of the masterclasses can be found on www.rts.org.uk.

Please refer to the RTS Masterclasses and Student Television Awards 2010 event for booking information.

RTS Programme Awards 2010

This year’s prestigious Royal Television Society Programme Awards was once again held at the plush Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Park Lane.

This time around, I arrived early to avoid the blinding bright flashes from the paps waiting outside the venue to snap the celeb attendees. And yes, the event, hosted by funnyman Dara O’Briain, did have a lot of stars attending (from Graham Norton to presenter duo Ant and Dec through to the Coronation Street cast), but to me, it was brilliant to be in the same room as those who are absolute broadcast legends and pioneers.

The BBC won a significant number of awards and I’m very chuffed to be working for an institution that really nurtures talent like Professor Brian Cox and Miranda Hart. Seeing all the range of output from different programme makers and channels makes me feel so proud to be working in an industry that touches people whether they provoke thought or make them laugh / cry.

It was a good night for writer and producer Steven Moffat (Dr Who, Sherlock, Coupling) who received the Judges’ Award. He completely didn’t expect to get this recognition and said in his speech that he wished he had remained sober had he known he was going on stage to accept this award.

Moffat was then followed by Peter Bennett-Jones, who was given the Lifetime Achievement Award. His production credits is huge and this man has brought us Mr Bean, Harry Enfield and Chums, The Vicar of Dibley, The Thin Blue Line, Blackadder Back and Forth, Gimme Gimme Gimme and West End musical ‘Our House’.

Of course, last night was a chance to make new connections for future RTS events, so watch this space. Lovely chatting with Sanjeev Bhaskar, Graham Norton, as well as my telly favourites Ant and Dec.

Massive congratulations to all the nominees too. Here are the winners:

Actor (Female)
Vicky McClure – This is England ’86 A Warp Film for Channel 4

Actor (Male)
Jim Broadbent – Any Human Heart Carnival Films for Channel 4

Arts
Alan Bennett and the Habit of Art A Lone Star/National Theatre Production in association with Arts Council England and More4

Children’s Drama
Sarah Jane Adventures BBC Productions/BBC Wales for CBBC

Children’s Programme
Horrible Histories Lion Television in association with Citrus for CBBC

Scripted Comedy
Miranda BBC Productions for BBC Two

Comedy Performance
Miranda Hart – Miranda BBC Productions for BBC Two

Daytime and Early – Peak Programme
The Indian Doctor Rondo Media and Avatar Films for BBC One

Documentary Series
Welcome to Lagos KEO north for BBC Two

Single Documentary
Between Life and Death BBC Productions/BBC Wales for BBC One

Drama Serial
Five Daughters BBC Productions for BBC One

Drama Series
Sherlock Hartswood Films for BBC One

Single Drama
The Road to Coronation Street ITV Studios for BBC Four

Entertainment
The X Factor A talkbackTHAMES and Syco TV Production for ITV1

Entertainment Performance
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly – I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! / Britain’s Got Talent ITV Studios for ITV1 / a talkbackTHAMES and Syco TV Production for ITV1

Features and Lifestyle Series
Pineapple Dance Studios Pulse Films for Sky1HD

History
The Secret Life of the National Grid BBC Productions for BBC Four

International Award
True Stories: The Cove Vertigo Films for More4

Presenter
Professor Brian Cox – Wonders of the Solar System BBC/Science Channel co-production for BBC Two

Nations and Regions Programme
Breaking the Silence Tern TV for BBC One Northern Ireland

Science and Natural History
Wonders of the Solar System BBC/Science Channel co-production for BBC Two

Soap and Continuing Drama
EastEnders BBC Productions for BBC One

Writer – Comedy
Jo Brand, Vicki Pepperdine & Joanna Scanlan – Getting On Vera Productions for BBC Four

Writer – Drama
Jack Thorne and Shane Meadows – This is England ’86 A Warp Film for Channel 4

Judges’ Award
Steven Moffat

Lifetime Achievement Award
Peter Bennett-Jones

Broadcast Awards 2011

The cream of the broadcasting industry gathered at last night’s Broadcast Awards held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.

With more than 1300 attendees, looks like the event was a massive success. The host was comedian John Bishop.

Below are the winners and runners up:

1. Best Popular Factual Programme
Sponsored by The Hospital Club Studios
Winner: Embarrassing Bodies, Maverick Television for Channel 4

2. Best Documentary Programme
Sponsored by Production Wizard
Winner: Cutting Edge – Katie: My Beautiful Face, Mentorn Media for Channel 4
Highly Commended: My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, Firecracker Productions for Channel 4

3. International Programme Sales
Sponsored by Compact Media Group
Winner: Undercover Boss, Studio Lambert

4. Best Daytime Programme
Sponsored by NEP Visions
Winner: Climbing Great Buildings, ITN Productions for BBC Two

5. Best Children’s Programme
Sponsored by Aframe
Winner: The Gruffalo, Magic Light Pictures in association with Studio Soi for BBC One

6. Best Multichannel Programme
Sponsored by Editworks
Winner: Misfits, Clerkenwell Films for E4
Highly Commended: Pineapple Dance Studios, Pulse Films for Sky 1 HD

7. Best Documentary series
Sponsored by The Bridgeman Art Library
Winner: Welcome to Lagos, KEO films for BBC Two

8. Best Single Drama
Sponsored by Broadcast Video Expo
Winner: Small Island, Ruby Films/AL Films for BBC One

9. Best Pre-School Programme
Winner: Something Special, CBeebies for CBeebies

10. Best Drama Series or Serial
Sponsored by Prime Focus
Winner: Sherlock, Hartswood Films in co-production with Masterpiece for BBC One

11. Best News Programme
Sponsored by Sony Professional Media
Winner: Our War, Their War: Afghan, ITN for Channel 4

12. Best Entertainment Programme
Sponsored by The Fountain Studios
Winner: The Cube, Objective Productions for ITV1

13. Best Soap or Continuing Drama
Sponsored by BBC Studios and Post Production
Winner: Emmerdale, ITV Studios for ITV1
Highly Commended: The Bill, talkbackTHAMES for ITV1

14. Best Comedy Programme
Sponsored by Pinewood Studios
Winner: The Thick of It, BBC Productions for BBC Two

15. Best Sports Programme
Sponsored by SIS LIVE
Winner: Indian Premier League Final, IMG Media for ITV4

16. Best Music Programme
Sponsored by PRS for Music
Winner: Glastobury 2010, BBC / Glastonbury Festivals for BBC Two

17. Best Post Production House
Sponsored by Avid
Winner: Clear Cut Pictures
Highly Commended: Films at 59

18. Best New Programme
Sponsored by 3 Mills Studios
Winner: Misfits, Clerkenwell Films for Channel 4

19. Best Independent Production Company
Sponsored by The London Studios
Winner: Left Bank Pictures

20. Channel of the Year
Sponsored by Arqiva
Winner: E4

Lisa Campbell, editor of Broadcast magazine commented:

Whether you’re an award-winner or not, every finalist deserves special recognition for producing some amazing television, despite the difficulties of the past year.

In fact, looking at some of the work shortlisted, it’s almost impossible to believe that 2009 was one of the most difficult years the TV industry has ever faced. It made the job of shortlisting, let alone selecting winners, a really difficult one this year.

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees!

2009-2010 RTS Craft and Design Winners announced

The Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards 2009/2010 were presented on Wednesday at The Savoy, London. The event was hosted by Richard McCourt and Dominic Wood also known as Dick and Dom. Here are the winners.

Congratulations to my friends at Maverick – the New Media team (my old department) scooped up a Design and Craft Innovation Award. Very proud of you guys!

Photography – Drama

Gavin Finney Going Postal The Mob Film Company for Sky 1

“A perfect example of director and DOP in perfect harmony… with magical sequences that were technically extraordinary, as well as visually stunning.”

Nominees
Steve Lawes Sherlock Hartswood Films in co-production with Masterpiece for BBC One
Christopher Ross Misfits Clerkenwell Films for E4

Photography – Documentary/Factual & Non-Drama Productions

Charlie Hamilton James, Jamie McPherson & Simon Werry Natural World – Victoria Falls Halcyon Media for BBC Two

“Visually stunning with extraordinary shots from the most unbelievable angles. A familiar wonder of the world re- shown with colour, scope and daring, one of nature’s most magnificent scenes, magnificently shot.”

Nominees
Rod Clarke & Kevin Flay Life: Insects BBC Natural History Unit for BBC One
Jonathan Young Tropic of Cancer BBC Current Affairs for BBC

Sound – Drama

Billy Mahoney, Roger Dobson, Tony Gibson (Molinare) & Russell Jeffrey Misfits Clerkenwell Films for E4

“…the sound was innovative, pushing the boundaries in a highly creative way. The freshness and boldness of the soundtrack really made it stand out among high class competitors. In a word – brilliant.”

Nominees
Paul Hamblin, Peter Brill, Iain Eyre & Lee Walpole Cranford II
BBC Productions/WGBH Boston in association with Chestermead for BBC One

Stuart Hilliker, Lee Walpole, Iain Eyre & J J Le Roux Strike Back
Boom/Left Bank Pictures for Sky 1

Sound – Entertainment and Non Drama

John Rogerson & The Halo Sound Team Richard Hammond’s Invisible Worlds

Halo Post Production/BBC Productions for BBC One

“The Jury hailed the winning entry as an example of the very best in creative sound design. The winning team decided that no sound element should be used more than once, and although some might call this ‘utter madness’, it resulted in a glorious triumph.”

Nominees
Tim Owens & Graham Wild Life: Mammals BBC Natural History Unit for BBC One
Matt Skilton & Paul Paragon Murder on the Lake
Dragonfly Film and Television Productions for BBC Four

Effects – Digital

Mill TV Team Doctor Who ‘The Pandorica Opens’ EP12 Series 5

BBC Wales for BBC One

“The judges were impressed by some beautifully integrated effects and by green screen. ‘This is about as good as it gets on TV’ they said.”

Nominees
Paul Tuersley & The Visual Effects Team Big Babies BBC Productions for CBBC
Simon Thomas, Reuben Barkataki, Zoltan Benyo & Zoltan Szarvasi Going Postal The Mob Film Company for Sky 1

Effects – Special

Mark Holt Misfits Clerkenwell Films for E4

“The jury were impressed by great facial make-up, impressive car collapses, and lightning and meteor strikes which were well executed and choreographed.”

Nominees
The Mill, Merlin VFX Team The Last Dragon Lord, Ep13, Merlin Series 2
Shine Productions/BBC Wales for BBC

James Morgan, Chris Reynolds, Millennium FX & Nick Hopkin Mission 2110
BBC Scotland for CBBC, BBC One and BBC HD

Effects – Picture Enhancement

Kevin Horsewood Sherlock

Pepper/Hartswood Films in co-production with Masterpiece for BBC One

“A very well shot piece with a grade that really helped it on its way…”

Nominees
Ross Baker Outnumbered Series 3
Halo Post Productions/Hat Trick Productions for BBC One
Perry Gibbs Misfits: Series 1 Clerkenwell Films for E4

Make Up Design – Drama

Chrissie Baker Mo ITV Studios for Channel 4

“The Jury was deeply impressed with the care and subtlety the winner took to re-create the various stages of Mo Mowlem’s illness.”

Nominees
Neill Gorton & Janet Horsfield The Fattest Man in Britain ITV Studios for ITV1
Donald McInnes Worried About the Boy Red Production Company for BBC Two

Make Up Design – Entertainment and Non-Drama

Kristyan Mallett Facejacker (Series One) Hat Trick Productions for Channel 4

“The winner was a tour de force of make-up design which didn’t just assist the comedy but was essential to it.”

Nominees
Mike Stringer, Suzanne Bates & Mike H G Bates Stoneage Atlantis
Hybrid Enterprises/Wall to Wall and National Geographic for National Geographic Channel

Jane Walker Bellamy’s People of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland BBC Productions & Down The Line for BBC Two

Tape and Film Editing – Drama

Charlie Phillips Sherlock

Hartswood Films in co-production with Masterpiece for BBC One

“Innovative, constantly surprising and joyfully playful, the editing complemented the narrative, and offered fresh perspective and insight into the stories.”

Nominees
David Charap Dive ITV Studios for BBC Two
Phillip Kloss Five Days II BBC Productions for BBC One

Tape and Film Editing – Documentary/Factual

Caroline Richards & Julien Temple Requiem for Detroit

Films of Record for BBC Two

“Adventurous, fresh and innovative, the editing cut together the archive and contemporary footage to evoke the way in which the past and present collide.”

Nominees
Editing Team One Born Every Minute Episode 2
Dragonfly Film and Television for Channel 4
Brian Woods Jobless True Vision for BBC One

Tape and Film Editing – Entertainment and Situation Comedy

Mark Davies & Mark Everson Pete Versus Life Objective Productions for Channel 4

“The editing enabled this unique show to present itself as a sports programme. Sports style graphics and commentators were also edited together to gel into a new format.”

Nominees
Mark Davies & Mark Everson Peep Show (Series 6)
Objective Productions for Channel 4

Nigel Williams & Team Mongrels BBC Productions for BBC Three

Costume Design – Drama

Annie Symons Worried About The BoyRed Production Company for BBC Two

“The wit and intelligence with which our winner recreated the era gave the film a real period joy said the jury.”

Nominees
Lucinda Wright Enid Carnival Films for BBC Four
Joey Attawia An Englishman in New York Leopardrama for ITV1

Costume Design – Entertainment & Non Drama

Kayvan Novak Facejacker (Series One) Hat Trick Productions for Channel 4

“The costume design of this series had to pull off two tricky things at once. It had to signal to the audience the humour of the exaggerated characters while at the same time disguising the identity and intent of the hoaxer. An inch either way and the series would have failed.”

Nominees
Stephen Adnitt Dancing on Ice ITV Studios for ITV1
June Nevin Bellamy’s People of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland BBC Productions & Down The Line for BBC Two

Lighting and Multi Camera – Lighting for Multi Camera

Dave Davey Dancing on Ice ITV Studios for ITV1

“The winner and his team paint stunning pictures with light on the canvas that is the Dancing on Ice rink, and the style continues to evolve and develop with each new series. This year’s work showed a lighting director and team delivering at the very top of their game.”

Nominees
John Carberry EastEnders Live BBC Productions for BBC One
Martin Kempton Playhouse: Live -The Typist A Sky Arts Production for Sky Arts

Lighting and Multi Camera – Multi Camera Work

Clive Arnold & Duncan Unsworth EastEnders Live BBC Productions for BBC One

“A huge technical undertaking, realized and delivered brilliantly. 54 scenes – both interior and exterior – using 43 actors in a variety of dramatic situations including stunts, this live 25th anniversary episode was fine vintage EastEnders.”

Nominees
Camera Team One Born Every Minute Episode 4
Dragonfly Film and Television for Channel 4
Paul Kirrage Dancing on Ice ITV Studios for ITV1

Production Design – Drama

Jacqueline Abrahams Wallander II: The Fifth Woman

A Left Bank Pictures/Yellowbird/TKBC Production for the BBC co-produced with Degeto, WGBH Boston and Film I Skane for BBC One

“The design in the winning entry was wholly realistic down to the smallest of details, without distracting from the narrative of the piece. A richly satisfying piece of work…”

Nominees
Ricky Eyres, Lee Gordon, Ray McNeill & Monica Esztan Going Postal
The Mob Film Co for Sky 1
Edward Thomas Doctor Who ‘The Pandorica Opens’ BBC Wales for BBC One

Production Design – Entertainment and Non-Drama

Simon Rogers & Team Mongrels BBC Productions for BBC Three

“The winning team expertly accommodated the needs of its puppeteers whilst creating a clearly adult comic precinct for the show’s script.”

Nominees
Jo Sutherland IT Crowd talkbackTHAMES for Channel 4
James S Thompson, Lucy Fewell & Team Hounded BBC Productions for CBBC

Graphic Design – Titles

John McKenna, Richard Norley, Russell Mann & Paul McNamara World Cup 2010 Jump for ITV Sport for ITV

“The jury felt this sequence combined beautifully choreographed imagery with an evocative choice of music – dramatic storytelling with a real ‘tingle factor’.”

Nominees
Momoco Luther BBC Productions for BBC One
John Durrant, Jon Doe & Duncan Dix History of Now Burrell Durrant Hifle/BBC Bristol for BBC Two

Graphic Design – Programme Content Sequence

Jellyfish Pictures & Burrell Durrant Hifle Inside the Perfect Predator

BBC Natural History Unit for BBC One

“Seamlessly part of the narrative, this wonderful sequence took the programme to another level.”

Nominees
BBC News Graphics (Design) & Brainstorm/Idonix (Technology)
BBC Election Night BBC News for BBC One
John Durrant, Duncan Dix, Jon Doe & Mick Connaire History of Now Episode One Burrell Durrant Hifle/BBC Bristol for BBC Two

Graphic Design – Trails and Packaging

Louisa Fyans, Karen Potterton, Damon Collins & Marc Craste Winter Olympics Studio AKA/Red Bee Media/RCKR/Y&R for BBC Sport

“An outstanding winner, with a distinctive graphic style, which conjured up richness with a limited palette, and set the dramatic scene for the programme perfectly.”

Nominee
James Berridge, John Cryer & Simon Glover Heston’s Feasts 4Creative for Channel 4

Music – Original Score

John Lunn (Bucks Music Group) Going Postal The Mob Film Company for Sky 1

“Exceptional… The composer demonstrated a cleverness and guile working to an unbelievably tight budget to create this classy score that was packed with ideas and sounded fully high end. Brilliant!”

Nominees
David Arnold & Michael Price Sherlock Hartswood Films in co-production with Masterpiece for BBC One
Samuel Sim Emma BBC Productions/WGBH Boston for BBC One

Music – Original Title

David Arnold & Michael Price Sherlock Hartswood Films in co-production with Masterpiece for BBC One

“The Jury felt that the distinctive and stylish use of vocals coupled with a boldness in style would make you want to sit up and watch the show.”

Nominees
Edmund Butt (Bucks Music Group) Garrow’s Law Twenty Twenty Television for BBC One
Samuel Sim The Deep Tiger Aspect Scotland Productions for BBC One

Design & Craft Innovation

Maverick New Media Team

“The winning team’s work is an outstanding example of how TV and Online can successfully converge and produce innovative web content. The new media team’s work supports a range of shows including Embarrassing Bodies, How to Look Good Naked, The Real Hustle and Kirstie’s Homemade Home. Embarrassing Bodies Online has been a real success with the website generating 7.5m visits since its launch and 75 million page views and one million people took online checks for STIs via the website. The department also handles online programme support for more than twenty prime time Channel 4 shows including Grand Designs and Location, Location, Location and manage major Channel 4 sites including 4Homes and Film4.”

Lifetime Achievement Award

Eddie Mansell

“On Monday night there was another TV awards ceremony, maybe not quite as glitzy as this one, and certainly not with as elegantly attired attendees! It was the International Emmys in New York. British drama had a good night and the show that did best with two awards was the work of the recipient of our next award. That show was The Street, made, in one of those anomalies we can never get our head around, by ITV Studios for the BBC. The person who edited the key episodes of this Emmy winning series just happens to be the same person who edited The Jewel In The Crown, Maigret, Cracker, Band of Gold, Reckless, Hot Money, The Jury, Clocking Off, The Innocent, Cold Feet, Blue Murder, Henry VIII, Eleventh Hour, Vincent, Island at War and Mobile. Two things occur to you – how can one man have worked so consistently over so many years on so much remarkable drama? And secondly, how annoying if you happened to have trained to be a drama editor in Manchester and you found yourself working in a world with our winner in it. Except that, by repute, he is one of the nicest, unassuming men you could hope to meet. Even so, you’d think he’d have left something for someone else to do! We asked Sita Williams, Executive Producer of The Street and a good many of the other celebrated dramas he has cut and asked her why she was so fond of working with him. She said this in New York, the morning after the night before: ‘To have the winner as your editor is to know that your film will be even better than you hoped. The film will show actors giving outstanding performances – even when sometimes they have not! He will find the best takes and help craft the performance. The judgements and decisions he makes in the cutting room make him the editor everyone wants for their film. I have worked with him for over 30 years and he is simply the best, and its right that this Award goes to such a supreme craftsman and artist.’”

Judges’ Award

Coronation Street Production Team

“Like old soldiers at the Cenotaph, the number of people who were actually there and actually saw the very first episode of Coronation Street burst onto our screens on the 10th of December 1960 dwindles every year. But somehow everyone feels we were there at that momentous event in UK TV history. That’s not just because there have been so many archive programmes about the early days of Coronation Street. It’s also because the show is essentially the same as it was then with warmth and humour, character before story, controlling women and feckless men. In Coronation Street Tony Warren uncovered the DNA of the long running soap opera, a pattern everyone has followed ever since. 200 people regularly work behind the scenes on Corrie delivering the show to air five times a week. A small army – but rather than being just guardians of some holy flame everyone who works on the show helps fuel the fire, from the first AD to the editors, from the electricians to the make up artists, from the wardrobe department to the props buyers. Each person in the Corrie production team puts a bit of themselves into the show.. 200 people pore over it and make sure it’s true to its original blue print. And they’ve done that for 50 years. Through fire and wind, explosions and car crashes, trams coming off their tracks and actors off their lines, and through the sternest test of all – that omnipresent Manchester rain that drizzles down the bit between your anorak hood and your scarf. 7500 episodes later and Coronation Street is still in rude health. That’s not the work of one man, great though Tony Warren’s creation was. It’s the work of a genuine TV family, a family who have consistently put all their heart and all their energy into the longest running drama in the world.”

Gongs, golden year and the Great Hall

The prestigious University of Birmingham’s Great Hall played host to the 2010 Royal Television Society Midlands Centre Awards last night. The event, which also celebrated the Centre’s 50th anniversary, saw the cream of the Midlands’ digital, broadcast and television communities being honoured for the outstanding work they have done in the past year.

Top producers and celebs joined hosts Emma Willis (MTV, I’m A Celebrity…) and Ed James (Heart FM) on the night.

Best Regional Programme went to The Man Who Shrank the Globe – AB Media for BBC East Midlands and a special commendation went to Made in Birmingham – Reggae Punk Bhangra – Swish Films.

This year, the Awards committee introduced a new category – Best on Screen Game. The decision was based on the growing games community being produced in the region. It was also a privilege to have met Inspector Morse writer, Colin Dexter. He was given the top prize of the night – the Baird Medal – for his contribution to broadcasting.

Here are the winners of the night:

Best Promotional Programme
Disabled and Living in Walsall – Pat The Bull Films

Best Drama

TV Drama
Land Girls – BBC Drama

Best Short Film
Handle with Care

Best Acting Performance

Male
Danny Webb

Female
Sophie Ward

Best Newcomer
Becci Gemmell

Best Digital Innovation
Such Tweet Sorrow – Mudlark

Best Entertainment
Countrywise (War of the Roses) – ITV Central

Best On Screen Personality

Male
Bob Warman – ITV Central

Female
Sameena Ali-Khan – ITV Central

Best New Talent
Dave Stephenson – Fullrange

Best On Screen Game
Battle of Britain 303 Squadron, Fish in a Bottle for Channel 4

Best Production Craft Skills
Neil Hillman – The Audio Suite

Best News
Central Tonight – ITV Central

Best Current Affairs
White Collar Boxing – Andy Bevan, ITV Central

Best Documentary
The Man Who Shrank the Globe – AB Media for BBC East Midlands

Best Regional Programme
The Man Who Shrank the Globe – AB Media for BBC East Midlands

Baird Medal
Colin Dexter OBE

More images can be seen on the RTS Mids Facebook Fan page.

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees. As Hon Secretary of RTS Mids Centre, it’s very nice to see a thriving digital and television community here in the Midlands that are making an impact not just nationally but internationally as well. I am very much looking forward to the 2011 entries already!

2010 RTS Craft and Design Nominations

Here is the list of nominees for the 2010 Royal Television Society Craft and Design Awards:

Costume Design – Drama

Lucinda Wright Enid Carnival Films for BBC Four
Joey Attawia An Englishman in New York Leopardrama for ITV1
Annie Symons Worried About The Boy Red Production Company for BBC Two

Costume Design – Entertainment & Non Drama

Stephen Adnitt Dancing on Ice ITV Studios for ITV1
June Niven Bellamy’s People of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland BBC Productions & Down The Line for BBC Two
Kayvan Novak Facejacker (Series One) Hat Trick Productions for Channel 4

Thanks to sta1V1na for the video.

Effects – Digital

BBC Wales for BBC One
Paul Tuersley & The Visual Effects Team Big Babies BBC Productions for CBBC
Simon Thomas, Reuben Barkataki, Zoltan Benyo & Zoltan Szarvasi Going Postal The Mob Film Company for Sky 1
Mill TV Team Doctor Who ‘The Pandorica Opens’ EP12 Series 5

Effects – Special

Shine Productions/BBC Wales for BBC
Nick Hopkin, Martin MacKenzie, Jody Black & Alan Marques Mission 2110
BBC Scotland for CBBC, BBC One and BBC HD
Mark Holt Misfits Clerkenwell Films for E4
The Mill, Merlin VFX Team The Last Dragon Lord, Ep13, Merlin Series 2

Graphic Design – Programme Content Sequence

BBC News Graphics (Design) & Brainstorm/Idonix (Technology)
BBC Election Night BBC News for BBC One
Jellyfish Pictures & Burrell Durrant Hifle Inside the Perfect Predator
BBC Natural History Unit for BBC One
John Durrant, Duncan Dix, Jon Doe & Mick Connaire History of Now Episode One Burrell Durrant Hifle/BBC Bristol for BBC Two

Graphic Design – Titles

John McKenna, Richard Norley, Russell Mann & Paul McNamara World Cup 2010 Jump for ITV Sport for ITV
Momoco Luther BBC Productions for BBC One
John Durrant, Jon Doe & Duncan Dix History of Now Burrell Durrant Hifle/BBC Bristol for BBC Two

Graphic Design – Trails and Packaging

Louisa Fyans, Karen Potterton, Damon Collins & Marc Craste Winter Olympics Studio AKA/Red Bee Media/RCKR/Y&R for BBC Sport
James Berridge, John Cryer & Simon Glover Heston’s Feasts
4Creative for Channel 4

Lighting and Multi Camera – Lighting for Multi Camera

John Carberry EastEnders Live BBC Productions for BBC One
Martin Kempton Playhouse: Live-The Typist A Sky Arts Production for Sky Arts
Dave Davey Dancing on Ice ITV Studios for ITV1

Thanks to SmileHopeLove for the video.

Make Up Design – Drama

Chrissie Baker Mo ITV Studios for Channel 4
Neill Gorton & Janet Horsfield The Fattest Man in Britain ITV Studios for ITV1
Donald McInnes Worried About the Boy Red Production Company for BBC Two

Make Up Design – Entertainment and Non-Drama

Kristyan Mallett Facejacker (Series One) Hat Trick Productions for Channel 4
Mike Stringer, Suzanne Bates & Mike H G Bates Stoneage Atlantis
Hybrid Enterprises/Wall to Wall and National Geographic for
National Geographic Channel
Jane Walker Bellamy’s People of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland BBC Productions & Down The Line for BBC Two

Music – Original Score

David Arnold & Michael Price Sherlock
Hartswood Films in co-production with Masterpiece for BBC One
John Lunn (Bucks Music Group) Going Postal The Mob Film Company for Sky 1
Samuel Sim Emma BBC Productions/WGBH Boston for BBC One

Music – Original Title

David Arnold & Michael Price Sherlock
Hartswood Films in co-production with Masterpiece for BBC One
Edmund Butt (Bucks Music Group) Garrow’s Law
Twenty Twenty Television for BBC One
Samuel Sim The Deep Tiger Aspect Scotland Productions for BBC One

Lighting and Multi Camera – Multi Camera Work

Dragonfly Film & Television for Channel 4
Clive Arnold & Duncan Unsworth EastEnders Live BBC Productions for BBC One
Paul Kirrage Dancing on Ice ITV Studios for ITV1
Camera Team One Born Every Minute Episode 4

Production Design – Drama

Jacqueline Abrahams Wallander II: The Fifth Woman
A Left Bank Pictures/Yellowbird/TKBC Production for the BBC co-produced with Degeto, WGBH Boston and Film I Skane for BBC One
Ricky Eyres, Lee Gordon, Ray McNeill & Monica Esztan Going Postal
The Mob Film Co for Sky 1
Edward Thomas Doctor Who ‘The Pandorica Opens’ BBC Wales for BBC One

Production Design – Entertainment and Non-Drama

Simon Rogers & Team Mongrels BBC Productions for BBC Three
James S Thompson, Lucy Fewell & Team Hounded BBC Productions for CBBC
Jo Sutherland IT Crowd talkbackTHAMES for Channel 4

Effects – Picture Enhancement

Ross Baker Outnumbered Series 3
Halo Post Productions/Hat Trick Productions for BBC One
Perry Gibbs Misfits: Series 1 Clerkenwell Films for E4
Kevin Horsewood Sherlock
Pepper/Hartswood Films in co-production with Masterpiece for BBC One

Photography – Drama

Gavin Finney Going Postal The Mob Film Company for Sky 1
Steve Lawes Sherlock
Hartswood Films in co-production with Masterpiece for BBC One
Christopher Ross Misfits Clerkenwell Films for E4

Photography – Documentary/Factual & Non-Drama Productions

Rod Clarke & Kevin Flay Life: Insects BBC Natural History Unit for BBC One
Charlie Hamilton James, Jamie McPherson & Simon Werry
Natural World – Victoria Falls Halcyon Media for BBC
Jonathan Young Tropic of Cancer BBC Current Affairs for BBC

Sound – Drama

Paul Hamblin, Peter Brill, Iain Eyre & Lee Walpole Cranford II
BBC Productions/WGBH Boston in association with Chestermead for BBC One
Stuart Hilliker, Lee Walpole, Iain Eyre & J J Le Roux Strikeback
Boom/Left Bank Pictures for Sky 1
Billy Mahoney, Roger Dobson, Tony Gibson (Molinare) & Russell Jeffrey Misfits Clerkenwell Films for E4

Sound – Entertainment and Non Drama

John Rogerson & The Halo Sound Team Richard Hammond’s Invisible Worlds
Halo Post Production/BBCProductions for BBC One
Matt Skilton & Paul Paragon Murder on the Lake
Dragonfly Film and Television Productions for BBC Four
Tim Owens & Graham Wild Life: Mammals BBC Natural History Unit for BBC One

Tape and Film Editing – Drama

David Charap Dive ITV Studios for BBC Two
Phillip Kloss Five Days II BBC Productions for BBC One
Charlie Phillips Sherlock
Hartswood Films in co-production with Masterpiece for BBC One

Tape and Film Editing – Documentary/Factual

Editing Team One Born Every Minute Episode 2
Dragonfly Film & Television for Channel 4
Caroline Richards & Julien Temple Requiem for Detroit
Films of Record for BBC Two
Brian Woods Jobless True Vision for BBC One

Tape and Film Editing – Entertainment and Situation Comedy

Mark Davies & Mark Everson Pete Versus Life Objective Productions for Channel 4
Nigel Williams & Team Mongrels BBC Productions for BBC Three
Mark Davies & Mark Everson Peep Show (Series 6) Objective Productions for Channel 4

Thanks to dwummers for the video.

Best of luck to everyone – lots of strong contenders there! Looking forward to finding out the winners on the 24th!

Royal Television Society 2010 Nominations

This year’s RTS Midlands Centre Awards is going to be on the 4th of November held at the impressive University of Birmingham Great Hall.

Here are the nominees:

Best Promotional Programme
Working for You – Tinker Taylor
Disabled and Living in Walsall – Pat The Bull Films
Be Active – Television Junction
Transforming Lives – Rebecca Battman
Facing the Fat – IdeasLab

Best Drama

TV Drama
Doctors – BBC Drama
Land Girls – BBC Drama

Best Short Film
Stained
Trolley
Handle with Care
The Interviewee
The Moon Bird

Best Acting Performance

Male
Danny Webb
Chris Walker
Stavros Flatley

Female
Elisabeth Dermot Walsh
Sophie Ward

Best Newcomer
Nicholas Woodman
Charlie Clemmow
Becci Gemmell

Best Digital Innovation
Embarrassing Bodies Live – Maverick
Such Tweet Sorrow – Mudlark
WeVee – InCahoots

Best Entertainment
Countrywise (War of the Roses) – ITV Central
The Man Who Shrank the Globe – AB Media
Countrywise (Guernsey) – ITV Central

Best On Screen Personality

Male
Bob Warman – ITV Central
Paul Heiney – ITV Central
Stavros Flatley – Aquila TV

Female
Marverine Cole – Sky
Sameena Ali-Khan – ITV Central
Lucy Kite – ITV Central

Best New Talent
Lucy Watson – ITV Central
Dave Stephenson – Fullrange
David Poole – The Interviewee
Deborah Aston – Made In Birmingham
Anna Louise Shelton – Trolley

Best On Screen Game
Keepy Uppy, Fish in a Bottle
Battle of Britain 308 Squadron, Fish in a Bottle

Best Production Craft Skills
Lewis Arnold – Stained
Neil Hillman – The Audio Suite – Handle With Care
James Willson – AB Media
Dave Stephenson – Fullrange
Andrew Fox – Inspirations: Bringing Education to the Himalayas – Maverick
Paul Thompson – Countrywise, ITV Central

Best News
Central Tonight – ITV Central

Best Current Affairs
Balls to Poverty – Peter Bearne, ITV Central
White Collar Boxing – Andy Bevan, ITV Central
65th Arnhem Anniversary – Keith Wilkinson, ITV Central
Time Warp – Victoria Davies, ITV Central

Best Documentary
Embarrassing Bodies – Maverick
The Man Who Shrank the Globe – AB Media for BBC East Midlands
Made In Birmingham – Birmingham Popular Music Archive
Countrywise – ITV Central

Good luck to everyone and see you on the 4th!