RTS Awards: Big celebration for the region's small screen winners
Vera, Smoggie Queens and The Red King were among the North East telly winners recognised at a red carpet ceremony on Tyneside at the weekend
The North East TV ‘phenomenon’ that is Vera offered the centrepiece of the region’s Royal Television Society awards on Saturday.
Brenda Blethyn who played the iconic TV detective and best-selling author Ann Cleeves who created the character, were jointly presented with the Outstanding Contribution Award at the ceremony, which took place at the Gateshead Hilton.
The Oscar-nominated actress, whose portrayal of DCI Vera Stanhope has won fans all over the globe, also took home the award for Drama Performance at the event which was once again excellently hosted by comedian, writer and founder of Newcastle-based Schnoobert Productions, Jason Cook.
The accolades served as a fitting full stop for the beloved ITV series, which bowed out in January after 14 years as an important fixture on the region’s film and TV production calendar.
While Vera’s significant contribution was being saluted, there were also awards for a new kid - or should that be queen - on the block.
Riotous BBC comedy, Smoggie Queens - which is just as soaked in Middlesbrough as it sounds - picked up trophies for Best Comedy for Hat Trick Productions as well as Best Newcomer for its creator and star, Phil Dunning.
Always a looked-forward-to event on the region’s creative industries wall planner, this year’s ceremony once again attracted a crowd of famous faces including actors Jill Halfpenny, David Leon and Riley Jones, comedy stars Danny Adams and Mick Potts, Dragon’s Den and The Big Idea Works star Sara Davies, boxer and commentator Glenn McCrory, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and cast members from The Dumping Ground and Smoggie Queens.
Regional news legends Pam Royle, Jeff Brown and Dawn Thewlis were also in attendance.
Other winners on the night included Fulwell 73’s Netflix documentary series Sunderland Til I Die (Broadcast Factual); Gateshead production company Twenty Six O3 for their series Joanna Page’s Wild Life (Factual Entertainment; and Film Nova for the Great North Run (Sports award).
There were also awards for individual behind-the-scenes talent. The Red King’s assistant director La’Toyah McDonald received the Crew Award, editor David Fisher won the Post Production prize for his work on Teesside-shot feature film Jackdaw and the Amazon drama The Devil’s Hour while James Cook won best Cinematography for his work on the promo for Peter Alexander Jobson’s Just ‘Cause I’m Dead.
Regional screen agency, North East Screen were also celebrating, having supported nine of the winners on the night with the North East Production Fund securing the green light for both Smoggie Queens and The Red King
David Parfitt, chair of North East Screen - and Oscar-winning producer - said: “It’s been a brilliant year for production in the North East, which is now the fastest growing region in the UK, despite the commissioning downturn.
“Whilst we’ve waved goodbye to the legendary Vera, we’ve welcomed the excellent Smoggie Queens and The Red King – who we can now say are RTS North East and Border Award winners! The series have delivered ratings success for their channels, and we hope that both will return to the region at some point.
“50% of winners have been supported by the initiatives North East Screen run, including the North East Production Fund, Reach and Open Horizons.
“The success of this year’s Awards further demonstrates how the North East Production Fund is already delivering inward investment, creating jobs and increasing visibility of our region as a place for global production.”
Alison Gwynn, chief executive for North East Screen, added: “I’m really proud to see the North East Screen team and our North East Production Fund not only backing winners and welcoming international productions, but also offering experienced crew in the region opportunities to take their next step, providing real opportunities in the industry for new, diverse companies and new entrants.
“This will ensure the North East has a vibrant and sustainable screen industry for years to come.”
Back to the roster of award winners and Peter Darrant and the team from Pride Media Centre in Gateshead won the prestigious Centre Award in recognition for their work as a hub for studios and more than 16 businesses.
BBC North East won Best News Programme for Look North with one of its longest serving reporters, Sharuna Sagar going home with the Presenter award.
Gregg Easteal of ITV Tyne Tees won the On Screen Journalism prize and his colleague Paul Kingston scooped the Broadcast Short Form award for his feature about a 98-year-old horse riding botanist.
Student productions were also recognised with young film makers from the University of Sunderland bagging up the Entertainment award for One Foot Out The Door and the Factual Long Form prize for Fleece to Fabric.
Wildlife Media student Megan Richards of Cumbria University won the Saving the Planet award for her documentary Saving the Iberian Lynx. Gateshead College students won the Factual Short Form prize for The Independent Cinema Crisis, Husk won the Student Drama prize for Northumbria University, while the award for Student Animation went to Teesside University for Juicy Cat.