Category : BBC
Date : 17.03.2004
Printable version
The quality
of BBC output, across a range of programme genres, was honoured last
night with 17 out of 28 awards at the Royal Television Society Programme
Awards 2003 held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London.
Ambitious programme making from creative teams at the
BBC and from the independent sector, across investigative documentary,
science, comedy, film, drama, daytime and regional output and event
television, was recognised at the prestigious honour ceremony.
The Office Christmas specials and Little Britain
celebrated winning Best Situation Comedy and Best Entertainment awards
respectively, while Little Britain stars Matt Lucas and David Walliams
also won Best Comedy Performance for their surreal view of the nation.
The Secret Policeman was named Best Single Documentary
and was described as "a masterclass in investigative documentary...
public service broadcasting of the highest order".
Spooks was named Best Drama Series and political
thriller State of Play won Best Drama Serial and Best Writer
awards for its creator, Paul Abbott.
This Little Life was the biggest winner of the
evening with three awards, Best Single Drama, Best Actress for Kate
Ashfield and Best Network Newcomer Behind The Screen for Director,
Sarah Gavron.
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross won the award
for Best Entertainment Performance; Britain's Secret Shame was
named Best Daytime Programme; Motherland A Genetic Journey
won Best Science and Natural History; the second series of 24
won the RTS International Award and Comic Relief 2003 The
Big Hair Do was named Best Event.
BBC Northern Ireland also celebrated a double success
with awards for Best Regional Programme for Christine's Children,
a moving documentary which told the story of a one-time country star
who devoted his life to saving abandoned children, and for Best Regional
Presenter, Gerry Anderson in Anderson In....
Jana Bennett, BBC's Director of Television, commented:
"To win the lion's share of awards at last night's RTS Awards is
a real achievement.
"To have been recognised for our work in such a
range of programmes from children's through daytime to entertainment,
drama and documentary - is testament to the fantastic talent we have
both in BBC in-house production and in the strong creative partnerships
we have forged with independent production companies.
"I'd like to congratulate
everyone who was involved in bringing these programmes to BBC viewers
- not only those who won an award but also the other very deserving
nominees."
Also honoured last night was former BBC Director-General
Greg Dyke who was presented with the RTS Judges' Award for his
outstanding achievement in 27 years of broadcasting.
Will Wyatt CBE, RTS President, said: "At the BBC,
Greg fought like a tiger for its interests and the people in it, and
brought it the unaccustomed smell of competitive success.
"The juries recognised his
great feat of achieving what was thought impossible - loyalty, admiration
and personal popularity in an organisation as large and testing as the
BBC."
Winners in Full
Situation Comedy and Comedy Drama
The Office Christmas Specials, BBC Entertainment for
BBC ONE
Entertainment
Little Britain, BBC New Comedy for BBC THREE
Single Documentary - General
The Secret Policeman, BBC Documentaries & Contemporary
Factual for BBC ONE
Science & Natural History
Motherland - A Genetic Journey, Takeaway Media for
BBC TWO
Single Drama
This Little Life, BBC Films & The Film Council present
a Common Features Production in association with the Northern Production
Fund and the Yorkshire Media Production Agency/Studio of the North for
BBC TWO
Drama Series
Spooks, A Kudos Production for BBC ONE
Drama Serial
State of Play, BBC in association with Endor Productions
for BBC ONE
Daytime Programme
Britain's Secret Shame, BBC Daytime/BBC Current Affairs
for BBC ONE
Regional Programme
Christine's Children, Double Band Films for BBC ONE
Northern Ireland
Regional Presenter
Gerry Anderson - Anderson In
, Green Inc. for
BBC ONE Northern Ireland
Actor (Female)
Kate Ashfield - This Little Life, BBC Films & The Film Council present
a Common Features Production in association with the Northern Production
Fund and the Yorkshire Media Production Agency/Studio of the North for
BBC TWO
Entertainment Performance
Jonathan Ross - Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, Open
Mike Productions for BBC ONE
Network Newcomer Behind the Screen
Sarah Gavron (Director) - This Little Life, BBC Films
& The Film Council present a Common Features Production in association
with the Northern Production Fund and the Yorkshire Media Production
Agency/Studio of the North for BBC TWO
Writer
Paul Abbott - State of Play, BBC in association with
Endor Productions for BBC ONE
RTS International Award
24 (Season 2), Real Time Productions and Imagine Television
in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television for BBC TWO and
BBC THREE
Comedy Performance
David Walliams & Matt Lucas - Little Britain, BBC
New Comedy for BBC THREE
Event
Comic Relief 2003 - The Big Hair Do, BBC Entertainment
for BBC ONE
Judges' Award
Greg Dyke
