BBC One crime drama Happy Valley went nap at the RTS Yorkshire awards last month, with five awards, including: Drama; Actor, for the star of the series, Sarah Lancashire; and Writer, for the show’s creator, Sally Wainwright.
The third and final series, made by Lookout Point TV and shot in the Calder Valley, also nabbed awards for Professional Excellence: Post-production and Professional Excellence: Drama and Comedy Production.
A deeply moving programme about former Leeds Rhinos rugby league player Rob Burrow, who has motor neurone disease, was a double winner on the night. He was the subject of BBC Breakfast’s Rob Burrow: Living with MND, which won the News or Current Affairs Story and Single Documentary awards.
Fittingly, the RTS Yorkshire Awards were held at the home of Leeds Rhinos, Headingley Stadium, and hosted by ex-Rhinos and England player Jamie Jones-Buchanan.
Burrow, who was present at the awards, recorded an acceptance message. “I’m just a lad from Yorkshire who got to live out his dream of playing rugby league, and I accept this award on behalf of everybody living with motor neurone disease and for all those people who will be in the future.
“On behalf of the Burrow family, I would like to say a huge heartfelt thank you to the brilliant BBC Breakfast team. Without them, none of this would be possible.… Whatever your personal battle, be brave and face it. Life is precious – live every day to the fullest.”
Leeds-based Candour Productions was named Production Company of the Year. It also took home the Documentary Series award for Sky’s Libby, Are You Home Yet?, which investigated the murder of Hull student Libby Squire, and the prize for Professional Excellence: Factual Production for Channel 5’s Cause of Death, following the work of a coroner.
Another Leeds-based production company, Wise Owl Films, also won two awards: Factual Entertainment for BBC Two film When Tina Turner Came to Britain and the Features prize for Channel 4’s Amanda Owen’s Farming Lives, which is presented by the English shepherd and writer, and explores the pressures on British farmers.
ITV Yorkshire bagged the two news prizes – News Programme for its report ITV Calendar: The Death of HM The Queen and News or Current Affairs Reporter for its journalist Helen Steel.
“It’s been another outstanding year for production in Yorkshire across both scripted and unscripted shows,” said RTS Yorkshire Chair Lisa Holdsworth.
“It’s a testament to the fantastic skills, facilities and creativity that we have in our region. Long may it continue.”
RTS Yorkshire Television Awards winners
Drama - Happy Valley - Lookout Point TV for BBC One
Actor - Sarah Lancashire, Happy Valley - Lookout Point TV for BBC One
Writer - Sally Wainwright, Happy Valley - Lookout Point TV for BBC One
Single Documentary - Rob Burrow: Living with MND - BBC Breakfast
Documentary Series - Libby, Are You Home Yet? - Candour Productions for Sky
Factual Entertainment - When Tina Turner Came to Britain - Wise Owl Films for BBC Two
Features - Amanda Owen’s Farming Lives - Wise Owl Films for Channel 4
High-volume Factual - Renovation Nation - True North for Channel 4
News Programme - ITV Calendar: The Death of HM the Queen - ITV Yorkshire
News or Current Affairs Story - Rob Burrow: Living with MND - BBC Breakfast
News or Current Affairs Reporter - Helen Steel - ITV Yorkshire
Presenter - Helen Skelton - ITV Yorkshire
One to Watch - Caris Feeney - Daisybeck Studios
Animation - Ending Virginity Testing - Motiv Productions
Production Company of the Year - Candour Productions
Professional Excellence: Drama and Comedy Production - Happy Valley - Lookout Point TV for BBC One
Professional Excellence: Drama and Comedy Post-production - Happy Valley - Lookout Point TV for BBC One
Professional Excellence: Factual Production - Cause of Death - Candour Productions for Channel 5