The two stars of the ITV cop show joined crime writer Ann Cleeves, whose books inspired the series, on stage to collect the RTS Judges’ Award at the Hilton Newcastle-Gateshead in late February. Filming begins on Vera’s 10th season in Northumberland next month.

ITV Tyne Tees enjoyed success: North East Tonight received the News Programme award; weatherman Ross Hutchinson was named Presenter of the Year; and Tom Sheldrick took the award for Outstanding Journalism. ITV Tyne Tees and BBC North East & Cumbria were given special awards to mark 60 years of production.

ITV SignPost, which produces signed programmes for a range of broadcasters from studios in Gateshead, received the Centre Award from RTS CEO Theresa Wise. Giles Bowman from ITV SignPost was named Rising Star.

The CBBC series about the lives of young people in care, The Dumping Ground, picked up two genre prizes: Drama and, for Kia Pegg, Drama Performance.

Dan Dewsbury’s heartwarming documentary series for BBC Two about a former steel town, The Mighty Redcar, made by 72 Films, took the award for Broadcast Factual Production.

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RTS North East & Border Award winners

 

Non Broadcast Factual Production:

Geordie Jazz Man

Film Agogo

 

Broadcast Factual Production:

The Mighty Redcar

72 Films

 

Drama:

The Dumping Ground/Heroes

CBBC

 

Short Form:

Blood Steel

Cassini Films

 

Drama Performance:

Kia Pegg

The Dumping Ground

CBBC

 

Commercial:

Shangri-La - Festival of Chinese Flavours

Third Aspect

 

News Programme:

ITV Tyne Tees News 

ITV Tyne Tees

 

Outstanding Journalism:

Tom Sheldrick

ITV Tyne Tees

 

Presenter of the Year:

Ross Hutchinson

ITV Tyne Tees

 

Rising Star:

Giles Bowman

ITV SignPost

 

Professional Excellence - Sound:

The East Wing

 

Professional Excellence - Photography:

Chris Middis

BBC North East & Cumbria

 

Professional Excellence - Production Design:

Patrick Bill

Vera

ITV Studios

 

Professional Excellence - Animation, Graphics & Titling:

Arcus Animation Studios

 

Professional Excellence - Editing:

Tom Strachan

The Dumping Ground

CBBC

 

Centre Award:

ITV SignPost

 

Outstanding Contribution:

Re:Production

 

Judges Award:

Vera

ITV Studios

 

Student Award Winners:

 

Student Award - Drama

The Sycamore Gap

Northumbria University

 

Student Award - Animation:

The Boy and the Balloon

Teesside University

 

Student Award - Comedy & Entertainment:

Rebel Rebel

University of Sunderland

 

Student Award - Factual:

NEPK – North East Parkour

University of Sunderland

 

Student Award - News:

Greek Unemployment

University of Sunderland

 

Student Award - Short Form:

Find Out

Teesside University

 

Student Award - Camerawork:

It’s Like Snowboarding but with Wheels

University of Cumbria

 

Student Award - Editing:

NEPK – North East Parkour

University of Sunderland

 

Student Award - Production Design:

Thomas Johnson

Rebel Rebel

University of Sunderland

 

Student Award - Sound:

Freddie Gollins

Flow

Newcastle University

 

Student Award - Writing:

Lucy Rose Wilson-Green

The Sycamore Gap

Northumbria University