Obsession, made by  TriHard Films, took home the Drama Short Form prize, with the film’s star, Kim Tserkezie, winning the Best Drama Performance prize for her “agonisingly gripping performance” as a victim of domestic abuse.

Tees Valley Screen received the prestigious Centre Award in recognition of its sterling work in boosting the region’s production presence and skills base. Recently, it brought Sam Mendes’ First World War movie 1917 to film on the Tees Barrage. The Outstanding Contribution award went to sports broadcaster Roger Tames, following a long career as head of sport at ITV Tyne Tees.

Tyneside comedian Jason Cook – with the assistance of the voice of Strictly Come Dancing, Alan Dedicoat – hosted the ceremony at the Hilton Newcastle-Gateshead. Awards were presented by, among others, broadcasters Steph McGovern and Pam Royle, and the Star Wars location manager Mally Chung, who presented a trophy in memory of the media executive and former Border TV presenter John Myers, who died last year.

ITV Tyne Tees and BBC North East and Cumbria both enjoyed success on the night, with ITV News Tyne Tees winning the News Programme of the Year award and the BBC’s Richard Moss named Presenter of the Year.

The BBC won the Current Affairs prize for Medomsley’s Dark Secret: An Inside Out Special, which revealed horrific abuse at the former County Durham detention centre.

The corporation’s Look North also had reason to celebrate: Nisha Joshi won the new Sport prize; Chris Middis won the award for Editing; and reporter Emma Wass took home the Outstanding Journalism prize.

Danny Murphy, who was born deaf, took home the Rising Star award for his role in the children’s series Mission Employable, produced by ITV SignPost in Gateshead.

“These are such a fantastic celebration of the region’s media and creative industries. The range of entries and outstanding quality demonstrate the incredible talent right here in the North East and Cumbria,” said Graeme Thompson, who chaired the awards committee.

The RTS centre also presented student awards at the ceremony.

RTS North East and the Border Television Awards winners                                                                              

Centre Award - Tees Valley Screen

Outstanding Contribution - Roger Tames

Drama – Long Form -The Dumping Ground, BBC Children’s

Drama – Short Form - Obsession

Tri-Hard Films

Acting Performance - Kim Tserkezie, Obsession, Tri-Hard Films

Comedy and Entertainment - We’re Gannin’ Oot Oot, Roundhouse Pictures

Broadcast Factual - Canny Cops, Minnow Films

Non-broadcast Factual - Irene’s Ghost, Forward Features/Tyke Films

News Programme - ITV News Tyne Tees

Current Affairs - Medomsley’s Dark Secret – an Inside Out Special, BBC North East and Cumbria

Outstanding Journalism - Emma Wass, BBC North East and Cumbria

Rising Star - Danny Murphy, ITV SignPost

Presenter of the Year - Richard Moss, BBC North East and Cumbria

Children’s - My Life into the Sun, MCC Media

Sport - Nisha Joshi, BBC North East and Cumbria

Photography - Topher McGrillis, Topher McGrillis Photography

Animation Graphics and Titling - Ellie Land/Iain Cunningham, Forward Features

Editing - Chris Middis, BBC NE and Cumbria

Commercial - Watch This, University of Sunderland

Student Animation - Magnum O’Pup, Teesside University

Student Comedy and Entertainment - 72, University of Sunderland

Student Drama - Quite by Chance, University of Sunderland

Student Factual - Two Monkeys, University of Sunderland

Student Short Form - Things We Wish We Could Say, Teeside University

Craft Skills – Camera - 72, Tee Tze Hou, University of Sunderland

Craft Skills – Editing - Freedom, Lukas Slapsys, University of Sunderland

Craft Skills – Production Design - Quite by Chance, Amy Murphy and Jerome Wardle, University of Sunderland

Craft Skills – Sound - Beeboop, Andreea Rosu, Alise Goldwater, Asya Alkooheji, Daniel Lucas and Dan Glass, Teesside University

Craft Skills – Writing - Stake Out, Chris Yarwood, Northumbria University