The awards ceremony was hosted this evening by comedian and presenter Eddie Kadi at the London Hilton on Park Lane, commending the exceptional skills and processes that are involved in programme making.

Across the 28 competitive categories, the BBC had a victorious night receiving 14 awards, with The English winning both Costume Design – Scripted and Design Titles, and The State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II for both Director – Multicamera and Multicamera Work categories.

Sky also gained several accolades, receiving six wins including two nods for Funny Woman in Production Design – Scripted and Make Up Design – Scripted.

Awarded at the discretion of the RTS, the Outstanding Achievement Award was given to Justine Evans, Director of Photography at BBC Studios Natural History Unit, for being an exceptional craftsperson and innovator of photography, with an unwavering courage to work in the toughest conditions across multiple expeditions. The RTS Special Award was presented to the BBC series, made by ITV Studios, Ralph & Katie, for creating invaluable content that celebrates diversity and inclusion, providing an incredibly important representation of disabled people.

Chair of the Awards, Ade Rawcliffe said: “The RTS Craft & Design awards provide the opportunity for our industry to come together to celebrate and honour the wide range of talent and craftsmanship in UK television.  Having delighted UK audiences with their outstanding creative work this year, a huge congratulations to all our RTS Craft and Design winners and nominees, in which their success is incredibly well-deserved.”

For more information please visit: https://rts.org.uk/event/rts-craft-design-awards-2023

Please see below the full list of nominations:

Casting Award

WINNER – Catherine Willis Somewhere Boy Clerkenwell Films for Channel 4

“The lead is a special young performer aided by an entire cast of adept and brilliant actors. A well woven cast.”

Nominees:

Heather Basten Dreaming Whilst Black Big Deal Films / A24 for BBC
Julie Harkin & Nathan Toth The Sixth Commandment Wild Mercury Productions / True Vision for BBC

 

Costume Design – Non-scripted

WINNER – Plunge Creations / Bandicoot Scotland The Masked Singer (S4) Bandicoot Scotland for ITV

“Excellent work. So much fun, done so creatively. You simply cannot do this show if the costumes don’t do so much more than their job! It’s all done brilliantly – the jury say they were amazed nobody has toppled over!”

Nominees:

Shereen Shimmin, Abbie Williams, Jackie Young & Jonathan Skinner Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway Lifted Entertainment (Part of ITV Studios) in co-production with Mitre Studios for ITV1
Zaldy & Eve Collins RuPaul's Drag Race UK World of Wonder for BBC

 

Costume Design - Scripted

WINNER – Phoebe de Gaye The English Drama Republic / Eight Rooks for BBC

“Wonderful colours and palette. Our winner created the world so beautifully and authentically. The jury said they were seduced by how exquisite this was.”

Nominees:

Pam Downe Funny Woman Potboiler Productions and Rebel Park Productions in association with Sky Studios for Sky Max
Charlotte Morris Silo AMC Studios in association with Apple for Apple TV+

 

Design - Programme Content Sequences

WINNER – Made in Colour Ukraine: The Children’s Story BBC Newsround for BBC

“Elegantly uncomplicated animations that honour the complexity of these challenging narratives.”

Nominees:

Made in Colour North Korea: The Insiders BBC News for BBC
Production Team Princess Anne: The Plot To Kidnap A Royal ClockWork Films / GroupM Motion Entertainment for Channel 4

 

Design – Titles

WINNER – Chris Billig, Stephen Fuller, Colin Hess & Danny Kamhaji The English Drama Republic / Eight Rooks for BBC

“A stunning colour scheme, meticulously designed, compelling all judges to desire artworks inspired by it!”

Nominees:

Manddy Wyckens & Joe Dennis Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Studio AKA for Shondaland for Netflix
Ed Kevill-Davies & Lucas Roche The Gallows Pole Element Pictures in association with Big Arty Productions for BBC in association with A24

 

Director - Multicamera

WINNER – Directing Team The State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II BBC Studios for BBC

“Taking on a project knowing that what you produce will enter the national archives forever, something that will be replayed again and again for the next 100 years would daunt many live directors – but not this team. Instead, they delivered a note perfect performance that effortlessly captured the sense of loss that the nation was feeling, balanced with celebrating the life of a global icon. Quite simply masters of their craft.”

Nominees:

James Morgan & Chris Whiterod Springwatch 2023 BBC Studios / BBC Public Service for BBC
Simon Staffurth The Coronation of TM King Charles III and Queen Camilla BBC Studios for BBC

 

Director - Non-scripted

WINNER – Marcel Mettelsiefen & Jordan Bryon Children of the Taliban Moon Dogs Films for Channel 4

“The jury were particularly impressed by the unfiltered feel to this film. The viewer almost felt they were eavesdropping on the children, that their conversations were seemingly uninterrupted by the presence of cameras which is no mean feat. The film unfolds in beautifully shot scenes and all this was achieved in what must have been the most demanding of filming conditions.”

Nominees:

Benedict Sanderson Dublin Narcos Blast! Films for Sky Documentaries
Joe Myerscough & Emma Jones Inside Our Autistic Minds BBC Studios Specialist Factual Productions / The Open University for BBC

 

Director - Scripted

WINNER – Junior Okoli Jungle Nothing Lost for Prime Video

“It was an incredibly difficult decision in what has been a brilliant year for scripted content. The competition was phenomenal but in the end the winner of this category goes to a director who the jury felt displayed such confidence in shot making that complexity and simplicity sat side by side effortlessly, allowing the viewer to be seduced by the bold aesthetic, without being distanced from the characters. This was made even more impressive as this was our winners television directing debut!”

Nominees:

Dawn Shadforth I Hate Suzie Too Bad Wolf for Sky Atlantic
Alex Winckler Somewhere Boy Clerkenwell Films for Channel 4

 

Editing - Entertainment and Comedy

WINNER – Gareth Heal There She Goes: 414 Merman Television for BBC

“An astonishing piece of work” said the jury. “Frantically paced but the editor really understood the need for air, to allow for the reaction and not afraid of that silence giving the viewer the time to think. The way they kept the intensity was really well done – flawless.”

Nominees:

Jamie Pearson & Helena Evans Am I Being Unreasonable? Boffola Pictures and Lookout Point for BBC
Ashley White Dreaming Whilst Black Big Deal Films / A24 for BBC

 

Editing - Non-scripted

WINNER – Chloe Lambourne LYRA Erica Starling Productions for Channel 4

The jury said “this was a beautifully put together piece – sensitive, evocative and yet also dramatic. It was brilliantly edited – both holding the viewers on the edge of their seats at its most dramatic moments, whilst also gently and playfully allowing them to get to know the main character, a relatively unknown and yet incredibly heroic young journalist.”

Nominees:

Bradley Manning & Bruce Law Dublin Narcos Blast! Films for Sky Documentaries
Paul Holland Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World (Ep 1) BBC Studios for BBC

 

Editing - Scripted

WINNER – David Charap I Am Ruth Me+You Productions in association with Juggle Productions for Channel 4

“The edit created a slow build of the tension and the editing choices felt so instrumental in creating each scene, as the takes were improvised.  It was creative, and instrumental to enhancing some desperately sad scenes. Extraordinary, brilliant and authentic.”

Nominees:

Peggy Koretzky Blue Lights Two Cities Television / Gallagher Films for BBC
Fin Oates, Jo Walker & Joe Randall-Cutler I Hate Suzie Too Bad Wolf for Sky Atlantic

 

Editing – Sport

WINNER – Sam Bergson Hatton Noah Media Group in association with Sky Studios for Sky

The jury felt that the winner had “superbly conveyed the raw emotion on show with skillful changes in pace and excellent use of music, creating a wonderfully theatrical feel to the film. Words used included “beautiful” and “impactful” whilst superb storytelling made this a documentary film that everyone wanted to watch.

Nominees:

Steve Wakeford The Ashes Sky Sports Cricket for Sky
Ian Grech Villeneuve Pironi Noah Media Group in association with Sky Studios for Sky

 

Effects - SFX

WINNER – Stefano Corridori SAS Rogue Heroes (S1) Kudos / Nebulastar for BBC

The jury felt that “overall, the SFX team worked towards a wonderful achievement. The authenticity contributed to the overall look and feel of some incredibly exciting sequences and the more subtle and nuanced invisible work.”

Nominees:

Paul Dimmer Hijack 60Forty Films / Idiotlamp Productions in association with Apple for Apple TV+
Frankie Waite / Ignite SFX World on Fire 2 A Mammoth Screen production Co-produced with Masterpiece for BBC

 

Effects - VFX

WINNER – Effects Team His Dark Materials Bad Wolf for BBC

“The winner showed a rich variety of VFX of an extremely high calibre. The attention to detail on the scale of costumes was integral to ensuring the believability of the mythical characters. The animation of the creatures was particularly noted by the jury, and the interaction with the actors and seamless integration into the scenes was beautifully done. The jury felt that it was a visual feast of complex and very well executed work.”

Nominees:

Elliot Newman, Kirstin Hall, Andy Hargreaves & the MPC Team Prehistoric Planet (S2) BBC Studios in association with Apple for Apple TV+
Union Team The Power SISTER for Prime Video

 

Lighting for Multicamera

WINNER – Tim Routledge, James Scott & Morgan Evans Eurovision Song Contest 2023 BBC Studios for BBC

The jury felt that “the creativity employed and technology used in all the nominees were beautifully matched, in an array of venues, scenarios and occasions that all provided their own unique set of challenges. In a stand-out year of spectacular events, what the team accomplish in terms of variety, scale and creativity is truly mindboggling. Add to that truncated prep period, cultural language barriers and the sheer number of acts, it really was a very special body of work.”

Nominees:

Nigel Catmur The Coronation Concert BBC Studios for BBC
James Tinsley The Traitors Studio Lambert for BBC

 

Make Up Design - Non-scripted

WINNER – Nicola Coleman Fantasy Football League Avalon Television for Sky Max

“The concise and clear supporting materials supporting this entry really helped the jurors to understand how much work this takes. The characters are all immediately recognisable albeit, with a rough and ready charm, feel and look!”

Nominees:

David Petruschin, Julie Cooper & Sam Regan RuPaul's Drag Race UK World of Wonder for BBC
Lisa Armstrong & Lisa Davey Strictly Come Dancing (S20) BBC Studios for BBC & BBC iPlayer

 

Make Up Design - Scripted

WINNER – Sue Michael Funny Woman Potboiler Productions and Rebel Park Productions in association with Sky Studios for Sky Max

“A great understanding of the period – the authenticity came across and it was really beautiful to look at.”

Nominees:

Samantha Kininmonth & Suzi Battersby Litvinenko ITV Studios and Tiger Aspect for ITVX
Nic Collins & Giorgio Galliero Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Shondaland for Netflix

 

Multicamera Work

WINNER – Camera Team The State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II BBC Studios for BBC

“The jury felt honored to be able to discuss and celebrate an incredible list of nominees in a stand-out year of event television! What an impressive feat – 212 cameras, 14 OBs and an event that truly showed the world that we are without equal in our standards of live television.”

Nominees:

Camera Team Eurovision Song Contest 2023 BBC Studios for BBC
Multicamera Team The Coronation of TM King Charles III and Queen Camilla BBC Studios for BBC

 

Music Original Score - Non-scripted

WINNER – Simon Russell Once Upon A Time In Northern Ireland KEO films and Walk on Air Films for BBC

“A stunning composition which didn’t distract or overwhelm the stories. The stirring, nostalgic music added to the sensitivity of the narrative. A well thought-out, brilliantly modern score which also respectfully harked back to Gaelic Irish rootsy melodies. So much flair and finesse.”

Nominees:

Hans Zimmer, Anze Rozman & Kara Talve for Bleeding Fingers Music Prehistoric Planet (S2) BBC Studios in association with Apple for Apple TV+
David Schweitzer The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy Twofour in association with Apple for Apple TV+

 

Music Original Score – Scripted

WINNER – Johnny Lloyd I Hate Suzie Too Bad Wolf for Sky Atlantic

“Brilliant, striking, and original – very impressive. This show wouldn’t work without the musical score, which was well thought out and integral to the whole piece. The music drives the story but never feels intrusive.  It met the challenge of reflecting numerous moods – anxiety, panic, mania, and frustration were all heightened via the score..”

Nominees:

Tawiah & Lindsay Wright Black Ops BBC Studios for BBC
Federico Jusid The English Drama Republic / Eight Rooks for BBC

 

Photography - Non-scripted

WINNER – Marcel Mettelsiefen & Jordan Bryon Children of the Taliban Moon Dogs Films for Channel 4

“The film portrayed the energy of Afghanistan through children’s eyes with an intimacy that was charming and innocent against a challenging and dangerous backdrop. It had a cinematic look with composition that always thought-through even in difficult situations. The photography gave a real sense of place and told a world story through an extraordinary lens..”

Nominees:

Narayan Van Maele, Patrick Smith, Jim Incledon & Benedict Sanderson Dublin Narcos Blast! Films for Sky Documentaries
Jack Wood Kids Expectation for Channel 4

 

Photography - Scripted

WINNER – Annika Summerson BSC Then You Run (S1) Kudos / MadeFor for Sky

“This was strong work with real variety and a clear visual grammar. The jury praised the economic storytelling and found the overall effect incredibly striking.”

Nominees:

Chas Appeti Jungle Nothing Lost for Prime Video
Stephan Pehrsson BSC SAS Rogue Heroes (S1) Kudos / Nebulastar for BBC

 

Picture Enhancement

WINNER – Paul Harrison & Owen Hulme The Gallows Pole Element Pictures in association with Big Arty Productions for BBC in association with A24

“The jury said the look was effective and consistent and felt that the seamless and subtle style supported the story, taking the viewer along with the narrative. A gorgeous and rich treatment that pushes at the creative and technical aspects of grading.”

Nominees:

Mark Mulcaster of Sky Post Production Hatton Noah Media Group in association with Sky Studios for Sky
Thomas Urbye & Grace Weston Somewhere Boy Clerkenwell Films for Channel 4

 

Production Design - Non-scripted

WINNER – Mathieu Weekes / Bizibot Productions The Traitors Studio Lambert for BBC

“Incredible attention to detail, in each section of the multifaceted show; whether within the castle, in the spectacular tasks, or the final debate chamber.  A very accomplished, immersive piece of work, that invoked the look and feel of a murder mystery.”

Nominees:

Catherine Land & Caroline Berry-Reid Strictly Come Dancing (S20) BBC Studios for BBC & BBC iPlayer
Stufish The Coronation Concert BBC Studios for BBC

 

Production Design - Scripted

WINNER – Jacqueline Smith Funny Woman Potboiler Productions and Rebel Park Productions in association with Sky Studios for Sky Max

“A distinctive, highly researched and accomplished show-within-a show, with brilliant period details that fully immerse the viewer in Barbara’s world and the swinging 60’s.  The level of consistency across each scene and each episode indicates a team at the very height of their powers.”

Nominees:

Richard Bullock, Charmian Adams & Alice Norris SAS Rogue Heroes (S1) Kudos / Nebulastar for BBC
Chris Roope The English Drama Republic / Eight Rooks for BBC

 

Production Management

WINNER – Production Management Team Eurovision Song Contest 2023 BBC Studios for BBC

“Phenomenal production management was at the forefront of this monumental undertaking. This team successfully delivered on a scale not seen in the UK since 1998. They ensured the contest’s integrity was preserved amidst the spectacle and complexity.”

Nominees:

Georgie Emary Witts 24 Hours in Police Custody The Garden for Channel 4
Shiva Talwar Inside Our Autistic Minds BBC Studios Specialist Factual Productions / The Open University for BBC

 

Sound - Non-scripted

WINNER – Claire Ellis, Will Chapman & Greg Gettens Aftershock: Everest and the Nepal Earthquake Raw TV for Netflix

“The jury felt the sound design and mix was immersive, gritty and authentic. It gave the viewer the feeling of being there while still maintaining clear, crisp dialogue which kept you engaged with the story.”

Nominees:

Nas Parkash, Will Chapman, Billy Poole & Andrew Yarme Break Point (S1) Box to Box for Netflix
Kate Hopkins, Tim Owens & Graham Wild Frozen Planet II A BBC Studios Natural History Unit production for BBC & BBC America co-produced with ZDF and France Television with BBC Open University Partnership for BBC

 

Sound - Scripted

WINNER – Sound Team Great Expectations FX Productions / Hardy, Son & Baker / Scott Free Productions for BBC

“The balance of the mix was beautifully done and meant the music was delicate and never over-powered a scene. Sound design elements, even small details, felt rich and beautifully done.”

Nominees:

Sound Team Gangs of London Pulse Films in association with SISTER for Sky Atlantic
Sound Team Slow Horses (S2) See-Saw Films in association with Apple for Apple TV+

 

RTS Special Award

WINNER – Ralph & Katie

"The RTS Special Award goes to the team behind Ralph & Katie – the brilliant, heartwarming BBC series, made by ITV Studios.

The spin-off to The A Word follows newlyweds Ralph and Katie in the Lakes, played by Leon Harrop and Sarah Gordy. The Guardian described it as real comfort TV, powered by kindness, tolerance and perfect comic timing. But it is not just for its considerable onscreen achievements that the RTS would like to recognise Ralph & Katie.

As a collective everyone involved with the show together created one of the most inclusive pieces of content that we've seen on screen for a long, long time. Not only did they assemble an incredible cast, but they also pulled together a production team and crew with hugely important representation of disabled people. Led by Producer, Jules Hussey and Director, Jordan Hogg, they created a workspace that celebrated diversity and supported a range of different accessibility needs.

Through their work this team has removed barriers, increased access and changed perceptions of what is possible. They have set the standard for disability inclusion not just for the wider industry, but for society as a whole."

 

RTS Outstanding Contribution Award

WINNER – Justine Evans

This year the RTS Craft and Design Outstanding Contribution award goes to a Director of Photography who just happens to be a woman – in itself a rarity.

As well as being superb at her craft she is also a trailblazer. She is always willing and happy to tackle the toughest places – high up in the rainforest canopy, deep inside a cave, out in the frozen tundra, or in the baking African bush surrounded by lions at night. 

She is Justine Evans of the BBC’s Natural History Unit. Justine has worked on countless expeditions, films, and series – including being one of the few people to have shot on Planet Earth, Planet Earth II and the recently released Planet Earth III. 

Her boss Jonny Keeling, says whatever the situation, however tough, she manages to produce beautiful images and a brilliantly crafted sequence. 

Her colleagues add that Justine is a great team player and a fantastic collaborator. She mentors others and has an infectious can-do attitude…always approaching situations with immense resilience, courage, and humour - and never a complaint. 

Jonny Keeling sums up why Justine is such a deserving recipient of this award: “She is an inspiration to me and to all who have worked with her. She works so hard and with such skill and expertise.  A massive thank you to Justine. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with her over the years – and I am delighted for her.”