RTS West of England Awards 2003

Dead Man Talking in Bristol!

Well, not quite. It was the occasion of the RTS Bristol Centre’s prestigious annual awards ceremony to honour all that is best in the West Region’s TV output and ‘Dead Man Talking’ was the award winner for Best Regional Independent. A fine documentary about Thomas Hardy made by Bristol production company, Available Light, it made “ a genuine new contribution to the appreciation of one of the region’s key literary figures.”

With entries covering eleven categories from Best TV Newcomer - ITV1 West of England’s Zia Trench - to regional documentaries – won by a pigeon fancier’s dream, ‘Wacky Racers’ from SN Productions, Best Regional TV News programme – BBC Points West, and the Regional TV Personality of the Year - BBC1 West’s Chris Vacher - it was a truly memorable evening;

The evening was rounded off by the presentation to Colin Rose of “The Sir Ambrose Fleming Award” for ‘outstanding contribution to television in the Bristol area by renowned producer, Jeremy Gibson.

The event was held at Bristol’s Marriott Royal hotel and was wittily compered by ITV Westcountry’s presenter, Richard Bath.

With a keynote speech from John Willis ( BBC Director of Factual ) and awards presented by Simon Shaps, RTS Chairman of Council and Chief Exec. Granada Content, it was a night to remember, enjoyed by the award winners and over 180 guests.

The full list of winners:

Best Newcomer - Zia Trench (HTV West)

Craft Award Regional Camerawork - John Podpadec – (Wild Fire Production)

Single News Item - Fire Strike – BBC Points West

Network Award Specialist Factual - Horror on the Home Front (Testimony Films for C4)

Network Award Features - A Life of Grime (BBC Bristol)

Interactive - www.channel4.com/waywithwords - (Available Light)

Regional Current Affairs - Desperately Seeking (HTV West)

Regional Independents - Dead Man Talking (Available Light)

Regional TV News programme - BBC Points West

Regiona. Documentary - Wacky Racers (SN Productions)

Regional TV Personality - Chris Vacher (BBC Points West)

Winners