BBC One psychological thriller The Woman in the Wall won three prestigious prizes at the RTS Northern Ireland Television Awards in November, with Ruth Wilson and Daryl McCormack picking up the Best Actor awards, and David Holmes and Brian Irvine triumphing in the Original Music Score category.

Writer Joe Murtagh’s six-part gothic drama, made by Motive Pictures, tells the story of lives ruined by Ireland’s Catholic church workhouses, the Magdalene Laundries.

Another BBC One drama, Blue Lights, which is made by Two Cities Television and Gallagher Films in Belfast, took home two awards, the coveted Drama Award and the Writer Award for Declan Lawn, Adam Patterson, Bronagh Taggart and Noel McCann. The series follows rookie police officers on patrol in a city still coming to grips with the fallout from the Troubles.

The Brian Waddell Award, which recognises an outstanding contribution to the TV industry, went to UTV Life presenter Pamela Ballantine.

She said: “I am honoured to receive this award, especially as I remember Brian Waddell, who was Director of Programmes and an imposing and hugely respected figure when I started at UTV 40 years ago. He was a legend and trailblazer for TV in Northern Ireland.”

RTS Northern Ireland Chair Sarah McCaffrey added: “Pamela is the ultimate professional, a brilliant presenter with a unique gift for making those she interviews feel like they are talking to a good friend.”

Gerard Stratton, a Director of Triplevision, a disabled-led independent production company based in west Belfast, was the recipient of the new Hidden Hero Award.

James Blake took home the Breakthrough Award for fronting Strident Media’s BBC Three documentary about identity theft, Hunting the Catfish Crime Gang.

The 2 Johnnies Late Night Lock In, made by Green Inc Film & Television for RTÉ, was awarded the Entertainment and Comedy Award, while Waddell Media’s BBC Two film, Coronation Tailors: Fit for a King, which was presented by The Great British Sewing Bee’s Patrick Grant, won the Best Factual Entertainment Award. Belfast-based Afro-Mic Productions won the Lifestyles and Features Award for Channel 5 food show Big Money Munch.

Belfast indie DoubleBand Films took home two awards: Specialist Factual with My Name is Ottilie for BBC Four and Post-production for Channel 4 documentary Ukraine: Holocaust Ground Zero.

RTS Northern Ireland Television Awards winners

Brian Waddell Award – Pamela Ballantine

Hidden Hero – Gerard Stratton

Drama – Blue Lights – Two Cities TV and Gallagher Films for BBC One

Actor: Female – Ruth Wilson, The Woman in the Wall – Motive Pictures for BBC One and Showtime

Actor: Male – Daryl McCormack, The Woman in the Wall – Motive Pictures for BBC One and Showtime

Writer – Blue Lights, Declan Lawn, Adam Patterson, Bronagh Taggart and Noel McCann – Two Cities TV and Gallagher Films for BBC One

Entertainment and Comedy – The 2 Johnnies Late Night Lock In – Green Inc Film & TV for RTÉ

Factual Entertainment – Coronation Tailors: Fit for a King – Waddell Media for BBC Two

Lifestyle and Features – Big Money Munch – Afro-Mic Productions for My5/BET International

Specialist Factual – My Name is Ottilie – Doubleband Films for BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Four

Documentary: Singles – The Secret Army – BBC Northern Ireland

Documentary: Series – Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland – Keo Films and Walk on Air Films for BBC Two and BBC Northern Ireland

Current Affairs – Blood on the Dance Floor – BBC Northern Ireland

News Coverage•BBC Newsline: Lough Neagh Day•BBC Northern Ireland

Breakthrough (On and Offscreen) – James Blake, presenter, Hunting The Catfish Crime Gang – Strident Media for BBC Three and BBC Northern Ireland

Children’s/Animation – A Kind of Spark – 9 Story Media Group for CBBC

Original Music Score – The Woman in the Wall, David Holmes and Brian Irvine – Motive Pictures for BBC One and Showtime

Post-production – Ukraine: Holocaust Ground Zero – DoubleBand Films for Channel 4

TV presenter Vogue Williams hosted the awards – which were sponsored by Belfast post-production studio Ka-Boom and partnered by BBC Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen and Channel 4 – at Titanic Belfast.