The two women behind TV’s favourite North East detective received a standing ovation when they collected Outstanding Contribution awards at a sellout ceremony in Gateshead. Brenda Blethyn, who played Vera Stanhope on ITV for 14 years, and Ann Cleeves, who created the character, were honoured at the RTS North East and the Border Awards last month.

The Oscar-nominated actor and bestselling crime writer have become firm friends, and though Blethyn has stepped away from the role after more than 50 episodes, Cleeves says the character will feature in at least one more book to add to the 11 already published.

Guests heard that the Vera phenomenon on TV and in publishing had sustained drama production in the North East for more than a decade and brought in thousands of visitors to Vera’s locations. The feature-length episodes and the books are popular around the world.

Blethyn – who also won for Best Drama Performance – said she was overwhelmed at the way people in the region have welcomed her into their hearts.

Peter Darrant and the team from Pride Media Centre in Gateshead celebrated winning the prestigious Centre Award in recognition of their work as a hub for studios and more than 16 businesses.

Theresa Wise, Chief Executive of the RTS, presented the award, praising the team’s work with start-ups, schools and colleges to encourage interest in and access to the screen sector. Their commitment to equity and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community was impressive, she said.

Other winners included Fulwell 73’s Netflix documentary series Sunderland ’Til I Die (Broadcast Factual) and BBC Three’s Smoggie Queens, which won the Comedy award for Hat Trick Productions. The writer and star of the Teesside-based series about drag queens, Phil Dunning, won Best Newcomer at a ceremony hosted by comedian and writer Jason Cook.

Gateshead production company Twenty Six 03 won the Factual Entertainment prize for Joanna Page’s Wild Life, FilmNova received the Sport award for the Great North Run, and The Red King (Quay Street Productions) won Best Drama.

TV and film production spend in the North East has increased to more than £22m according to figures from North East Screen – and chief executive Alison Gwynn predicted there is more to come.

The event is the region’s biggest creative industries gathering of the year, welcoming 400-plus guests to the Gateshead Hilton, including actors Jill Halfpenny, David Leon and Riley Jones, CBBC stars Danny Adams and Mick Potts, Dragons’ Den star Sara Davies, boxing commentator Glenn McCrory, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and cast from The Dumping Ground and Smoggie Queens.

Also on the red carpet were news presenters Amy Lea and Simon O’Rourke (ITV Tyne Tees), Dawn Thewlis (BBC Look North), Pam Royle and Jeff Brown.

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