In just 20 years, Russell T Davies has left an indelible mark on British television. From Queer as Folk, via Doctor Who, to this year’s dystopian chiller Years and Years, Davies has written unforgettable drama. His work – like the writer in person – is opinionated and loud, but also warm and human.
The BBC One series, made by the Red Production Company, bagged three awards at the ceremony, which was held at the Hilton Deansgate in Manchester. Years and Years was named Best Drama, while the acting gongs went to Rory Kinnear and Jessica Hynes.
Granada Reports also picked up three awards on the night. The ITV News programme won the Best Regional News Programme award for its investigation into the North West’s high suicide rate and the prize for Best Digital Content. Sports correspondent Chris Hall was named Best Regional News Journalist.
Richard Smith has been the BBC’s sustainability manager for 10 years. He was previously an on-screen reporter for BBC regional news programmes, including Midlands Today. As home affairs correspondent for BBC South East, he reported on drugs, asylum seekers and homelessness, and won an RTS award.
Based at MediaCity UK in Salford, Smith heads a team working to raise awareness of environmental issues within the television industry and reduce the carbon footprint of programme production.
My alarm has been almost constantly set for 3:30am for seven years now. My body is so attuned to it that I almost always awake before it goes off. It’s now 3:03am on Monday morning and I’m staring at my phone, having just been happily dreaming about glaciers.
The drama is based on the book Killing for Company by Brian Masters and will follow the arrest and trial of Nielsen – also known as the 'Muswell Hill Murderer' – in one of the most infamous cases in UK criminal history.
Written by Luke Neal and developed by Neal and Lewis Arnold, the drama will be told through the prism of three men, Nielsen, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay (Daniel Mays, Line of Duty) and biographer Brian Masters (Jason Watkins, The Crown).
Hosts Ant and Dec will return for the 19th series, viewers can expect the usual dreaded Bushtucker Trials, as well as a host of new surprises and challenges.
Meet the celebrity hopefuls who are braving the jungle for the crown.
International Affairs Editor for ITV News Rageh Omaar discussed working in war zones and keeping safe in hostile environments at the RTS Student Masterclasses 2019.
Click here to read the session report.
Why he wanted to be a journalist: I was born in Somalia where my father was part of the independence movement and a businessman who spent a lot of time in the UK. He moved us to the UK where I was educated.
Around our kitchen table we’d discuss what was happening in the world. That was where I first became interested in international news and the day’s big issues such as apartheid and Nelson Mandela and revolutions in the Middle East.
The new streaming service offers content from ITV, the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
BritBox, created by ITV and the BBC, marks the UK’s entry into the paid streaming market alongside international giants such as Netflix and Amazon.
Priced at £5.99 per month, BritBox will offer the biggest collection of British boxsets such as Broadchurch, Doctor Who, Gavin and Stacey, Wolf Hall and Downton Abbey.
Ant and Dec will return to reside over a new group of famous faces as they endure the Australian outback.
Across several gruelling weeks, the celebs will face the dreaded Bushtucker Trials and the chance to inherit the crown from 2018’s King of the Jungle Harry Redknapp.
The series will be followed by a new series of I’m A Celebrity…Extra Camp on ITV2, presented by Joel Dommett, Emily Atack and Adam Thomas.
Together, the three hosts will get the inside scoop on life inside the jungle and share lively discussions with special guests.
