RTS awards

The winners were announced via an online celebration hosted by radio broadcaster, actor and spoken word artist Mim Shaikh, the virtual event also included a special message from RTS Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales, in which he highlighted the challenges and praised the ingenuity and resourcefulness seen across the television industry over the past year, and celebrated the international recognition of the quality of content produced in the UK. 

The RTS is seeking submissions that highlight the outstanding reporting that has taken place in this unique and turbulent year. 

The awards, for both news and current affairs, seek to recognise creative and excellent journalism by organisations whose broadcasts are transmitted on a UK based platform or who create online video content from a UK production base.

Manchester Metropolitan University students took home the Animation prize with Luz and the University of Central Lancashire’s Jamie Walsh won the Short Form award with Tia.

BBC Breakfast presenter Sally Nugent presented the awards, which were held at the Lowry Theatre in Salford. The special guest was former Coronation Street actor and co-star of new BBC One sitcom, Scarborough, Catherine Tyldesley.

Earlier in the day, RTS North West held its annual Student Media Conference at the Lowry Theatre.

Obsession, made by  TriHard Films, took home the Drama Short Form prize, with the film’s star, Kim Tserkezie, winning the Best Drama Performance prize for her “agonisingly gripping performance” as a victim of domestic abuse.

“It’s hard to believe it’s just five years since we announced our first Northern Ireland Programme Awards, which were set up to recognise the amazing content being produced in Northern Ireland,” said RTS Northern Ireland Chair Kieran Doherty.

The University of Sunderland broadcast journalism student took the prize for a report on Greek unemployment. A year earlier, he won the same award for a piece on a demonstration in Newcastle against US President Donald Trump.

The first series proved a hit with viewers and was nominated for a Royal Television Society Programme Award earlier this year. 

The show, which is filmed in a gig environment, sees two teams made up of comedians, hip hop legends and celebrity hip hop lovers battle it out in front of a live audience.

Hosted by Rizzle Kicks' Jordan Stephens, the two teams will once again be led by TV presenter Maya Jama and rapper Lady Leshurr, with new guests joining the trio each week.