The BBC’s Bristol-based operations emerged as the biggest winner at The Royal Television Society (RTS) West of England Awards with its Natural History Unit scooping five and BBC Features winning two.
The world-renowned Natural History Unit landed its awards for shows such as Hidden Kingdoms and Wonders of the Monsoon, as well as for on-screen talent with Springwatch/Autumnwatch presenter Michaela Strachan and new face Patrick Aryee in BBC Two’s Super Senses.
BBC Feature’ awards were for Daytime and for emerging talent behind the camera with the RTS Flying Futures award.
Dragonfly’s One Born Every Minute for Channel 4, filmed at Southmead Hospital, won Best Documentary and Love West’s The Great British Bake Off triumphed in Factual Entertainment.
The region’s television community turned out in force for the awards, staged at the Old Vic in association with Evolutions Bristol and which celebrate the work of the industry over the past 12 months. The glittering gala ceremony was hosted by adventurer, TV presenter, author and recent star of Strictly Come Dancing, Steve Backshall.
Other winners on the night included Bristol independent production company Testimony Films which won in Factual and Icon Films for Natural History Programme, beating off stiff competition from the BBC Natural History Unit.
Bristol animation firm Aardman won two awards for Digital Creativity and Titles, Promos and Branding and was also presented with a Special Award for Shaun the Sheep, the Movie.
The voice of Shaun, CBBC presenter Justin Fletcher, presented the award to Aardman co-founder David Sproxton and series producer John Woolley.
Inside Out West won in the News Coverage category and Robert Murphy from ITV News West Country was awarded Best Reporter.
The Sir Ambrose Fleming Memorial Award for outstanding contribution to television in the RTS Bristol area went to Gina Fucci of Films at 59, the post production facility which has been open for business for 25 years, supporting the production community.
