RTS Programme Awards 2006
WINNERS
Situation Comedy & Comedy Drama
The Thick of It BBC Comedy for BBC Four
“The jury felt that the winner’s collaborative production process and use of improvisation makes it a thoroughly believable drama with laugh out loud comedy moments.”
Nominees
Much Ado About Nothing BBC Drama/BBC Northern Ireland for BBC One
Peep Show An Objective Production for Channel 4
Entertainment
The Catherine Tate Show Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC Two
“The jury said the winning programme gets under your skin with its iconic characterisation, and brilliant consistency of performance and ideas.”
Nominees
I'm A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! Factual and Factual Entertainment, ITV Productions London for ITV
The X Factor talkbackTHAMES Television and Syco Productions for ITV
Children's Drama
My Parents are Aliens Granada Kids for CiTV
“The winning drama had a fantastic script, great casting and was, above all, consistently funny.”
Nominees
Tracy Beaker BBC Children’s for CBBC
Last Rights Touchpaper Television for Channel 4
Children's Programme
Serious Arctic BBC Children’s for CBBC
“The jury described the winning programme as both aspirational and inspirational. An amazing achievement for the kids and the crew… but a health and safety nightmare!”
Nominees
Sticks and Stones Maroon Productions for Channel 4
Charlie and Lola "I am not sleepy & I will not go to bed" Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC Children’s
Breakthrough Award - Behind the Screen
Jonathan Smith - Make Me Normal Century Films for Channel 4
“The jury said that this year’s winner had directed a moving and inspiring documentary which forced the audience to consider the impact of autism and Aspergers syndrome and how it can impact on the lives of those it affects.”
Nominees
Finn McGough - Country Strife Raw TV for BBC Three
Justin Chadwick - Bleak House BBC Drama Serials/Deep Indigo for BBC One
Breakthrough Award - On Screen
Phil Beadle - The Unteachables talkbackTHAMES Television for Channel 4
“The jury said that this year’s winner will be on the screen for many years to come. As natural working on camera as he is with the kids, this newcomer taught all of us that no child is beyond learning or hope.”
Nominees
Zoe Tapper - Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky BBC Drama Serials for BBC Four
Bruce Parry - Tribe BBC Wales for BBC Two
Arts
Holocaust, a Music Memorial Film From Auschwitz BBC co-production with CBC, ZDF, TVP & in association with Czech TV for BBC Two
“This simple yet clever programme achieved its aims through a quiet appropriateness which made for an incredibly uplifting viewing experience.”
Nominees
A Picture of Britain: The Mystical West BBC Specialist Factual for BBC One
DV8 - The Cost of Living DV8 Films for Channel 4
History
Trafalgar Battle Surgeon Hardy & Sons for Channel 4
“The jury admired the winning entry for its rich, characterful, and unexpected take on well-known events. Crisp, passionate, and hugely entertaining, it struck the senses like a well-aimed cannonball.”
Nominees
The Year London Blew Up; 1974 Blast! Films for Channel 4
Israel & The Arabs: Elusive Peace A Brook Lapping Production for BBC Current Affairs for
BBC Two
Documentary Series - General
Jamie's School Dinners A Fresh One Production for Channel 4
“A real rarity – a ratings winner which is already having a wide and lasting impact far beyond television. Public Service television at its absolute best.”
Nominees
Tribe BBC Wales for BBC Two
Cocaine October Films for Channel 4
Single Documentary - General
Children of Beslan BBC Current Affairs/HBO for BBC Two
“With its very simple but brave approach, the jury said that the winning documentary conveyed a real emotional depth and complexity which made for an absolutely compelling and very moving film.”
Nominees
Make Me Normal Century Films for Channel 4
Taxidermy: Stuff the World Century Films for BBC Two
Science & Natural History
Anatomy for Beginners Firefly for Channel 4
“A stand out programme. Compelling and shocking, it was pure science education with a very Channel 4 twist!”
Nominees
Life Before Birth Pioneer Film and Television Productions for Channel 4
The Boy with the Incredible Brain: Extraordinary People Focus Productions for five
Features & Factual Entertainment
Springwatch with Bill Oddie BBC for BBC Two
“The winning programme was a surprise hit that amazed both the jury and the viewers. The jury said the winning programme had a knowing yet cynical sensibility that made it stand out from the rest.”
Nominees
Dragon's Den BBC & Sony Pictures for BBC Two
Rock School RDF Media for Channel 4
Soap
Emmerdale ITV Productions Yorkshire for ITV
“A superb combination of well-paced drama and comedy. The jury said that the winning soap was consistently excellent and had real heart.”
Nominees
Coronation Street ITV Productions Manchester for ITV
EastEnders BBC for BBC One
Nations & Regions Programme
From Belfast to Dachau DoubleBand Films for BBC Northern Ireland
“A phenomenal central character led this powerful, thought-provoking and unsentimental film. Its use of archive was exemplary.”
Nominees
New Found Land: IM Heehaw Productions for Scottish TV, Grampian TV & Scottish Screen
New Found Land: Elephant Boy Wish Film Productions for Scottish TV, Grampian TV and Scottish Screen
Nations & Regions Presenter
Stephen Nolan – Nolan Live BBC for BBC One Northern Ireland
“The jury said that the highly-watchable winning presenter had sustained his fine form.”
Nominees
Carol Malia - BBC Look North BBC Television, Newcastle
Emily Maitlis - BBC London News BBC London for BBC One
Presenter
Lorraine Kelly - LK Today GMTV
“Versatile, entertaining and professional… the breakfast queen is unwaveringly warm.”
Nominees
Jeremy Clarkson - Top Gear BBC for BBC Two
Bruce Parry - Tribe BBC Wales for BBC Two
Digital Channel Programme Award
Brainiac 3 Granada for Sky One
“Strangely addictive, an infectious show that in its third series shows more imagination and creativity than ever.”
Nominees
The Match 2 Initial for Sky One
The House of Tiny Tearaways BBC Format Entertainment/Outline Productions for BBC Three
Daytime Programme
Deal or No Deal Endemol West for Channel 4
“The jury said that the winning show has re-vitalised Channel Four's afternoon schedule and they expressed both surprise and admiration that a programme about opening boxes could be so riveting. Warm and good-natured…”
Nominees
Beaten Coastal Productions/BBC Daytime for BBC One
Coach Trip 12 Yard Productions for Channel 4
International Award
Weeds Lionsgate for Sky One
“Bringing the darker side of the real world to screen in a direct, funny and uncompromising manner, the jury described the winning programme as a work of genius.”
Nominees
Lost Buena Vista International Television for Channel 4
Desperate Housewives Buena Vista International Television for Channel 4
Drama Serial
Bleak House BBC Drama Serials/Deep Indigo for BBC One
“The winning programme captivated the jury from start to finish: the pace, camera-work and bravura spirit of writing and performances singled it out as a truly exceptional, pretty flawless piece of work.”
Nominees
Elizabeth I Company Pictures for Channel 4/HBO
To the Ends of the Earth BBC Drama Serials/Power co-production in association with Tightrope Pictures for BBC Two
Single Drama
The Government Inspector Mentorn Productions for Channel 4
“In a year that was dominated by true life stories, this moving dramatisation of the David Kelly affair stood out for the brilliance of Mark Rylance's central performance, and for a script that both clarified and humanised an incredibly complex story.”
Nominees
A Waste of Shame BBC Drama Serials for BBC Four
Ahead of the Class Artists Rights Group Television/World Productions for ITV
Drama Series
Bodies (Series 2) Hat Trick Productions for BBC Three
“The Jury said that the visceral and sometimes shocking intensity of the winning series combined with sharp writing, vivid performances and high production values put this drama into a league of its own.”
Nominees
Doctor Who BBC Wales for BBC One
Shameless 2 Company Pictures for Channel 4
Writer - Drama
Andrew Davies - Bleak House BBC Drama Serials/Deep Indigo for BBC One
“The jury praised the winning writer’s clarity and vision, his brilliant adaptation skills, his flair and his enormous care and commitment to what has been an outstanding piece of drama this year.”
Nominees
Paul Abbott - Shameless 2 Company Pictures for Channel 4
Jed Mercurio - Bodies (Series 2) Hat Trick Productions for BBC Three
Actor - Female
Lesley Sharp - Afterlife Clerkenwell Films for ITV
“The jury described the winning actress as one of the most versatile in the business, who adds layers and depth to each and every one of her roles.”
Nominees
Anne Marie Duff - Shameless 2 Company Pictures for Channel 4
Julie Walters - Ahead of the Class Artists Rights Group Television/World Productions for ITV
Actor - Male
David Threlfall - Shameless 2 & The Queen's Sister Company Pictures for Channel 4 / A Touchpaper Film for Channel 4
“The winning actor has demonstrated sheer versatility and amazing charm, from the eccentric Frank in Shameless – where he manages to walk the fine line between caricature and reality – to Prince Philip in the Queen’s Sister. A very gifted and challenging actor.”
Nominees
Charles Dance - Bleak House BBC Drama Serials/Deep Indigo for BBC One
Martin Clunes - Doc Martin II Buffalo Pictures in association with Homerun Productions for ITV1
Writer - Comedy
Sam Bain & Jesse Armstrong - Peep Show An Objective Production for Channel 4
“The winning writers’ work is off the scale for its entertainment value but so caustic that at times it’s difficult to watch.”
Nominees
Brian Dooley - The Smoking Room BBC Comedy for BBC Three
The Thick of It Writing Team - The Thick of It BBC Comedy for BBC Four
Entertainment Performance
Paul O'Grady - Paul O'Grady Show Granada Entertainment for ITV1
“He has put his own show and the Daytime schedules on the entertainment map, and in doing so sparked one of the great talent battles of the year.”
Nominees
Derren Brown - Derren Brown: Trick of the Mind An Objective Production for Channel 4
Ant & Dec - Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway Granada Entertainment for ITV1
Comedy Performance
Catherine Tate - The Catherine Tate Show Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC Two
“The jury described the winner as a multi-talented performer who has quickly established herself as an A list comedienne.”
Nominees
David Walliams & Matt Lucas - Little Britain BBC Comedy for BBC One/BBC Three
Peter Capaldi - The Thick of It BBC Comedy for BBC Four
Judges’ Award
Jon Plowman
The Judges’ Award is presented in recognition of an outstanding contribution to UK television programming over a number of years, and goes this year to Jon Plowman, Head of Comedy at the BBC.
Biographical details
After graduating from Oxford University Jon’s career began in theatre at the Royal Court where he was Lindsay Anderson’s assistant. Jon started in broadcasting at Granada. He moved to the BBC in 1980 where he produced Harty, Off The Record, Pop Quiz and Every Second Counts. From 1985 to 1987 he produced Wogan, and in 1988 he co-produced with Richard Curtis the seven hour telethon of original comedy and documentary for Comic Relief, which raised over £25 million and was the start of a huge fundraising effort. Since then, Jon has produced Saturday Matters With Sue Lawley, Murder Most Horrid, Kit And The Widow, French And Saunders, Fry And Laurie, Smith And Jones, Bottom and Absolutely Fabulous. In 1994, Jon was made Head of Comedy Entertainment at the BBC, but still managed to find time to produce new series of French and Saunders, Fry and Laurie, The Vicar of Dibley, Absolutely Fabulous and the spin-off, Mirrorball. He has also been the Executive Producer of The Office, Little Britain, Shooting Stars, Ruby Wax, The Stand Up Show, Broken News, Ben Elton, Comedy Nation, Goodness Gracious Me, In The Red, Families At War, The League of Gentlemen, People Like Us, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, Ted and Alice, Late Edition, The Comic Side Of 7 Days, The Robinsons, The Mark Steel Lectures, Absolute Power, The Thick Of It, the first Flashmob and Comic Relief. Jon, who was made BBC Head of Comedy in 2005 following an amalgamation of the departments, is currently looking after Dead Ringers, Little Britain, Love Soup, My Hero, Help, the BBC’s latest sci-fi comedy series Hyperdrive, and the second series of Ricky Gervais’ Extras.