RTS West Of England Reveals Awards Nominees

The RTS (Royal Television Society) West of England has revealed the shortlist of nominations for its annual awards, covering network television, on-screen talent, craft, digital media and regional television news.

BBC Natural History Production Bristol has received 17 nominations for a range of programmes, including Life Story, Super Senses, Hidden Kingdoms, Monkey Planet and The Natural World series.

RDF Television West has six nominations, predominantly for its Dawn O'Porter fronted fashion show for Channel 4, 'This Old Thing'. Testimony Films gained three nominations in the Factual category, as well as a nomination for its Channel 4 Documentary 'The Paedophile Next Door'.

Ten nominations go to BBC Features and Daytime Production Bristol for categories including on-screen talent, new on-screen talent, as well as in Factual for Antiques Roadshow, World War One Special and The Hairy Bikers' Asian Adventure has been nominated in Factual Entertainment. It also has four nominations in the new RTS Flying Futures Talent category, which rewards emerging talent in a production team.

Aardman receive seven nominations for their digital projects, shorts and work in titles, promos and branding and visual effects. Creative agency BDH are also recognised for their work in these areas with five nominations. Two reporters from ITV News West Country are against Countryfile's Tom Heap for Best Reporter and BBC West has three of the four nominations in News Coverage.

Producer and chair of RTS Bristol, Lynn Barlow says: "There were just under 200 submissions this year – our most successful year to date and our judges – who came from across the UK were hugely impressed with the standard and range of entries.

"Bristol and the West of England has the largest concentration of creative industries outside London and we are fortunate to have some of the most successful independent producers and world class production houses including Aardman Animation and the Natural History Unit."

Ms Barlow, who is Director of Creative Industries for the University of the West of England, Bristol, added: "We have a region of professionals dedicated to talent development and to ensuring that the next generation maintains our global reputation."

The RTS West of England Awards will take place on Sunday 8 March at the Bristol Old Vic. Adventurer, natural history TV presenter and author Steve Backshall will present the awards.

www.rts.org.uk/bristol

(IT/JP)