Winners Announced For RTS West Of England Awards 2015

The winners of this year's Royal Television Society (RTS) West Of England Awards 2-15 have been announced. The awards, in association with Evolutions Bristol, took place on Sunday 8 March at the Bristol Old Vic. The ceremony was hosted by adventurer, TV presenter, author and recent star of Strictly Come Dancing, Steve Backshall.

The BBC Natural History Unit scooped five 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 (BBC Two's Super Senses).

BBC Features won two awards, one for Daytime and the other for emerging talent behind the camera with the 'RTS Flying Futures' Award. Dragonfly's One Born Every Minute for Channel 4, filmed in Bristol at Southmead Hospital, won Best Documentary and Love West's The Great British Bake Off triumphed in Factual Entertainment.

Other winners on the night included local independent production company Testimony Films who won in Factual and Icon Films for Natural History Programme, seeing off competition from the BBC NHU.

Aardman won two awards for Digital Creativity and Titles, Promos and Branding and were also presented with a Special Award for Shaun the Sheep, the Movie. The 'voice' of Shaun and CBBC presenter Justin Fletcher handed over the award to Aardman co-founder David Sproxton and series producer John Woolley.

Justin commented: "Shaun was now an internationally celebrated icon with 4.5 million fans on Facebook", adding: "Life is certainly never quiet down on Mossy Bottom Farm!"

In the News Coverage category, Inside Out West triumphed, while 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 has been open for business for 25 years, supporting the production community.

www.rts.org.uk/bristol

(JP)