BBC leads RTS Programme Awards with 21 wins

The Royal Television Society has crowned the winners for the RTS Programme Awards 2024.

Across the 30 competitive categories, the BBC took home 21 awards overall – with the hit drama The Sixth Commandment winning three awards, the most for any programme, across Limited Series, Supporting Actor – Male for Éanna Hardwicke and Writer – Drama for Sarah Phelps.

For the Leading Actor categories, Tamara Lawrance took home the award for BBC’s Time and Kane Robinson for Netflix’s Top Boy, one of the streamer’s three wins this evening. Netflix also received awards for Squid Game: The Challenge in the Entertainment category and for Chimp Empire for Science & The Natural World.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 received two wins, with Hannah Waddingham winning for Entertainment Performance and the BBC show also taking home the coveted Live Event award. Disney+ took home their first RTS Programme Award this evening for their series Extraordinary which won for Scripted Comedy.

The RTS presents two additional awards annually, the Judges’ Award and the Outstanding Achievement Award. For 2024, the recipient of the Judges’ Award was ITV’s ground-breaking series Mr Bates vs The Post Office for shining a light on the human stories of the real people caught in a living nightmare, and the incredible audience reaction to the series which provoked the government to take action. The Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to producer Stephen Lambert, recognising his career creating genre-defining formats that have travelled and been reproduced all over the world.

This evening the RTS also presented a very special award, one of its most prestigious accolades, the Gold Medal. Presented very occasionally, the honour was given to recognise the legendary trailblazer, broadcaster and producer Dame Esther Rantzen, with her daughter collecting the award on her behalf.

Kenton Allen, Chair of the RTS Programme Awards, said: “Gathered tonight, we commemorate yet another remarkable year for the UK television sector, underscoring its unmatched programming diversity spanning gripping dramas, uproarious comedy, and enlightening documentaries. Amidst rigorous deliberations by the juries, the winners stand as testament to their unwavering merit. Here’s to acknowledging the achievements of all involved—a reflection of an industry poised for continued innovation and impact in the UK and around the world.”

The full list of winners and nominees

Arts

WINNER – Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World (BBC Studios Specialist Factual Productions for BBC)

The winning programme “elevated its subject…it was a thorough exploration delivered with vision and authority,” said the judges.

Nominees:

Becoming Frida Kahlo (Rogan Scotland for BBC)
Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now (A Netflix Documentary/BMG Presents in association with Quickfire Films/A Pulse Films Production for Netflix)

Breakthrough Award

WINNER – Lucy Edwards – Japan – The Way I See It – The Travel Show (BBC Current Affairs for BBC)

The judges described the winner as “a refreshing, exciting talent who brings genuine originality and integrity to their work”.

Nominees:

Ashley Thomas – Great Expectations (Hardy, Son & Baker, Scott Free Productions, BBC Studios, FX Network for BBC)
Hamza Yassin – Hamza: Strictly Birds of Prey (Silverback Films for BBC)

Children’s Programme

WINNER – A Kind of Spark (9 Story Media for BBC)

“An intriguing thematic hook combined with truly great storytelling” commented the judges on the winning production.

Nominees:

FYI Investigates: Kids Who Vape (Fresh Start Media for Sky Kids & Sky News)
Tabby McTat (Magic Light Pictures for BBC)

Comedy Drama

WINNER – Juice (Various Artists Limited for BBC)

The winning programme, said the judges, “felt unique and very original, packed with both innovation and imagination”.

Nominees:

Big Boys (Roughcut TV for Channel 4)
There She Goes (Merman Television for BBC)

Comedy Entertainment

WINNER – Rob & Romesh Vs. (CPL Productions for Sky Max)

The judges called the winning show, “highly entertaining, brilliantly funny – and produced with real care from start to finish”.

Nominees:

Taskmaster (Avalon for Channel 4)
The Graham Norton Show (So Television for BBC)

Comedy Performance – Female

WINNER – Gbemisola Ikumelo – Black Ops (BBC Studios Comedy Productions and Mondo Deluxe Productions for BBC)

“The range, warmth and timing showed off a pure comic talent” said the judges.

Nominees:

Máiréad Tyers – Extraordinary (Sid Gentle Films Ltd for Disney+)
Kat Sadler – Such Brave Girls (Various Artists Limited for BBC)

Comedy Performance – Male

WINNER – Hammed Animashaun – Black Ops (BBC Studios Comedy Productions and Mondo Deluxe Productions for BBC)

“What a joyous and skillful performance this was,” said the judges of the winner.

Nominees:

Freddie Meredith – Such Brave Girls (Various Artists Limited for BBC)
Jon Pointing – Big Boys (Roughcut TV for Channel 4)

Daytime Programme

WINNER – Scam Interceptors (BBC Studios Documentary Unit for BBC)

The winning programme, said the judges, “was totally gripping throughout and made a real impact on viewers”.

Nominees:

Good Morning Britain – Matt Hancock Interview (ITV Studios for ITV1)
Junior Bake Off (Love Productions for Channel 4)

Documentary Series

WINNER – Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland (KEO Films & Walk on Air Films for BBC)

This series, the judges said, was “a gold standard masterclass in telling a complex story through the words of the people who experienced it”.

Nominees:

Evacuation (Wonderhood Studios for Channel 4)
Kids (Expectation for Channel 4)

Drama Series

WINNER – Happy Valley (Lookout Point in co-production with AMC for BBC)

The judges said of the winning title, “it’s game changing, top-of-the-class drama…sometimes operatic in scale, but attentive to the tiniest detail.”

Nominees:

The Gold (Tannadice Pictures, part of Objective Media Group, for BBC and Paramount)
Top Boy (Cowboy Films, Easter Partisan Films, Dream Crew and SpringHill Entertainment for Netflix)

Entertainment

WINNER – Squid Game: The Challenge (Studio Lambert & The Garden for Netflix)

The judges described this show as “immaculately produced with both incredible scale and flawless attention to detail.”

Nominees:

Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel (Hungry McBear for BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing (BBC Studios Entertainment Productions for BBC)

Entertainment Performance

WINNER – Hannah Waddingham – Eurovision Song Contest 2023 (BBC Studios Entertainment Productions for BBC)

“Witty, warm, funny and with real emotion”, said the judges of the host’s performance.

Nominees:

Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond – The Great British Bake Off (Love Productions for Channel 4)
Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan – Rob & Romesh Vs. (CPL Productions for Sky Max)

Formatted Popular Factual

WINNER – Sort Your Life Out (Optomen Television for BBC)

“Authentic, engaging and with effortlessly brilliant storytelling” commented the judges.

Nominees:

Banged Up (Shine TV for Channel 4)
The Piano (Love Productions for Channel 4)

History

WINNER – White Nanny, Black Child (Doc Hearts/Tigerlily Productions for
Channel 5)

The judges described the winning programme as “managing to be both intimate and epic at the same time…a truly revealing watch”.

Nominees:

Britain’s Human Zoos (Red Bicycle with Milk & Honey for Channel 4)
The Man Who Played With Fire (Raw TV for Sky Documentaries)

Leading Actor – Female

WINNER – Tamara Lawrance – Time (BBC Studios Drama Productions for BBC)

The judges commented on the winning female actor, “this was a deep, layered performance – a beautifully calibrated piece of work”.

Nominees:

Jodie Whittaker – Time (BBC Studios Drama Productions for BBC)
Sarah Lancashire – Happy Valley (Lookout Point in co-production with AMC for BBC)

Leading Actor – Male

WINNER – Kane Robinson – Top Boy (Cowboy Films, Easter Partisan Films, Dream Crew and SpringHill Entertainment for Netflix)

“A defining performance. Captivating, devastating and deeply complex” the judges said of the winning male actor’s work in this piece.

Nominees:

Gary Oldman – Slow Horses (See-Saw Films in association with Apple for Apple TV+)
Timothy Spall – The Sixth Commandment (Wild Mercury Productions and True Vision for BBC)

Limited Series

WINNER – The Sixth Commandment (Wild Mercury Productions and True Vision for BBC)

The judges said, “This was pitch perfect, with exquisite performances and first-class writing”.

Nominees:

Best Interests (AC Chapter One for BBC)
Boiling Point (Ascendant Fox and Matriarch Productions with It’s All Made Up Productions for BBC)

Live Event

WINNER – Eurovision Song Contest 2023 (BBC Studios Entertainment Productions, Windfall Films for BBC)

The winner, the judges said, “was a hugely impressive spectacle delivered with great style by an outstanding team”.

Nominees:

The Coronation Concert (BBC Studios Event Productions for BBC)
The Coronation of TM The King and Queen Camilla (BBC Studios Event Productions for BBC)

Presenter

WINNER – Chris Packham – Inside Our Autistic Minds (BBC Studios Specialist Factual Productions for BBC)

The winning presenter, said the judges, “brought charisma and directness to this programme – they were captivating”.

Nominees:

Rhod Gilbert – Rhod Gilbert: A Pain in the Neck (Kailash Films & Llanbobl Vision for Channel 4)
Stacey Solomon – Sort Your Life Out (Optomen Television for BBC)

Science & The Natural World

WINNER – Chimp Empire (Keo Films and Underdog Films for Netflix)

The judges described the winning programme as “a best-in-class production which delivered a totally immersive experience for viewers”.

Nominees:

Inside Our Autistic Minds (BBC Studios Specialist Factual Productions for BBC)
Planet Earth III (BBC Studios Natural History Unit, BBC America, ZDF, France Televisions and The Open University for BBC)

Scripted Comedy

WINNER – Extraordinary (Sid Gentle Films Ltd for Disney+)

Selecting the winning show, the judges called it “confident in tone and heavy on the funny – a thrilling piece of work”.

Nominees:

Black Ops (BBC Studios Comedy Productions and Mondo Deluxe Productions for BBC)
Such Brave Girls (Various Artists Limited for BBC)

Single Documentary

WINNER – Otto Baxter: Not A F***ing Horror Story (Story Films; Archface Films for Sky Documentaries)

“Bold and distinctive” said the judges, commending the winning programme for “telling the story with compassion and originality”.

Nominees:

Anorexic (Proper Content for Channel 5)
The Price of Truth (Oxford Film & Television for Channel 4)

Single Drama

WINNER – Partygate (Halcyons Heart Films for Channel 4)

“An affecting piece of drama, brilliantly written and cast…and still with a real sense of raw emotion,” said the judges.

Nominees:

Consent (Firebird Pictures for Channel 4)
Men Up (Quay Street Productions, Boom for BBC)

Soap and Continuing Drama

WINNER – EastEnders (BBC Studios Drama Productions for BBC)

The winning programme, “showcased absorbing storytelling with highly emotional content and beautifully nuanced performances,” said the judges.

Nominees:

Casualty (BBC Studios Drama Productions for BBC)
Waterloo Road (Rope Ladder Fiction, Wall to Wall for BBC)

Sports Presenter, Commentator or Pundit

WINNER – Alex Scott – FIFA Women’s World Cup (IMG for BBC)

The judges described the winner as “a broadcaster who offers balance, objectivity and truly exceptional expert analysis”.

Nominees:

Gabby Logan – FIFA Women’s World Cup (IMG for BBC)
Nasser Hussain – The Ashes (Sky Sports Cricket)

Sports Programme

WINNER – All Ireland Senior Football Championship Final (BBC Northern Ireland for BBC)

“The passion and joy in this clever production poured through the screen,” said the judges.

Nominees:

2023 Rugby World Cup (ITV Sport for ITV1 & ITV4)
The Ashes (Sky Sports Cricket)

Supporting Actor – Female

WINNER – Bella Ramsey – Time (BBC Studios Drama Productions for BBC)

The winner, the judges said, “brought a searing truth to their performance throughout.”

Nominees:

Jasmine Jobson – Top Boy (Cowboy Films, Easter Partisan Films, Dream Crew and SpringHill Entertainment for Netflix)
Ronke Adékoluẹjo – Rain Dogs (Sid Gentle Films Ltd for BBC)

Supporting Actor – Male

WINNER – Éanna Hardwicke – The Sixth Commandment (Wild Mercury Productions and True Vision for BBC)

“A performance of compelling control and skill, both mesmerising and subtle”, said the judges.

Nominees:

Araloyin Oshunremi – Top Boy (Cowboy Films, Easter Partisan Films, Dream Crew and SpringHill Entertainment for Netflix)
Mark Gatiss – Nolly (Quay Street Productions for ITVX)

Writer – Comedy

WINNER – Jack Rooke – Big Boys (Roughcut TV for Channel 4)

The judges described this work as “comedically daring and life-affirming in its warmth”.

Nominees:

Bridget Christie – The Change (Expectation for Channel 4)
Joe Tucker, Lloyd Wolf, Gbemisola Ikumelo & Akemnji Ndifornyen – Black Ops (BBC Studios Comedy Productions and Mondo Deluxe Productions for BBC)

Writer – Drama

WINNER – Sarah Phelps – The Sixth Commandment (Wild Mercury Productions and True Vision for BBC)

Commenting on the writer’s work on this show, the judges said “this piece was both sensitive and savage in equal measure….and while never sensational, it was sometimes almost unbearably difficult to watch”.

Nominees: