The Royal Television Society has announced the winners of its 2018 Craft & Design Awards.
The BBC took home 16 awards, with A Very English Scandal and Retreat: Meditations from a Monastery both winning two awards each. The Windsors Royal Wedding Special from Channel 4 also garnered two awards, bringing the broadcaster’s total number of awards on the night to six.
2018 Craft & Design Nominations and Winners
Costume Design – Entertainment & Non Drama
June Nevin The Windsors Royal Wedding Special Noho Film and Television for Channel 4
A category that tests the mettle of the designers, with its low budgets and time pressures, however the costume design was still ambitious, which gave us a fantastic comedic interpretation of a royal wedding, full of sensitivity and imagination with enough of a nod to reality that we instantly recognise the characters but are carried along on their soap opera journey. A fabulous bit of telly!
Nominees:
Heather MacVean The Keith and Paddy Picture Show Talkback for ITV
Howard Burden Zapped (Series 2) Baby Cow Productions / Black Dog Television / Itchy Coo Productions for Dave
Costume Design – Drama
Marianne Agertoft The City and The City Mammoth Screen for BBC Two
The jury said, this category was full of wildly differing entries that made for heated debate. The costume design in the winning programme drew us into two new worlds with a sinister yet familiar feel. Both populated with timeless characterful representations of real and relatable personalities achieved with skilful layering of textures and colour that achieved a cohesive and visually exciting design.
Nominees:
Fotini Dimou King Lear Playground Television (UK) / Sonia Friedman Productions for BBC Two
Joanna Eatwell The Miniaturist The Forge Entertainment for BBC One
Design – Programme Content Sequences
Axis Animation Kiss Me First Kindle Entertainment & Balloon Entertainment for Channel 4
Visually stunning and incredibly well executed, the jury was blown away by the scale of the project. The virtual characterisation of the actors was incredibly impressive and intrinsic to the success of the drama.
Nominees:
Made in Colour Empire Windrush: Newsround Special CBBC Productions for CBBC
Moonraker Visual Effects Team One Strange Rock Nutopia / Protozoa Pictures & Overbrook Entertainment Production for National Geographic
Design – Titles
Sasan Roohi, Amber Sutera, Peter Aldridge & Michael Pearson Deep State Endor Productions for Fox NG (Europe & Africa)
The jury felt this strong narrative themed sequence was beautifully executed. The visuals move from light to dark, the great choice of music descends into a heavy wave of glitches, static, and cymbals which really encapsulates the mood and central character of the show.
Nominees:
Ben Hanbury, Hugo Moss, Paul McDonnell & Tamsin McGee Ordeal by Innocence Mammoth Screen for BBC One
Nic Benns, Miki Kato, Karl Watkins & Svenja Frahm Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams Sony Pictures Television for Channel 4
Design – Trails & Packaging
BBC Sport, BBC Creative, Blinkink 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia BBC Sport / “BBC Creative / Blinkink for BBC
Iconic in its approach, ambitious in its scale, unique in its design. The jury felt that this simple idea was meticulously considered with regard to the animation, the styling of the typography and the detailing of the weaving machine. It was a great canvas for binding together past and present imagery. A real masterstroke.
Nominee:
BBC Sport, Y&R and Nexus Studios The 2018 Winter Olympics BBC Sport, Y&R and Nexus Studios for BBC
Director – Comedy Drama/Situation Comedy
Michael Lennox Derry Girls Hat Trick Productions for Channel 4
The director managed to garner stellar performances out of the entire (young) cast achieving a breath-taking combination of profoundly poignant intercut with fearfully funny moments which elevated this material beyond what was simply on the page.
Nominees:
Adam Miller The Windsors Royal Wedding Special Noho Film and Television for Channel 4
Andrew Chaplin GameFace Objective Fiction for E4
Director – Documentary/Factual & Non Drama
Deeyah Khan White Right: Meeting the Enemy Fuuse Films for ITV
This film stood out for its fearless immediacy of approach and its confident and totally engaging voice: an exciting directing talent, brilliantly deployed in front of camera too. Fascinating encounters and brilliant interviews reframed the familiar, by sitting down with and trying to understand the human beings behind the rise of the far right.
Nominees:
Francis Hanly Arena: Stanley and His Daughters A BBC Arena Co-Production with 1212 Productions for BBC Four
James Rogan Stephen: The Murder that Changed a Nation On The Corner in association with Rogan Productions for BBC One
Director – Drama
Stephen Frears A Very English Scandal Blueprint Pictures for BBC One
This was incredibly brave – the performances were on the nose – a masterclass in character directing. Luscious and excellent in every way!
Nominees:
Jonathan Entwistle The End of the F***ing World Clerkenwell Films & Dominic Buchanan Productions for Netflix/Channel4
Nick Murphy Save Me World Productions for Sky Atlantic
Director – Multicamera
Nikki Parsons Strictly Come Dancing (Series 15) BBC Studios for BBC One
The jury thought the beautifully crafted direction conveyed every nuance of the dance perfectly to the audience.
Nominees:
David Kester Coronation Street ITV Studios for ITV
Liz Clare The Voice UK (Series 7) ITV Studios & Talpa for ITV
Editing – Documentary/Factual
Paul Carlin, Paul Dosaj & Kevin Konak The Detectives: Murder On The Streets Minnow Films for BBC Two
Astonishing imagery and beautiful editing put this programme into a class of its own and took observational documentary making to a new level. The choice of music, shot selection and pace was pivotal to the ambitious cinematic approach to the storytelling in this outstanding documentary.
Nominees:
Ben Brown Grenfell Minnow Films for BBC One
Production Team Blue Planet II BBC Studios / The Natural History Unit / The Open University / BBC America / Tencent / WDR / France Televisions and CCTV9 for BBC One
Editing – Drama
Adam Trotman Come Home Red Production Company for BBC One
An impactful example of the craft of editing, in which the very sensitive use of cutting delivered the viewer right into the emotional heart of the story.
Nominees:
Mike Jones The End of the F***ing World Clerkenwell Films & Dominic Buchanan Productions for Netflix/Channel4
Pia Di Ciaula A Very English Scandal Blueprint Pictures for BBC One
Editing – Entertainment and Comedy
Mark Williams The Windsors Royal Wedding Special Noho Film and Television for Channel 4
The skill of gag collection as well as a terrific narrative makes this one of the funniest satirical shows on TV. The impeccable pacing and comic timing throughout the editing process is outstanding.
Nominees:
Charlie Fawcett GameFace Objective Fiction for E4
Lucien Clayton Derry Girls Hat Trick Productions for Channel 4
Editing – Sport
Ian Grech, Mike Carter & Kevin Evans Champions League Final Liverpool v Real Madrid: Opening Music Sequence BT Sport
Weaving live music and archive, the jury thought this was a beautifully edited piece with great pacing. It was as much a skilful music edit as it was a sport piece and told the story very well. All in all, it was a joy to watch!
Nominees:
Nicholas Perry, David Bouchard & John Nicholson Winter Olympics BBC Sport for BBC
Scott Ferry-Collins, Jim Wiseman & Tim Hampel Monaco Grand Prix Feature / Formula 1 2018 Whisper Films for Channel 4
Effects
One Of Us, Chris Reynolds The Crown Left Bank Pictures for Netflix
The jury found this entry breath-taking in its scale, ambition and achievement. Movie magic brought to the small screen with stunning effects so true to life that you never questioned anything from buildings, boats and planes to the Antarctic. Seamless, flawless and beautifully crafted.
Nominees:
Moonraker Visual Effects Team One Strange Rock Nutopia / Protozoa Pictures & Overbrook Entertainment Production for National Geographic
Tanvir Hanif, Fifth Wall VFX & Becci Blood Katy CBBC Productions for CBBC
Lighting for Multicamera
Martin Kempton Upstart Crow (Series 2) BBC Studios for BBC Two
This was felt to be beautiful and realistic. Each shot was expertly crafted capturing the essence of “old masters”. Light and shade captures the atmosphere and being comedy it was careful not to miss any facial expressions!
Nominees:
Dave Davey Britain’s Got Talent Thames / Syco for ITV
Nigel Catmur Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance BBC Studios for BBC One
Make Up Design – Drama
Naomi Donne King Lear Playground Television (UK) / Sonia Friedman Productions for BBC Two
A huge number of amazing entries with vastly different budgets and subjects made it incredibly difficult to judge one against the other. In the end it was the absolutely perfect translation of classic to contemporary that won the jury over. A breath-taking adaptation supported fabulously by the make-up design. Each character was delivered with a skilled but gentle simplicity raising the visual pathos whilst allowing the tragedy of the story to play out.
Nominees:
Daniel Phillips A Very English Scandal Blueprint Pictures for BBC One
Sjaan Gillings Flowers (Series 2) Hootenanny and Sister Pictures for Channel 4
Make Up Design – Entertainment & Non Drama
Vanessa White The Dali and The Cooper – Urban Myths Me and You Productions for Sky Arts
This is a genre not for the faint hearted, tight deadlines and budgets with make-up teams pushed to achieve ever more fabulously entertaining characters at high speed. The combination of great skill and sheer bonkersness won through here. It was a fantastic recreation of two iconic characters and shows skilfully how hair and make-up can enhance and support comedy.
Nominees:
Lulu Hall The Windsors Royal Wedding Special Noho Film and Television for Channel 4
Vanessa White, Floris Schuller & Neill Gorton Tracey Breaks the News BBC Studios and Allan McKeown presents for BBC One
Multicamera Work
Camera Team The Royal Wedding: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle BBC Studios for BBC One
A monumental task realised with feeling which completely summed up the mood for the millions of viewers. Subtle use of camera moves, perfect timing and not over cut. Perfect depth of field in the close ups, and stunning wide and super wide shots.
Nominees:
Nick Wood and The Camera Team Not Going Out Avalon for BBC One
Richard Boden, Barbara Hicks & Tony Keene Upstart Crow (Series 2) BBC Studios for BBC Two
Multicamera Work – Sport
Micky Payne The London Marathon BBC TV Sport Production for BBC
This was great coverage, good use of technology with helicopter and radio cam on bikes. London’s landmarks featured well to give a great geographic sense of being there.
Nominee:
Simon Wheeler BDO World Darts Championships IMG Productions for Channel 4
Music – Original Score
Murray Gold A Very English Scandal Blueprint Pictures for BBC One
A simply brilliant score that perfectly pitched the humour and pomp with light and shade to deliver an emotional soundtrack that was cool, catchy and very charismatic.
Nominees:
Graham Coxon The End of the F***ing World Clerkenwell Films & Dominic Buchanan Productions for Netflix/Channel4
Tandis Jenhudson Civilisations Nutopia for BBC Two
Music – Original Title
Oli Julian Motherland Merman and Delightful Industries
The jury said this title score was cool, fun, bold and brassy. A high tempo introduction that grabbed you and made you want to watch!
Nominees:
Murray Gold Come Home Red Production Company for BBC One
Tandis Jenhudson Civilisations Nutopia for BBC Two
Photography – Documentary/Factual & Non Drama
Andrew Muggleton Retreat: Meditations from a Monastery Tigerlily Productions / BBC Four
Here the jury were faced with the impossible task of comparing exquisite and unparalleled efforts to showcase nature, with impossibly charming and characterful human connection, with a series which seemed to transcend the form as it created a uniquely experiential narrative – one to which its sensitive and evocative photography was both formative and indispensable.
Nominees:
Camera Team Blue Planet II BBC Studios / Natural History Unit / The Open University / BBC America / Tencent / WDR / France Televisions and CCTV9 for BBC One
Glen Milner Handmade in Hull BBC Studios / Pacific Quay Productions for BBC Four
Photography – Drama & Comedy
Justin Brown The End of the F***ing World Clerkenwell Films & Dominic Buchanan Productions for Netflix/Channel4
In a remarkably diverse category, both in terms of budget and tone, the jury hotly contested but swung eventually to a show that is outstandingly fresh in vision and execution, and sleight-of-hand clever in its creation of an immersive and compulsively watchable world.
Nominees:
Cathal Watters Peaky Blinders (Series 4) Caryn Mandabach Productions / Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC Two
Stuart Biddlecombe Hidden A Severn Screen Production in association with All3Media International for BBC Wales and S4C
Picture Enhancement
Adam Dolniak The UN Sex Abuse Scandal Ronachan Films for Channel 4
The jury highly commended this documentary for a grade that felt cinematic and beautiful, adding immensely to the emotion and mood of the film. Astounding work. Powerful, stand out and with huge impact.
Nominees:
Dan Coles Flowers (Series 2) Hootenanny and Sister Pictures for Channel 4
Gareth Spensley King Lear Playground Television (UK) / Sonia Friedman Productions for BBC Two
Production Design – Drama
Simon Rogers The City and The City Mammoth Screen for BBC Two
The jury said these were bold, atmospheric and confident designs which were very well executed, with an excellent attention to detail and dressing.
Nominees:
Grant Montgomery Gunpowder Kudos in association with Thriker Films for BBC One
Martin Childs & Alison Harvey The Crown Left Bank Pictures for Netflix
Production Design – Entertainment & Non Drama
Peter Bingemann Britain’s Got Talent Thames / Syco for ITV
A beautifully executed transformation of this existing location, with the flexibility to change looks for each performance over many weeks.
Nominees:
Dave Ferris Zapped (Series 2) Baby Cow Productions / Black Dog Productions / Itchy Coo Productions for Dave
Production Design Team Love Island (Series 4) ITV Studios Ltd / Motion Content Group for ITV2
Sound – Drama
Dan Johnson, Simon Farmer, Jamie Caple & Marc Lawes Bodyguard World Productions / BBC
The sound was dramatic, visceral and seamlessly-mixed, with nothing out of place.
Nominees:
Dylan Voigt, Nigel Edwards, Ben Norrington & Seb Shorter Deep State Endor Productions for Fox NG (Europe & Africa)
Nigel Squibbs, John Mooney, Filipa Principe & Tony Gibson Patrick Melrose Little Island Productions / Two Cities & SunnyMarch for Showtime / Sky Atlantic
Sound – Entertainment & Non Drama
Doug Dreger, Greg Gettens & Kim Tae Hak Retreat: Meditations from a Monastery Tigerlily Productions for BBC Four
This programme, so simple in concept, keeps our attention in large part because of the fantastic sound, so comprehensively captured and creatively mixed.
Nominees:
Andy Hodges, Sam Staples & Renato Ferrari Top Gear (Series 25) Envy Post Production / BBC Studios for BBC Two
The Sound Alliance BBC Proms 2018 BBC Studios for BBC Two and Four
Lifetime Achievement Award
Kathy Schulz
Lee Connolly, Chair, Craft & Design Awards said:
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award goes to someone I bet everyone in this room will know, will have encountered, and will have benefited from her unwavering professionalism, passion, honesty and loyalty.
Professionalism, because of her unique understanding of the business and her drive to be the very best.
Passion, for her genuine love and affection for this industry of ours.
Honesty, for never letting client or crew down, despite huge pressures.
Loyalty, for her desire to maintain relationships built on trust and transparency.
This person started her career in broadcasting at the BBC before moving on to ITV and it was at ITV where she would make her mark. Starting as a graduate engineer and editor across sport, entertainment and current affairs. Then onto client liaison as the critical link between programme makers and production facilities and crew, before eventually becoming Director of The London Studios and ultimately Managing Director.
Literally thousands of hours of programmes. The very biggest shows, sitcoms, entertainment, sport, current affairs, kids tv, music…the list of shows is so huge we’d be here all night. But you’ll all know them, many of you will have worked on them, and will have benefited from what this person made happen, often against the odds.
There was nowhere in the world like The London Studios and this was largely because of the person we are honouring tonight.
The way in which she handled the closure earlier this year with such dignity and respect underlined why she was only ever the right person for the job.
The last ever live show was Saturday Night Takeaway, a bitter sweet celebration really, but a show that epitomised TLS and this person’s work.
The Studios may be gone, but the person who made them what they were hasn’t. She has moved on to pastures new, something she can tell us about now maybe, because one thing is for sure, we need her in our industry.
Staff Reporter
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