RTS Opens Entries For Programme Awards 2014-2015

The Royal Television Society (RTS) has issued a call for entries for the RTS Programme Awards 2014-2015. 

The awards seek to recognise programmes which have made a material and positive contribution to their genre through originality, creative risk-taking or due to their standard-setting quality. 

This year will see a number of changes to the awards criteria, including the introduction of the Breakthrough Award, to recognise the emergence of a significant new talent in UK production.

Alex Mahon, Chair of the RTS Programme Awards, said: "I am delighted to take on chairing the RTS Programme Awards this year. These are one of the gold standard awards in our industry and are an important showcase of the extraordinary talent evident across all genres in British television."

Last year saw Sarah Lancashire pick up the award for Female Actor for her role in BBC One drama series Happy Valley, while Tom Hollander won the Male Actor award for his portrayal of Dylan Thomas in BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Two’s A Poet in New York. 

Other winners on the night included Line of Duty for Drama Series, The Honourable Woman for Drama Serial and Murdered By My Boyfriend for Single Drama. Harry & Paul’s Story of the Twos received two awards, while the Comedy Performance award went to Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton for Inside No. 9. Claudia Winkleman, took home the award for Entertainment Performance for Strictly Come Dancing, and The Graham Norton Show won for Entertainment Programme. The Island With Bear Grylls won in the Popular, Factual and Features category; and Gary Neville picked up the Sports Presenter, Commentator or Pundit award for the second year running.

The closing date for entries is Friday 11 December 2015. All entries must be submitted using the RTS Online Awards Entry System and programmes entered should have been first transmitted between the period 1 November 2014 and 31 October 2015. 

The nominations will be announced at a breakfast reception at The Hospital Club, London, on Thursday 3 March 2016. The Awards will be presented on Tuesday 22 March 2016 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London.

www.rts.org.uk