Broadcast Digital Awards.
Judges at Wednesday evening’s Broadcast Digital Awards, called Blood, Sweat And Takeaways, “an immersive style seeing participants live alongside factory workers in an intensive five-week filming period.”
The BBC3 show picked up the award for Best Popular Factual Programme (the award sponsored by Production Wizard for the second year running), beating Electric Dreams, Made In Britain, My Big Fat Cycle Challenge, Ross Kemp: Return to Afghanistan and What Katie Did Next. The four-part series – made by Ricochet – gained almost 1 million viewers on its initial airing, making it BBC3’s most successful documentary ever, and won a transfer to the 10.30pm slot on BBC1, when the same instalment was watched by 2 million. The show was a clear winner for the judges in what they described as “a wide-open field”.
David Constable, Emma Hardcastle and Group Head of TV Studio Operations at Pinewood and Shepperton, Simon Honey.
The awards were hosted by comedian, Rufus Hound, fresh from hosting The Isle of Wight Festival coverage, and the comedian joked on how he was on a stage looking out at TV commissioners and media executives, many of whom he’d pitched to and many of whom had turned him away. “At least I have Dave!” he proclaimed, to the amusement of the channel’s table.
Other big winners on the night included E4; Four Weddings, ITV Studios for Living; and Sky Arts. The Individual Achievement Award went to John Ryley, Head of Sky News. Conor Dignam, Group Editor of Broadcast, Screen and Shots commented:
“As the editor of one of the most powerful news brands in the market, this year’s winner launched an online campaign calling for a televised debate that attracted thousands of signatures. He wrote personally to every party leader - and published their replies. He lobbied, he cajoled, he used the power of his channel and brand and he twisted arms - to make it happen. Even his broadcasting rivals concede that without his passion and commitment to make this happen, there may have been no live debate… the award for outstanding achievement goes to the editor of Sky News, John Ryley.”
Head of Sky News, John Ryley.
John Ryley said, “The award is for everyone at Sky who contributed to the success of the Leaders’ Debate and the launch of HD. Never accept the status quo.”
It was a wonderful evening and Production Wizard are very happy to have sponsored an award and supported the event. Congratulations to all the winners and we’ll see you all at the Soho Fun Run on 24th July.
For a full list of the winners: http://www.broadcastdigitalawards.co.uk
Hollywood actress and troubled starlet, Lindsay Lohan, will investigate child trafficking in India for a BBC3 documentary (the designing intelligence that gave us Freaky Eaters, My Man Boobs and Me, and Fuck Off, I’m Fat). And no, this is not a dippy film script or Paris Hilton-style reality TV show. It’s serious stuff dontcha know. Lindsay Lohan in India will follow Lohan as she meets children forced into sweat shops and prostitution, as well as former traffickers.