TELEVISION presenter, Jim McColl, and the production team at Tern TV, were last night named recipients of the Scotland Award 2016 at an awards ceremony hosted by the Royal Television Society and celebrating the best of the industry in the country.
The award recognised the 1,000th episode of the gardening programme, The Beechgrove Garden.
Also among the winners: STV’s Bernard Ponsonby, Firecrest Films and BBC Scotland.
The full list of winners and nominees reads:
Best Daytime
The TV That Made Me Raise The Roof Productions for BBC One
Said the judges: “… a triumph in how to fuse archive with engaging conversation and comment. Brian Connelly is perfectly cast and brings a real warmth to the show. This programme stands out as being both fresh and innovative.”
Nominees:
Antiques Road Trip STV Productions for BBC One
Countryside 999 BBC Scotland Factual for BBC One
Best Factual Entertainment and Features
Supershoppers Firecrest Films for Channel 4
Said the judges: “… engaging blend of journalism, consumer issues and entertainment makes for an informative and humorous watch. The production values and direction are first-class and there’s a fresh feel to this ambitious and enlightening programme.”
Nominees:
Kirstie and Phil’s Love It or List It Raise The Roof Productions for Channel 4
Trust Me, I’m A Doctor BBC Scotland Science Production for BBC Two
Best History Programme
Scotland’s War at Sea BBC Scotland Factual for BBC Two Scotland
“… an engrossing film… superbly put together with highly effective use of archive and impressively-constructed sequences. An important story, brilliantly well told.”
Nominees:
Quintinshill: Britain’s Deadliest Rail Disaster Finestripe Productions for BBC Scotland
The Day They Dropped The Bomb Finestripe Productions for ITV
Best Documentary and Specialist Factual
Earth’s Natural Wonders: Living on the Edge BBC Scotland Science Production for BBC One
“… a film of real scale and ambition, wonderfully shot and cleverly weaving human and environmental stories. It was beautifully put-together and contained many memorable sequences.”
Nominees:
Britain’s Benefit Tenants IWC Media for Channel 4
Transplant Tales Matchlight for BBC Scotland
Best Arts Programme
Handmade BBC Scotland Arts Production for BBC Four
“… compelling, engrossing, riveting television.”
Nominees:
Blood and Glitter: 70 Years of the Citizens Theatre BBC Scotland Factual Arts for BBC Scotland/BBC Four
Dance to Freedom IWC Media for BBC Two
Best Drama
Stonemouth BBC Scotland Drama / Slate North for BBC One Scotland / BBC Two
“…Excellent and witty writing, excellent direction with fantastic ensemble and individual performances.”
Nominees:
River City BBC Scotland Drama for BBC One Scotland
The Gamechangers BBC Scotland Science Production for BBC Two
News and Current Affairs: Best News Programme
STV News at Six – Central STV News for STV
“This programme was praised for its confidence, integrity and authority across a wide range of stories, the quality of its presenters and reporters and, overall, its clear and comfortable connection with viewers.”
Nominees:
Carmichael Trial STV Glasgow for STV
Reporting Scotland BBC Scotland News & Current Affairs for BBC Scotland
News and Current Affairs: Best Current Affairs
BBC Scotland Investigates: The Dog Factory BBC Scotland Investigates for BBC Scotland
“… a first-class example of investigative journalism, the reporter showing considerable courage in putting herself in danger through covert filming and without being intimidated by the scale and nature of organised crime that was being exposed.”
Nominees:
BBC Scotland Investigates: Catch Me If You Can BBC Scotland Investigates for BBC Scotland
Scotland What Next? STV News – Central for STV
Sport: Best Sport Programme
Jim Baxter purpleTV for BBC ALBA
“… imaginative, entertaining and a good story, well told.”
Nominees:
Sportscene at 40 BBC Sport Scotland for BBC Scotland
Tartan Pride purpleTV for BBC ALBA
Sport: Best Live Event
BT Sport SPFL Sunset + Vine for BT Sport
“… an important match, from a challenging location, with good guest pundits. The presenter did a fine job of getting the balance right between reflecting the match, and following up the shocking post-match violence, while the pitch side reporter did great work in securing a revealing interview with the victim.”
Nominee:
Sportscene Live: The Scottish League Cup semi-final, Celtic v Rangers BBC Sport Scotland for BBC Scotland
Best Comedy
Burnistoun’s Big Night The Comedy Unit and Bold Yin for BBC Scotland
“… was the winner for its sheer inventiveness, innovative structure and treats for devoted fans and new viewers alike.”
Nominees:
Only An Excuse? 2015 The Comedy Unit for BBC Scotland
Radges BBC Comedy Production Scotland for BBC Three
Best Children’s Programme
Eve Leopard Drama for CBBC
“… an ambitious, contemporary drama with really high production values. The special effects were really well done and the storytelling was imaginative and absorbing.”
Nominees:
Down on the Farm BBC Scotland for CBeebies
Officially Amazing Lion Television Scotland for CBBC
Best Short Form Content
A little piece of Luxembourg everywhere… Playdead for Vimeo
“… eye-opening and compelling. The piece brought the facts and figures to life for what could potentially be a dull subject. The graphics were slick and informative.”
Nominees:
STV Edinburgh Launch Promo STV for STV
Wildless Playdead for Online
Best Animation and VFX
Trauma and the Brain Media Co-op for Vimeo
“A great animation that has been well executed. The illustrated technique and style delivered information while setting the correct tone for the film. It really felt like you were learning something while watching it.”
Nominees:
Britain Beneath Your Feet Playdead for BBC Scotland
The Secret Life of Midges ISO for BBC Scotland for BBC One
Student Television Award
Dipper from the Water of Leith Krzysztof Kubik, University of Edinburgh
“Enjoyable, refreshing and unusual. Absorbing. Beautifully done.”
Nominees:
Starfish Louise Dawson, Dayna Baptie and Fergus Thom, The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
The Armadillo and the Earwig Ben Cresswell, Edinburgh College of Art
On Screen Personality of the Year
Elaine C Smith – Burdz Eye View Solus Productions / RPM Arts for STV
“A presenter who brought their own character and personality to the screen, with a real ability to connect with the subject in a warm, funny and emotional way.”
Nominees:
Emma Baker – Border Life ITV Border for ITV
Lachlan Goudie – The Story of Scottish Art BBC Scotland Factual for BBC Scotland / BBC Four
Television Journalist of the Year
Bernard Ponsonby – STV News STV
“… at the top of his game, just as at home presenting big ticket set piece programming or providing analysis and explanation on a day-to-day basis… a commanding on screen presence able to control and unsettle politicians whilst simultaneously maintaining a close connection to viewers.”
Nominees:
Mark Daly – BBC Scotland Investigates BBC Scotland
Peter MacMahon – ITV ITV Border
Television Director of the Year
Jack Cocker – Imagine – Richard Flanagan: Life After Death BBC Scotland Factual for BBC One
“Jack’s vision for how to combine the most beguiling of subjects in Richard Flanagan, with strong visual storytelling was nothing short of perfection… Character-driven, visual storytelling at its absolute best.”
Nominees:
Morag Tinto – Imagine – Antony Gormley: Being Human BBC Scotland Factual for BBC One
Brian Welsh – The Rat Pack Zeppotron for BBC iPlayer
Professional Excellence (Craft): Best Camera
Fraser Rice – Phil Cunningham’s Pipe Dream BBC Scotland Entertainment & Events for BBC Two Scotland
“Fraser Rice’s use of natural light and his poetic and sensitive use of camera in response to the subject was effective and refreshingly original.”
Nominees:
Brian Jobson – River City BBC Scotland Drama for BBC One Scotland
Steve Lawes – Stonemouth BBC Scotland Drama/ Slate North for BBC One Scotland / BBC Two
Professional Excellence (Craft): Best Sound
John Cobban / 422tv – Eve Leopard Drama for CBBC
“…the dialogue. the music and effects were creatively recorded, assembled and imaginatively blended together to create an outstanding result that never overtook the content, but throughout the program added tension and sensitivity to all scenes.”
Nominees:
Paul Flitcroft – The Story of Scottish Art BBC Scotland Factual for BBC Scotland / BBC Four
Paul Wilson – Air Ambulance ER and Planet Oil Digital Design Studio for Sky / BBC
Professional Excellence (Craft) – Post Production: Best Editing
Joe Speirs – Quintinshill: Britain’s Deadliest Rail Disaster Finestripe Productions for BBC Scotland
“A story edited with real flair and with excellent pacing. The transitions between the very well done dramatic reconstructions and the documentary were seamless.”
Nominees:
David Arthur – Imagine – Richard Flanagan: Life After Death BBC Scotland Factual Arts for BBC Scotland / BBC Four
Vilte Vaitkute – Wee Govan Pipers and The Golden Road Media Co-op for MG Alba
Professional Excellence (Craft) – Post Production: Best Graphics and Titling
ISO – The Story of Scottish Art BBC Scotland for BBC Two
“Nice concept beautifully executed… Visually stunning and technically proficient…”
Nominees:
Funktion Design – Kirstie’s Homemade Christmas Raise The Roof Productions for Channel 4
ISO – I Survived A Zombie Apocalypse Tiger Aspect for BBC Three
Best Digital Innovation Award
Anthony Browne, Louise Thornton, Muslim Alim – BBC The Social BBC Scotland Social Media for BBC Scotland
“To be commended for its risk taking and its wholehearted embrace of new technologies to engage with an audience television increasingly finds hard to connect with.”
Nominees:
Anthony Browne, Paul McFadyen, Gillian McNeil – T in the Park BBC Scotland Social Media for BBC Scotland
Vicky Lee – STV News Online Video STV News for STV
The RTS Scotland Award
Jim McColl and the Tern TV production team – The Beechgrove Garden 1,000th episode
“For nearly four decades, Jim McColl has led Scotland’s longest-running and best-loved TV gardening series, The Beechgrove Garden.
“Jim, I’m sure won’t mind me saying, was 80 last year and has spent half of those 80 years with BBC Scotland and Beechgrove, teaching Scotland to garden.
“Jim began his broadcasting career in the ’70s on Radio Scotland, he’s loved by viewers, gardeners and production teams. He is a natural, a one off. An object lesson in being at ease with the camera. He connects with his audience, drawing them in with his mixture of authority, passion, humility and humour. We trust him. If Jim tells you it’s time to plant your tattoos, then it just is.
“Jim is our nation’s most respected and favourite TV gardener.
“And Jim’s a generous team player. His co presenters on the programme, Carole Baxter, George Anderson and Chris Beardshaw, are all horticulturalists, experts who learn to present.
“Beechgrove’s early hallmarks remain; its relevance to the Scottish climate, showing best practice in an accessible way, its willingness to show and learn from failures, to encourage us to get hands dirty and above all to never take itself too seriously.
“These enduring qualities, have endeared Jim and the programme, to us over the decades.
“Tern’s programme production team have kept the format fresh and the production true to its roots. They reach the milestone of 1,000 episodes this year.
“Horticultural broadcasting legend, Jim McColl, and the production team of Tern TV, for the 1,000th episode of Beechgrove Garden, are the recipients of the RTS Scotland Award 2016.”
