AN investigation into the quality of home care for older people – which led to the brief arrest of its journalist, who went undercover to report the story – was among the winners at a celebration of Scottish TV and film.
At the BAFTA Scotland awards last night, the News and Current Affairs title went to ‘Panorama – Britain’s Homecare Scandal’, whose reporter, Arifa Farooq was arrested for giving false information about her identity while applying for a job that gave her access to the standards of domiciliary care.
The programme was made by the BBC Scotland Investigations Unit. In the end, the Procurator Fiscal chose not to pursue Farooq, whose efforts led to inquiry being held by the Scottish Parliament into home care contracts.
The producer was Murdoch Rodgers and the assistant producer was ex-Sunday Herald reporter, Liam McDougall.
This is the third year in a row that BBC Scotland has won the ‘News and current affairs’ title at the Scottish BAFTAs.
Sam Poling’s fillm, ‘Britain’s Protection Racket’ won last year and Craig Williams and Ken Macdonald’s investigation into the ballot box chaos during the Scottish Parliament and local council elections two years ago – because of a new electronic counting system – was the winner before that.
Sally Magnusson’s ‘Scotland’s Homemade Bank’ and Eorpa were also nominated in the category this time.
Elsewhere, BBC Scotland took the ‘Factual programme’ award, for Sighthill Stories.
The awards were hosted by TV presenter, Lorraine Kelly.
Meanwhile, political satire, In the Loop, which had its European premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival, was the big winner of the night, scooping each of the three awards for which it was shortlisted, including the ‘Acting in film’ Bafta for Peter Capaldi.
Among the other winners was Robert Carlyle, who beat Dr Who actor, David Tennant, to take the title of ‘Best acting performance in television for a male’. He won his award for The Unloved, a drama about a young girl growing up in a children’s home.
Armando Iannucci, a co-writer of In The Loop also won the ‘Director’ title. He had flown to Glasgow for the ceremony, from Seville, in Spain.
He is quoted saying: “I’m overwhelmed and really did not expect this.”
Bill Forsyth, the director of hit films such as Gregory’s Girl and Local Hero, won a special award for outstanding contribution to film.
Reports one of the night’s sponsors, The Herald newspaper, Forsyth said: “I was quite reluctant to accept this because I thought my best work was still ahead of me.”
Sir Jeremy Isaacs, the television producer and executive who launched Channel 4, was recognised for his outstanding contribution to broadcasting.
The awards took place at the Glasgow Science Centre in front of an audience of over 500.
Said Helen Anderson, director of BAFTA Scotland: “This has been a great night for the industry coming together and demonstrating the breadth of talent the country has. I hope tonight’s awards have inspired the winners, nominees and indeed new talent to continue making excellent work.”
Watch a web broadcast of the awards ceremony, here.
The winners:
Acting in film: Peter Capaldi, In the Loop
Acting performance in television: Female, Daniela Nardini, New Town
Acting performance in television: Male, Robert Carlyle, The Unloved
Animation: The Happy Duckling
Outstanding contribution to broadcasting: Sir Jeremy Isaacs
Children’s: KNTV – The Act of Sex
Award for craft: Patrick Doyle
Director: Armando Iannucci, In the Loop
Entertainment programme: Rab C Nesbitt, Christmas Special
Factual programme: Sighthill Stories
Outstanding contribution to film: Bill Forsyth
Feature film: Crying with Laughter
Factual series: Terry Pratchett: Living with Alzheimer’s
Outstanding international achievement (digital media): David Jones
News and current affairs: Panorama – Britain’s Homecare Scandal
Short film: Life of a Pigeon
TV drama: New Town
Best web: Blipfoto.com
Best game: Flock
Best interactive: Cybraphon
Writer: Jesse Armstrong/Simon Blackwell/Armando Iannucci, In The Loop
