Hebburn star Gina McKee and actor Robson Green were among the winners at the Royal Television Society awards for the North East and Cumbria.
McKee won performance of the year for her role in Hebburn, the BBC sitcom set in the Tyne and Wear town of the same name and also starring Vic Reeves.
The best drama award went to Vera
Robson Green’s Tales from Northumberland, for ITV, was named best factual programme and Pam Royle, host of ITV Tyne Tees and Border News, picked up the award for presenter of the year.
Vera, the ITV detective series set in Northumberland starring Brenda Blethyn, was named best drama.
The ceremony at the Newcastle Gateshead Hilton was presented by BBC Breakfast’s Steph McGovern.
Graeme Thompson, chairman of the Royal Television Society for the North East and Borders, said: “It’s been an extraordinary 12 months for production and innovation in this corner of the UK. We’ve seen a record eight drama productions based here in addition to documentaries, short films and features.
“The re-commissioning by the BBC of children’s dramas Wolfblood and The Dumping Ground confirms the region as a centre of excellence for children’s production.
“Competition within the creative industries is tough. We are surrounded by regions which have access to multi-million pound production funds.
“The North West, Yorkshire and Scotland use that funding to encourage producers to locate their features and programmes on their patch. The North East does not have an equivalent. We are all hoping that Northern Film and Media receive the backing of the Local Enterprise Partnership to level the playing field.”
The full list of winners is below:
Rising Star Award
Richard Murton
IG Media
Journalist of the Year
Alison Freeman
Cumbria Reporter, BBC Look North
Best Cameraman
Keith Blackburn
Student Factual
Arribada, The Arrival
University of Cumbria
Factual (Non Broadcast)
I’m Here for Mental Health
Meerkat Films
Factual
Tales from Northumberland
ITV/Shiver
Best Presenter
Pam Royle
ITV Tyne Tees and Border
Outstanding Contribution to Comedy and Drama
Dick Clements and Ian La Frenais
Screenwriters and creators of The Likely Lads & Auf Wiedersehen Pet
Student Entertainment
International News Network
University of Sunderland
Promotion/Commercial
Northumberland National Park by Night
Cain Scrimgeour
Innovation
Jason Collins
Zerolight (a division of Eutechnyx)
Student Animation
UMBRAS
University of Sunderland
Graphics, Titling and Animation
John Scott Patterson
Scoop of the Year
Dan Farthing, BBC
Student Fiction
Blyth
Northumbria University
Performance of the Year
Gina McKee
Hebburn
Drama
Vera
ITV Studios
Centre Award
Jacqui Hodgson
BBC North East
