‘Love Island’ and ‘The Virtues’ were among the winners at the Broadcast Awards.
The ITV2 dating show scooped the Best Entertainment Programme accolade at the event at London’s Grosvenor House last night (05.02.20), and Channel 4’s Stephen Graham-led drama ‘The Virtues’ won the Best Drama Series or Serial prize.
Stephen was delighted that the show was recognised, writing on Twitter: "Thank you"
A message on the awards’ website about ‘The Virtues’ stated: "It transcends all expectations of TV drama to do something brave, raw and devastating."
And ‘Love Island’ – which was won by Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea last year – was praised for punching "above its weight class" and making people "feel every emotion you can watching TV".
Other winners on the night included ‘Fleabag’, which scooped the Best Comedy Programme, and ‘Harry’s Heroes: The Full English’ won Best Popular Factual Programme.
Coverage of England’s dramatic victory over New Zealand in the ICC Cricket World Cup Final 2019 won the Best Sports Programme accolade, and ‘The Repair Shop’ triumphed in the Best Daytime Programme category.
Kay Mellor – whose show ‘The Syndicate’ is to return to the BBC after a five-year break – was honoured with the Special Recognition award at the ceremony.
As well as ‘The Syndicate’, Kay has created the likes of British dramas ‘Band of Gold’, ‘Playing the Field’, and ‘Fat Friends’.
More recently, she created and wrote ‘Love, Lies and Records’.
What’s more, ‘Hollyoaks’ was awarded Best Soap or Continuing Drama for being "most willing to take on challenging issues and do them justice, with clever character development".
A message on the show’s Instagram account read: "#Hollyoaks have just won the award for Best Soap or Continuing Drama at the #BroadcastAwards! BEAMING WITH PRIDE! Thanks to all our fans, you truly are the best! 1#CelebrateDifference #DontFilterFeelings #Winners #TeamHollyoaks (sic)"
Broadcast Awards 2020 winners:
Best Entertainment Programme: Love Island
Best Drama Series or Serial: The Virtues
Best Comedy Programme: Fleabag
Best Independent Production Company: Studio Lambert
Best Post-Production House: Dock 10
Best Popular Factual Programme: Harry’s Heroes: The Full English
Best Documentary Programme: Three Identical Strangers
Best Specialist Factual: The Interrogation of Tony Martin
Best Original Programme: They Shall Not Grow Old
Best Sports Programme: ICC Cricket World Cup Final 2019
Best Daytime Programme: The Repair Shop
Best Soap or Continuing Drama: Hollyoaks
Best Pre-School Programme: Andy Safari’s Adventures
Best News/Current Affairs Programme: One Day in Gaza
Best Music Programme: Jazz 625 Live: For One Night Only
Best Children’s Programme: Leaving Care
Best Single Drama: Brexit: The Uncivil War
Best International Programme sales: Years and Years
Best Multichannel Programme: Bros: After the Screaming Stops
Best Documentary Series: Jade: The Reality Star Who Changed Britain
Channel of the Year: Channel 5
Special Recognition: Kay Mellor