Gallagher Films, Two Cities Television for BBC
This Belfast-based police drama appears to be getting better with age. The BBC must have known this when it announced a bumper series three and four recommission last year - a move which co-creators and exec producers Stephen Wright and Louise Gallagher called a “staggering vote of confidence”.
Continuing the story of rookie police officers manning a city fraught with unique pressures and dangers, the judges were dazzled by the show’s originality and distinctiveness within the well-trodden territory of the police procedural.
“Blue Lights makes reinventing the crime drama feel effortless,” said one judge. “It is truly original and surprising.”
Another loved the “gripping” way in which it played with both the personal and procedural, and yet another said the “bold and fresh” casting choices helped it stand out in a crowded space.
“Brilliant acted and directed, it always feels so real and engaging without leaning on familiar tropes,” they added.
Yet another judge loved the character-led wit which celebrated the uniqueness of the city itself.
“It is authentic to its genres and to the city of Belfast and its dialogue and humour - but it is also very commercial and appeals to a wide audience,” they added.
SHORTLISTED
Baby Reindeer
Clerkenwell Films for Netflix
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Mr Bates vs The Post Office
ITV Studios and Little Gem for ITV1
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Sherwood
House Productions for BBC
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ITV Studios for BBC
Centring on Jimmy Savile’s involvement in national institutions like the BBC, hospitals, prisons, and charities, the drama shows how he used his celebrity to conceal his horrific crimes. The series reached out to real-life victims, with the result shining a light on the importance of confronting the truth.
AWARD SPONSORED BY Maidstone Studios
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