Belfast Telegraph

Derry Girls star Saoirse scoops gong at annual TVawardsba­sh

- BY TOM HORTON

DERRY Girls has continued its winning ways after picking up another gong at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards.

In the comedy performanc­e category Derry Girls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson was named as the best female.

The hit Channel 4 show filmed in Northern Ireland won a Bafta last year for Best Scripted Comedy, and won the Best Scripted Comedy and Best Writer (Comedy) at last year’s RTS awards.

Ncuti Gatwa got the gong for best male in a comedy last night.

The Virtues star Stephen Graham (below) and The Long Song actress Tamara Lawrance were also among the big winners at the awards, which were held behind closed doors because of coronaviru­s.

Comedian Paul Merton hosted the ceremony without an audience or nominees being present and it was livestream­ed on the internet.

Lawrance was the winner in the female acting category, while Graham picked up the equivalent male award.

Wayne Garvie, chair of the RTS Programme Awards, said:

“We are all facing an incredibly difficult time and rightfully have made responsibl­e changes to the format of the RTS Programme Awards.

“Despite this, we would like to acknowledg­e the incredible contributi­on of all our nominees to the UK’s television output and celebrate our deserving winners.”

Other award recipients were Mobeen Azhar, who won the presenter award for the Hometown: A Killing documentar­y, while the Fleabag series was named best scripted comedy.

In addition to Lawrance’s award, The Long Song, which is about slavery in Jamaica, was also named best mini-series.

The best single documentar­y gong went to War In The Blood, which is about cancer treatment, while Casualty was named best soap and continuing drama.

Stormzy performing at last year’s Glastonbur­y was named as the winner of the best live event category, while the ICC Cricket World Cup Final was named as the best sports programme.

 ??  ?? Derry Girls actress Saoirse-Monica Jackson won on the night
Derry Girls actress Saoirse-Monica Jackson won on the night
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