Abuse TV drama claims four awards

HARD-HITTING drama Three Girls, based on the sexual abuse scandal in Rochdale, broke records as it picked up four prizes at the Women in Film & TV Awards.

Susan Hogg, Nicole Taylor, Una Ni Dhonghaile and director Philippa Lowthorpe were all honoured for their work on the BBC One show during a star-studded ceremony at London’s Hilton Hotel on Friday.

Marking its 27th anniversary, it is the first time that the event, this year hosted by The Great British Bake Off presenter Sandi Toksvig, has presented as many prizes for one drama.

Hogg, who picked up the Producer Award for her role on the show, said the three-part drama took years of preparation to come to screens and was crucial because it allowed the victims to have their “voices heard”.

Also at the event was Bridget Jones star Celia Imrie, who picked up the Lifetime Achievement accolade for a career that spans over five decades.

Elsewhere on the winners list was Game Of Thrones star Gemma Whelan, who took home the Best Performance award for her role in BBC One’s The Moorside, just weeks after become a mother.

Sex And The City Star Kim Cattrall presented This Country writer and actress Daisy May Cooper with the New Talent award, while Superman actor Henry Cavill handed the Film Finances Project Management prize to Marianne Jenkins.

Meanwhile, Elhum Shakerifar picked up the BBC News and Factual award for films shot in Syria and Nepal and citizen journalist Waad al-Kateab was presented with Achievement of the Year after picking up a camera to record the carnage she saw around her in Syria.

Former Bake Off champion Nadiya Hussain was given the Presenter award, but was unable to attend the event.

Nicola Shindler, founder and executive producer at RED Production Company, took home to Contribution to the Medium prize, while Jane Root won the business award and Susan Stein was honoured with the Craft award. ●●The BBC drama Three Girls, based on the Rochdale sex abuse scandal, has won four prizes at the Women in Film and TV Awards. Pictured are actors Holly Windsor, Liv Hill, Maxine Peake and Ria Zmitrowicz who appeared in the programme