The shortlist for the Broadcast Awards 2011 has been unveiled and Irish talent is prominent amongst the nominees. Irish shot dramas ‘Mo’ and ‘Small Island’ have received nods, as has Jam Media’s animated series, ‘Roy’ and Graham Linehan’s ‘The IT Crowd’.
In the category of Best Single Drama two Northern Irish shot programmes will compete; ‘Mo’ from ITV Studios for Channel 4 and ‘Small Island’ by Ruby Films/ AL Films for BBC 1. ‘Mo’, written by Neil McKay (Wall of Silence, Dunkirk) stars Julie Walters (Mamma Mia!) as Mo Mowlam and depicts her rise to prominence in New Labour and her part in the events that led to Northern Ireland’s Good Friday Agreement.
The two x 90-minute drama, ‘Small Island’ was produced by Ruby Television in association with AL Films and shot in Northern Ireland and Jamaica last autumn. It is an adaptation based on the award winning novel by Andrea Levy which is set in 1948 and plays through the relationships of two couples along with acting as a glimpse at Jamaican emigrants settling in post-WWI. Both dramas will now go up against Slate Film’s ‘I Am Slave’; ‘The Fattest Man in Britain’ by ITV Studios; BBC 4’s ‘Enid’ and Tiger Aspect’s ‘Blood & Oil’.
The BAFTA nominated Irish animated series, ‘Roy’ from Jam Media for CBBC, has been nominated in the category of Best Children’s programme.’Roy’ is a 13 minute series that is a mixture of animation and live action. Based on the short film 'Badly Drawn Roy', the series centres around the only cartoon boy in world and is a celebration of what it's like to be different Created by Alan Shannon the series stars Scott Graham as the voice of Roy alongside Simon Delaney (Zonad) and Cathy Belton (Savage). It is produced by Mark Cumberton (writer, Picme). Fellow nominees in the Childrsn’s Programme category include Lion TV’s ‘Horrible Histories’; Shine TV’s ‘Junior Masterchef’; So Television’s ‘Sorry I’ve Got No Head’; CBBC’s ‘Spirit Warriors’ and ‘The Gruffalo’ from Magic Light Pictures in association with Studio Soi for BBC 1.
In the category of Best Comedy Programme, ‘The IT Crowd’has been shortlisted. Irishman Graham Linehan (Father Ted) wrote and directed the winning series which stars Irish actor Chris O’Dowd (The Boat That Rocked) as an IT guy who works in a fictitious British corporation. ‘The IT Crowd’ will go up against against Tiger Aspect’s ‘Benidorm’; Hat Trick production’s ‘Outnumbered’; Big Talk Productions’ ‘Rev’ and BBC Productions’ ‘The Thick of It’.
The Broadcast Awards ceremony, which will be held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on February 2nd 2011 will look to shine a light on the UK's most acclaimed TV shows and the unsung talent that made them all possible. For a full list of nominees visit www.broadcastawards.co.uk
