Derry Girls and Jamie-Lee O'Donnell among winners at RTS NI Awards

It was double sucess for Derry last night (Thursday) as the winners of the Royal Television Society, Northern Ireland (RTS NI) 8th Programme Awards were announced at a glittering awards ceremony in Belfast's City Hall hosted by Blu Hydrangea.

Derry Girls Series 3 picked up the Comedy Award for Hat Trick Productions.

The popular Channel 4 series, created by local screenwriter Lisa McGee, has been Channel 4's most successful comedy series ever, with the last series airing last May.

In recent months Derry Girls has received an accolade of awards for Series 3, including two category winners at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards - Scripted Comedy and Writer - Comedy. 

Lisa also picked up the award for Best Writer of a comedy at the recent BAFTA Television Craft Awards 2023.

Derry Girls star Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, who starred as Michelle Mallon in the hit show, was named the winner of the Best On-Screen Talent Award for her performance in The Real Derry: Jamie-Lee O’Donnell by Tyrone Productions.

The documentary for Channel 4 explored her upbringing in Derry and how things have changed in the city since.

Fifty years on from Bloody Sunday, the programme also looked at what the future may bring for the city, in particular for the younger generation who still live with the impact of the Troubles.

Other finalists on the night inlcuded Open Reel Productions, and the Producer/Director team of Vinny Cunningham and John Peto.

They were finalists in the prestigious Specialist Factual award for their film The White Handkerchief, produced for BBC Four and BBC NI. 

The White Handkerchief told the behind the scenes story of the creation and production of the Derry Playhouse’s groundbreaking piece of musical theatre that was commissioned to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Bloody Sunday in 2022.

The Specialist Factual Award went to Walk on Air Films and Ronachan Films for Brian Friel: Shy Man, Showman.

Winner of the RTS NI Scripted Comedy Award 2023 is Derry Girls by Hat Trick Productions, pictured receiving the award from sponsor City Air Express' Ian Wilson are the Hat Trick team with Awards host Blu Hydrangea. Photo by Press Eye.

Fiona Campbell, Chair of RTS NI said: “It is a real pleasure to celebrate the incredible talent of our very own James Martin, who has won the hearts of audiences worldwide with his outstanding performance in An Irish Goodbye.

“As an industry we have a unique platform in which we can smash prejudice by ensuring that we are inclusive both on-screen and behind-the-cameras. Congratulations to all our winners and finalists, who represent the best of the creative talent now so evident in Northern Ireland.”

Gareth McGreevy, Chair of RTS NI Awards said: “The high quality of this year’s entries is hugely reflective of our dynamic creative community. The judges had a tough time deciding the eventual winners so well done to everyone who made the shortlist as well as tonight’s winners. The RTS NI is an educational charity and events like tonight give us the opportunity to highlight and celebrate the wonderful achievements of our vibrant film and TV industry.”