Hosted by rising comedy star Kae Kurd, the Edinburgh TV Awards 2021 winners were announced on Twitter in an extended lunch break treat featuring top-name presenters and special appearances from stars including Paddy McGuinness, Alesha Dixon, Joe Lycett, Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett.
EDINBURGH TV AWARDS 2021 WINNERS ANNOUNCED
2022 INFORMATION COMING SOON

CHANNEL OF THE YEAR
Winner:
BBC One
Our jury said: “Did such a stellar job of embracing the nation, keeping people involved and informed in an incredibly difficult year”
Runners Up:
BBC Three
BBC Two
Channel 4
Channel 5
ITV

BEST TV ACTOR - COMEDY
Winner:
O-T Fagbenle in Maxxx
Our jury said: “Really charismatic and funny and an all-round talent”
Runners Up:
Anjana Vasan in We Are Lady Parts
Anna Maxwell Martin in Motherland
Joe Gilgun in Brassic
Samson Kayo in Bloods
Tanya Moodie in Motherland

BEST TV ACTOR - DRAMA
Winner:
Hayley Squires in Adult Material
Our jury said: “So committed and so skilful, a brilliant performance”
Runners Up:
Billie Piper in I Hate Suzie
David Tennant in Des
Keeley Hawes in It’s A Sin
Rakie Ayola in Anthony
Jason Watkins in Des

SPECIALIST CHANNEL OF THE YEAR
Winner:
Sky Arts
Our jury said: “Never seem to just rest on their laurels, they are always pushing, always trying and keep moving forward”
Runners Up:
Crime+Investigation
Sky Atlantic

PRODUCTION COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Winner:
Bad Wolf
Our jury said: “Nothing quite like it, they have delivered a studio. Magnificently impressive, literally a one-off”
Runners Up:
Bandicoot TV
Big Talk Productions
ITN Productions
Merman Television
World Productions

BEST DRAMA
Winner:
It’s A Sin, RED Production Company for Channel 4 and HBO Max in association with All3media International
Our jury said: “Stands out as a piece of work that talks to us about our history, and about who we are now and what we can do”
Runners Up:
All Creatures Great and Small, Playground for Channel 5
Anthony, LA Productions for BBC One
Des, New Pictures for ITV
Gangs of London, Pulse Films, SISTER for Sky Atlantic
I May Destroy You, Various Artists Ltd & FALKNA for BBC One & HBO

BEST COMEDY SERIES
Winner:
We Are Lady Parts, Working Title Television, part of NBCUniversal International Studios, for Channel 4
Our jury said: “Dared to be original…felt so authentic and of it’s own world, there’s no box-ticking here”
Runners Up:
Bloods, Roughcut Television for Sky One
Brassic, Calamity Films for Sky One
Motherland, Merman Television with Twofour in association with Lionsgate for the BBC
Starstruck, Avalon Television for HBO Max and BBC Three
Trying, BBC Studios and Apple TV+

SMALL INDIE OF THE YEAR
Winner:
Flicker Productions
Our jury said: “Really made their mark in the last couple of years…a small company with big ambition”
Runners Up:
Air TV
Big Deal Films
Firecrest Films
Red Sky Productions
Strawberry Blond

VARIETY OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Winner:
Jodie Comer
Exclusive interview coming soon

BEST TV PRESENTER
Winner:
Roman Kemp
Our jury said: “To do something like this with such heart and warmth is amazing. He did an exceptional job”
Runners Up:
Anita Rani
Bradley Walsh
Graham Norton
Grayson Perry
Romesh Ranganathan

BREAKTHROUGH TALENT
Winner:
Yinka Bokinni
Our jury said: “Takes to whatever she’s doing with real natural charm, can’t wait to see where she goes next”
Runners Up:
Callum Scott Howells
Hector Abbott
Olly Alexander
Omari Douglas
Rosie Jones

BEST INTERNATIONAL DRAMA
Winner:
Lupin, Gaumont Télévision for Netflix
Our jury said: “Pure entertainment, really sophisticated and well done”
Runners Up:
Fargo, MGM Television and FX Productions
Lovecraft Country, HBO in association with afemme, Monkeypaw, Bad Robot and Warner Bros
Ted Lasso, Apple / Doozer Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television
The Queen’s Gambit, Netflix
Your Honor, Showtime Presents, Moonshot Entertainment, King Size Productions, CBS Studios

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Winner:
America’s War on Abortion (Exposure), Fuuse Films for ITV
Our jury said: “A really fresh take on this subject…incredible documentary making”
Runners Up:
Being Frank: The Frank Gardner Story, Curious Films for BBC Two
Damilola: The Boy Next Door, Acme Films for Channel 4
Muslim in Trump’s America (Exposure), Fuuse Films for ITV
Nail Bomber: Manhunt, An Expectation Production for Netflix
Storming the Capitol: The Inside Story, ITV News Current Affairs for ITV

BEST ON DEMAND SERVICE
Winner:
ALL4
Our jury said: “Their core values drive right through every aspect of the business, and all in a British context and all for nothing”
Runners Up:
Disney+
NOW
STV Player

THE GREEN AWARD
Winner:
Sky Sports featuring Sky Zero
Our jury said: “To communicate these issues through the medium of sport is really impressive”
Runner Up:
ITV

BEST ENTERTAINMENT SERIES
Winner:
Rob & Romesh Vs., CPL Productions for Sky One
Our jury said: “It’s pure, unfiltered entertainment”
Runners Up:
Britain’s Got Talent, Thames and Syco for ITV
Interior Design Masters, DSP for BBC Two
Taskmaster, Avalon for Channel 4
The Last Leg, Open Mike for Channel 4
The Rap Game UK, Naked for BBC Three

BEST POPULAR FACTUAL SERIES
Winner:
Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back, Rumpus Media for Channel 4
Our jury said: “Watched the whole thing with a smile on my face, he made the show his own. Put a new format on an old and dry type of programme”
Runners Up:
Grayson’s Art Club, Swan Films for Channel 4
Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace, Wall to Wall Media for ITV
Portrait Artist of the Year, Storyvault films Ltd. for Sky Arts
Saved By A Stranger, Blink Films for Channel 4
The School That Tried to End Racism, Proper Content for Channel 4

GLOBAL SUCCESS AWARD
Winner:
All3Media International
Our jury said: “Fantastic to work with. Super impressive with really good people”
Runners Up:
Banijay Rights
ITV Studios

EDINBURGH TV AWARDS 2020
See last year’s shortlists and winners and watch the full ceremony

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