STARS of the small screen from the region have been recognised at a red-carpet ceremony.

The 2019 Royal Television Society Awards for the North-East and Border honoured some of the best talent from the television and media industry.

It was held at Hilton Hotel in Gateshead and was hosted by comedian and writer Jason Cook, from South Shields, with more than 400 guests, including actors Brenda Blethyn, Kenny Doughty and Bill Ward along with television presenters Pam Royle, Jeff Brown, Ian Payne and Simon McCoy.

Graeme Thompson, chairman of the regional Royal Television Society Awards Committee, said: “As television production in the region continues to thrive, the Royal Television Society awards play an important part in celebrating the best and brightest professional excellence but also encouraging and supporting future talent from across the region.”

The popular ITV detective series, Vera, which is filmed in Northumberland and features Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope with Kenny Doughty as her sidekick DS Aiden Healy won the RTS Judges Award.

Stars of the show were joined on stage by award-winning crime writer Ann Cleeves whose series of books inspired the ITV series now celebrating ten years of production in the region.

The Northern Echo:

It was a successful night for Teesside as The Mighty Redcar, produced by 72 Films for BBC Two, picked-up the award for Best Broadcast Factual Production.

Dylan Cartlidge from the programme and voice of the series Madi Cooper received the award on stage.

The Northern Echo:

The CBBC series The Dumping Ground, which is set on Tyneside, and focuses on the lives of young people in care, was presented with the award for Best Drama.

The series, which started in 2013, broadcast its 100th episode last March and is consistently the channel’s most popular drama.

Kia Pegg, who plays Jody Jackson, was awarded Best Drama Performance, for her role in the CBBC show.

North-East actor Bill Ward who has played Charlie Stubbs in Coronation Street and James Barton in Emmerdale, presented Kia with her trophy.

Teesside University won the RTS award for Best Animation and Best Short Feature as part of the regional student awards.

Sunderland, Northumbria and Newcastle universities also celebrated success, each taking away at least two awards.

The University of Cumbria won the award for Best Camera Work for the ‘It’s like Snowboarding but with Wheels’ production.

ITV Tyne Tees was awarded with Best News Programme for North-East Tonight and weatherman Ross Hutchinson was awarded Presenter of the Year while Tom Sheldrick received the award for Outstanding Journalism.

Giles Bowman from ITV SignPost picked-up the award for Rising Star.

Geordie Jazz Man won the award for Best Non-Broadcast Factual Production. The film was produced by Film Agogo and told the story of Keith Crombie, who ran the Jazz Cafe in Newcastle.

BBC Look North and ITV Tyne Tees were presented with special recognition awards as both the regional broadcasters celebrated 60 years of production in the region.