I was thrilled this week when the nominations for this year’s Royal Television Society Scotland awards were announced. The RTS awards are the gold standard of achievement in the television industry recognising excellence across the entire range of programme making and broadcasting skills.
Two (yes, two!) films that I wrote, produced and directed have been shortlisted for an award. Tartan Pride and Jim Baxter, films I made in 2015 for broadcast on the BBC, have been shortlisted in the same category!
Here’s a section taken from a press release in response to the shortlist announcement:
Presented by Alex O’Henley, ‘Tartan Pride’ (BBC ALBA, January 2015) is a factual entertainment documentary film about the historical, emotional and cultural impact of the Scotland versus England ‘Auld Enemy’ football fixture.
The ‘Jim Baxter’ film, also presented by Alex O’Henley, (BBC ALBA September 2015) explores the life of the legendary Crossgates Primrose, Raith Rovers, Rangers and Scotland footballer who died of pancreatic cancer in 2001 at the age of 61.
Margot McCuaig of purpleTV who wrote, produced and directed both films, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have achieved two nominations in this year’s awards.
“Both films were a pleasure to work on given the emotive content of each and to gain this level of appreciation for them is a real honour. Our Jock Stein documentary scooped the Best Sports Documentary Award 2015 so to be in the running again this year is fantastic for the entire team at purple.”
The winners will be announced at a ceremony hosted by newsreader, Catriona Shearer and popular TV actor, Sanjeev Kohli, on Wednesday 25th May at the Òran Mòr, Glasgow.
Margot McCuaig 