VLV Awards - past winners
Find out about past winners of the VLV Awards for Excellence.
- 2017 award winners
- 2016 award winners
- 2015 award winners
- 2014 award winners
- 2013 award winners
- 2012 award winners
THE VLV AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2017
The VLV Awards for Excellence were presented by broadcaster Jon Snow at the VLV Spring Conference on April 19th. The ceremony was as popular as ever, attended by a host of television and radio household names.
The nominations for the awards demonstrated the number and range of high quality programmes broadcast during 2017 which delighted, informed and entertained VLV members.
TV winners included Line of Duty, Blue Planet II, Unreported World and W1A. Laura Kuenssberg won the TV individual contributor award. Where in the World? broadcast by CBeebies won the Children's Award.
Radio winners featured Dead Ringers, More or Less and Private Passions. Mishal Husain was voted best individual contributor to radio.
The coveted Naomi Sargant Award went to Professor Mary Beard OBE.
Watch a video of the awards ceremony:
BEST TV DRAMA PROGRAMME
Winner
Line of Duty - BBC One
Nominations
- I Know Who You Are - BBC Four
- The Durrells - ITV
- The Handmaid’s Tale - Channel 4
- The Last Post - BBC One
- The State - Channel 4
BEST TV NEWS AND FACTUAL PROGRAMME
Winner
Blue Planet II - BBC One
Nominations
- Against the Law - BBC Two
- 100 Days/Beyond 100 Days - BBC News/BBC Four
- Peston on Sunday - ITV
- The Vietnam War - BBC Four
- The World’s Greatest Bridges - Channel 5
BEST TV ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME
Winner
W1A - BBC Two
Nominations
- Have I got News for you - BBC One
- The Detectorists - BBC Four
- The Last Leg - Channel 4
- Tunes for Tyrants: Music and power with Suzy Klein - BBC Four
- Upstart Crow - BBC Two
BEST TV INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTION
Winner
Laura Kuenssberg
Nominations
- Katty Kay
- Simon Reeve
- Cathy Newman
- Chris Packham
- Robert Peston
AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL CONTENT (sponsored by IBT)
Winner
Unreported World - Channel 4
Nominations
- Exodus: Our Journey Continues - BBC Two
- Joanna Lumley’s India - ITV
- Russia with Simon Reeve - BBC Two
- The Ganges with Sue Perkins - BBC One
- The Insider: Reggie Yates - BBC One
BEST SPORTS PROGRAMME – RADIO & TV (sponsored by Arqiva)
Winner
Wimbledon - BBC One & Two
Nominations
- Coverage of County and Test Cricket - Radio 5 Live Sports Extra/Radio 4/BBC Sport
- ITV Racing - ITV
- Match of the Day - BBC One
- The NFL Show - BBC One
- Tour de France - ITV
BEST RADIO DRAMA AND COMEDY PROGRAMME
Winner
Dead Ringers - Radio 4
Nominations
- Alexei Sayle’s Imaginary Sandwich Bar - Radio 4
- Ed Reardon’s Week - Radio 4
- The Archers - Radio 4
- Just a Minute - Radio 4
- The Now Show - Radio 4
BEST RADIO NEWS AND FACTUAL PROGRAMME
Winner
More or Less - Radio 4
Nominations
- Broadcasting House - Radio 4
- Our Man in the Middle East - Radio 4
- PM - Radio 4
- The Documentary: Afghanistan Calling - BBC World Service
- The Essay - Radio 3
BEST RADIO MUSIC AND ARTS PROGRAMME
Winner
Private Passions - Radio 3
Nominations
- Counterpoint - Radio 4
- Desert Island Discs - Radio 4
- In Tune - Radio 3
- Saturday Review - Radio 4
- Soul Music - Radio 4
BEST INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR TO RADIO
Winner
Mishal Husain
Nominations
- Samira Ahmed
- John Suchet
- Lyse Doucet
- Eddie Mair
- Nick Ferrari
THE NAOMI SARGANT AWARD
Winner
Professor Mary Beard OBE
THE AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN BROADCASTING
Winner
BBC News and Channel 4 News for combating fake news with
Reality Check and Factcheck
THE CHILDREN’S BROADCASTING AWARD
Winner
Where in the World? CBeebies
VLV Awards for Excellence 2016
The VLV Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting 2016 were presented across many aspects of television and radio with programmes, individuals and channels nominated and voted for by VLV members – their viewers and listeners.
The winners included The Night Manager, Planet Earth II, Channel 4's Paralympics coverage, Today and I’m Sorry I haven’t a Clue.
The awards also honoured Sir David Attenborough, Ade Adepitan and Steve Hewlett.
Individual Awards were presented to Sir David Attenborough, the late Steve Hewlett and Helen Boaden.
On receiving his award David Attenborough commented "This is a unique award in my experience - there are very few which is actually a pure, untainted look at quality. There are so many awards which other factors come into, but this comes from people who enjoy broadcasting and have their own agenda as to what makes something good. This is a unique award and I treasure it very much."
Ade Adepitan was awarded the Naomi Sargant award for education and sent a specially recorded message of thanks which you can view here
The full list of the 2016 winners and nominees is below.
Helen Boaden joined the awards via skype from the USA saying "I loved watching this ceremony. It represents everything I deeply care about in public service broadcasting. It represents a commitment to quality, a commitment to diversity of every sort, radio, television and online: people, personalities, types of programmes and what underlines it all is a profoundly democratic spirit. I love the fact that John Reith said early in his career that he wanted the best of everything in everyone’s homes and that really is what has always motivated me – that deep democratic spirit…"
After the cermeony, Colin Browne, Chairman of VLV, said “Despite the huge challenges and seismic changes in the broadcasting industry, these awards demonstrate that 2016 was a stellar year creatively, providing a range of quality and diverse programmes for listeners and viewers. The winners include some of the greatest names in broadcasting, alongside exciting newcomers. We know they really appreciate awards voted by listeners and viewers; we in turn are grateful for the pleasure they bring us.”
WINNERS VLV AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN BROADCASTING 2016
Television
Best Drama Programme The Night Manager BBC/ The Ink Factory
Best TV News and Factual Programme Planet Earth II BBC One picture
Best TV Children’s Programme Horrible Histories CBBC/ Lion Television
Best TV Arts and Entertainment Programme University Challenge BBC Two
Best TV Individual Contributor Sir David Attenborough OM CH CVO CBE picture
Radio
Best Drama and Comedy Programme I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue BBC Radio 4 picture
Best Radio News and Factual Programme Today BBC Radio 4
Best Music and Arts Programme Front Row BBC Radio 4 picture
Best individual contributor to Radio the late Steve Hewlett
Special Awards
The Naomi Sargant Award – Ade Adepitan
The VLV Award for Innovation – Channel 4’s coverage of the Rio Paralympics picture
The VLV Special Award – Helen Boaden
The full list of nominees can be read here
VLV AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2015
Wolf Hall, Channel 4 News, Clangers, Face of Britain by Simon Schama, BBC Four, Book of the Week, From Our Own Correspondent, A Good Read, Ten Pieces, Classic FM all honoured by VLV members
Jon Snow, Gareth Malone and James Naughtie picked up individual awards
Gillian Reynolds, herself the recipient of a special award last year, presented the th VLV Awards for broadcasting at VLV’s Spring Conference – Public Service Broadcasting on a Precipice? at the Geological Society in London on Tuesday 19th April 2016.
The nominations, chosen and voted for by members of VLV, range across all areas of broadcasting reflecting the diverse high quality content of radio and television programming in the UK.
Jon Snow and James Naughtie were voted television and radio contributors of the year and Gareth Malone received the Naomi Sargant special award, which was selected by the VLV Trustees.
Winning television programmes were Wolf Hall, Channel 4 News, Clangers and The Face of Britain by Simon Schama. In the Radio category, awards were received by Book of the Week, From Our Own Correspondent and A Good Read with Ten Pieces selected as the Most Innovative Contribution to the Use of Digital Media. The Free to Air Digital TV Channel of the Year was BBC Four and Digital Radio Station of the Year Classic FM.
The Voice of the Listener & Viewer Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting are always highly valued by the recipients. VLV Chairman Colin Browne said, ‘As politicians and regulators plot the future of public service broadcasting in the UK, it is timely to remember that what really counts is the quality and diversity of the programmes available to listeners and viewers. These awards are a reminder of the excellence of so much of our radio and television.’
The full list of award winners were:
Television
Best Drama Programme Wolf Hall BBC Two/Company Pictures/Playground Entertainment picture here
Best TV News and Factual Programme Channel 4 News picture
Best TV Children’s Programme Clangers CBeebies/Coolabi picture
Best TV Arts and Entertainment Programme Face of Britain by Simon Schama BBC Two/Oxford Film and Television picture
Best TV Individual Contributor Jon Snow picture
VLV Arqiva Free to view Digital TV Channel of the Year: BBC Four picture
Radio
Best Drama and Comedy Programme Book of the Week Radio 4 picture
Best Radio News and Factual Programme From our own Correspondent Radio 4 picture
Best Music and Arts Programme A Good Read Radio 4 picture
Best individual contributor to Radio James Naughtie picture
VLV Arqiva Digital Radio Station of the Year Classic FM picture
Special Awards
The Naomi Sargant Award, commemorates a distinguished adult educator who believed passionately in life long learning. Naomi was Channel 4’s first senior commissioner of educational programmes, and one of the founders of the Open University. This year Gareth Malone was presented with this accolade for his work in his role of ‘choral animateur’, encouraging participation from both adults and children, ranging from postmen to NHS workers to the military wives, to sing in choirs.
The VLV Arqiva Most Innovative Contribution to the Use of Digital Media award was presented to Ten Pieces (BBC/Somethin’). This project aimed initially at primary age children and now extended to the secondary age group has been the BBC’s biggest commitment to musical education. It is a multi-platform programme, making use of the BBC’s music resources, including the orchestras. It engages with over half the primary schools in the country, with a wide range of teaching resources and a showcase for creative responses in the form of film, audio and artwork. picture
The full list of nominations can be read here
VLV Awards for Excellence 2014
Strictly Come Dancing, Downton Abbey, Springwatch, Countryfile, The News Quiz, Composer of the Week and BBC World Service honoured by VLV members
Now in their 23nd year the Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting are especially valued by their recipients.
VLV Chairman Colin Browne said: "The wide range of nominations proposed by our members illustrate the tremendous quality and diversity to be found in UK broadcasting. Winners tell us they particularly value these awards as they are chosen by the people who really matter - engaged listeners and viewers."
The awards were presented by James Naughtie at a ceremony during VLV's Spring Conference at the Geological Society in London, Tuesday 2 June 2015.
The full list of awards for 2014, presented in June 2015 were:
Radio
Best Radio Drama and Comedy Programme: The News Quiz,BBC Radio 4
Best Radio Factual Programme: Germany: Memories of a Nation, BBC Radio 4
Best Radio Music and Arts Programme: Composer of the Week, BBC Radio 3
Best individual contribution to Radio: Martha Kearney
VLV Arqiva Digital Radio Station of the Year: BBC World Service
Television
Best TV Drama Programme: Downton Abbey, ITV
Best TV Factual Programme: Countryfile, BBC One
Best TV Children's Programme: Newsround , CBBC
Best TV Entertainment Programme: Strictly Come Dancing, BBC One
Best individual Contribution to Television: Professor Brian Cox OBE
VLV Arqiva Digital free to air TV Channel Station of the Year: BBC News Channel HD
VLV Special Awards in the gift or the VLV Trustees, Roberts Radio and Arqiva
The VLV Naomi Sargant Award: Michael Mosley
This year the award goes to Michael Mosley who, as a science producer worked with presenters who ranged from Lord Winston to Jeremy Clarkson. More recently, as a presenter of medical programmes, he has submitted himself to research which revealed that he shares characteristics with psychopaths, and has popularized the 5.2 diet.
The VLV Arqiva Most Innovative Contribution to the Use of Digital Media: Springwatch
The Special Award has been selected jointly by Arqiva and the VLV Trustees. It goes to BBC Two's Springwatch which, together with its sister programmes Autumnwatch and Winterwatch, makes extensive use of social media, the Red Button, live webcams, linked websites reaching out beyond the live programmes so that people can learn and engage beyond transmission.
The VLV Robert Radio Special Award (in the gift of Roberts Radio):
Neil MacGregor OM, AO, FSA
The VLV Roberts Radio Special Award has been won this year by the retiring British Museum Director Neil Macgregor for his outstanding radio series Germany: memories of a nation and his History of the World in 100 Objects.
The VLV Special Trustees Award: Gillian Reynolds MBE
The VLV Special Award, awarded by the Trustees, goes this year to journalist and broadcaster Gillian Reynolds MBE in recognition of her support for the concept of public service broadcasting and of course in particular for radio.
Read nominations for 2014 awards here
THE VLV AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2013
The broadcaster and naturalist, Sir David Attenborough was honoured with a special award for his decades-long contribution to public service broadcasting by the Voice of the Listener & Viewer.
The full list of awards:
VLV Awards (nominated and voted for by VLV members)
Best Radio Programme: The Life Scientific, BBC Radio 4
Best New Radio Programme: Inside Science, BBC Radio 4
Best individual contribution to Radio: Jim Al-Khalil
Best TV Programme: University Challenge. BBC Two
Best New Television Programme: Ottomans: Europe's Muslim Emperors, BBC Two
Best Individual Contribution to Television: Clare Balding OBE
VLV Special Awards (in the gift of the Trustees of VLV)
30th Anniversary Award for his contribution to public service broadcasting
Sir David Attenborough OM CH
The VLV Naomi Sargant Award: Professor Simon Schama
The VLV Naomi Sargant Educational Award is named after the distinguished adult educator who believed passionately in life-long learning. Naomi Sargent was Vice Chancellor of the Open University and Channel 4’s first commissioning editor for educational programmes. The award was presented to Professor Simon Schama reflecting his acclaimed history broadcasts, including The Story of the Jews, broadcast on BBC 2 in 2013.
The VLV Multiplatform Award: BBC Proms 2013
VLV Children’s Television Award: Anne Wood, Ragdoll Productions
The VLV Robert Radio Special Award (in the gift of Roberts Radio): Nicholas Parsons CBE
THE VLV AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2012
The awards were presented by Sandi Toksvig; she and Lewis Rudd made a great team with much laughter throughout.
Everyone was especially delighted that Andrew Marr was able to collect the Best Radio Award for Start the Week.
VLV Awards (nominated and voted for by VLV members only)
Best Radio Programme: Start the Week BBC Radio 4
Best New Radio Programme: The Listening Project BBC Radio 4
Best individual contribution to Radio: James Naughtie
Best TV Programme: Great British Train Journeys BBC Two
Best New Television Programme: The Secret History of our Streets BBC Two
Best Individual Contribution to Television: Jon Snow
VLV Special Awards (in the gift of the Board of VLV and the Voice of the Listener Trust)
The VLV Naomi Sargant Award: Dan Snow
The VLV Multiplatform Award: BBC Olympics London 2012
The VLV Robert Radio Special Award (in the gift of Roberts Radio): Sandi Toksvig
VLV has given the VLV Multiplatform Award which recognises a programme or series which utilises the best elements of the various platforms now available to broadcasters. The VLV Board and Voice of the Listener Trustees have selected the BBC's Olympic London 2012 coverage.
The VLV Naomi Sargant Educational Award is also in the gift of the Trustees and Board. This year the award goes to Dan Snow reflecting his contribution to the current golden era of history programmes which our awards have marked this year.
The VLV Roberts Radio Award 2012 was won by broadcaster Sandi Toksvig.
