BBC dominates Freesat Awards

BBC2 was named channel of the year at the UK’s sixth annual Freesat awards last night, completing a successful evening for the pubcaster.

Stars of the small screen gathered in London for the awards ceremony with Travel Channel, Channel 4 factual series Educating Yorkshire and TV presenter duo Ant & Dec among the big winners.

But it was the BBC that proved to be the night’s top dog, scooping six of the 12 gongs available.

BBC2, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, beat off competition from ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and kids’ channel CBeebies to win the Freesat Channel of the Year award.

Accepting the honour, former BBC2 controller Adam Barker said it had been a “tricky but amazing year” for the broadcaster and paid tribute to Janice Hadlow, who stepped down as controller of BBC2 and BBC4 in February. Barker held the role temporarily before Kim Shillinglaw took over in April.

BBC2 police series Line of Duty took home the Best TV Drama award, beating ITV’s Lucan and BBC1’s Sherlock.

BBC/Hulu copro The Wrong Mans scooped the Best British TV Sitcom award, ahead of ITV’s recently revived Birds of a Feather.

BBC1’s Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor won the Best of British TV Programme or Series award, while the other winners included Channel 4’s Educating Yorkshire (Best Factual TV Programme or Series) and CBeebies’ Katie Morag (Best Children’s TV Programme or Series).

Scripps Networks Interactive-owned Travel Channel was awarded Best Specialist Channel.

Ant & Dec scooped two awards: Best Live TV Programme of Series for Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and Broadcast TV Personalities of the Year.

The Freesat Free TV Awards are billed as celebrating the quality and variety of programming on offer from the subscription-free satellite TV platform.