Since Thames took up its contract in 1968, the company’s programmes have consistently won top national and international awards. Many of them, like the Royal Television Society’s Awards, the Sun Awards, the TV Times Awards, the Pye Awards and the Radio Industries Awards, have been given to Thames artists for individual programme making skills, not for complete programmes. Listed here are just some of the many accolades which Thames programmes have received in recent years.


The Prix Italia Presented by RAI, Italy’s public broadcasting organization, the Prix Italia has been described by The Times as ‘the most honoured prize a programme can receive. Awarded in three categories, drama, documentary and music, the Prix Italia generates fierce competition among the world’s programme producers. Thames is the only ITV company to have won the Prix Italia in all three categories.

  • 1972 We Was All One Best Documentary
  • 1976 The Naked Civil Servant Best Drama
  • 1976 Beauty, Bonnie, Daisy, Violet, Grace and Geoffrey Morton Best Documentary
  • 1977 St. Nicolas Cantata Best Music Programme
  • 1980 Creggan Best Documentary

 

The Prix Jeunesse

The Prix Jeunesse Equal in stature to the Prix Italia, the Prix Jeunesse is awarded solely to children’s programmes.

  • 1972 Magpie – My Brother David UNICEF Prize
  • 1974 Magpie – Like Ordinary Children
  • 1982 The Pied Piper of Hamelin
The Emmy Award

The Emmy Award The Emmy is America’s top television award. It is given in two categories: the national Emmy (for programmes transmitted in that year on American television); and the international Emmy, awarded to programmes made outside the United States of America.

  • 1974 The World at War National Emmy for ‘outstanding documentary achievements in programmes dealing with artistic, historic or cultural subjects.’
  • 1976 Jennie, Lady Randolph Churchill National Emmy for ‘outstanding achievement in costume design for a drama series.’
  • 1976 The Naked Civil Servant International Emmy for ‘outstanding achievement in entertainment programming.’
  • 1979 Palestine National Emmy for ‘outstanding programme achievement.’
  • 1980 Edward and Mrs. Simpson National Emmy for ‘outstanding limited series’
The BAFTA Award

BAFTA Awards The British Association of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) are Britain’s answer to the American Oscars for outstanding achievements in film and television production.

  • 1972 The Benny Hill Show Best light entertainment programme
  • 1975 Beauty, Bonnie, Daisy, Violet, Grace and Geoffrey Morton Best factual programme
  • 1977 Rock Follies Best drama series/serial
  • 1979 Edward & Mrs. Simpson Best drama series/serial
  • 1979 The Kenny Everett Video Show Best light entertainment programme
  • 1982 The Pied Piper of Hamelin Best children’s programme

About the author

'A Closer View' was published by Thames in late 1982 and sent to advertisers and interested viewers

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