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Success for BBC at Royal Television Society NI awards

Eve HughesBBC News NI
Press Eye two men in black suits on either side of two women one in a suit jacket with a white dress and the other in a navy dress holding an award.Press Eye
The BBC has won ten awards at the Royal Television Society NI Awards

The BBC has won ten awards at the Royal Television Society NI Awards in Belfast on Thursday night.

BBC Newsline won the News Coverage category for its reporting on the Race Riots in June 2026.

Spotlight's Politican, Predator & Paedophile programme about former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson in the wake of his conviction for a series of child sex offences, including rape, won the Best Current Affairs award for BBC Northern Ireland.

BBC NI Head of News, Damien Magee, said: "News matters and we work hard to give audiences a service they can trust, that keeps them informed, explains what's happening and makes their voices heard."

Press Eye Two members of the cast from Peelers: The PSNI For Real, a crew member and Stepehen Nolan. Pictured with their award for Best Doc Series. Tehy are all wearing black suits and bowties. Press Eye
Peelers: The PSNI For Real won the documentary series category

Peelers: The PSNI For Real series, by Third Street Studios for BBC Northern Ireland, about the realities and challenges of policing in Belfast won the documentary series category.

Adam Smyth, Director of BBC Northern Ireland, said: "The awards we've received reflect the range and quality of what the BBC does for local and network audiences and the creativity of the teams involved."

The event, at Titanic Belfast, recognises the best in Northern Ireland television.

This year's host was broadcaster Craig Doyle.

Press Eye Dearbháile McKinney in a black dress with silver detailing holding her award.Press Eye
Dearbháile McKinney won best Breakthrough On-Screen for her performance in Blue Lights

Maeve McLoughlin, Chair of RTS NI, said this year's line-up of winners was "amazing".

"Congratulations to all tonight's winners and the outstanding nominees reflecting the strength and resilience of our creative sector. "

Full list of winners

Actor – female: Katherine Devlin - Blue Lights - Two Cities Television/Gallagher Films for BBC

Actor – male: Tom Cullen - Trespasses - Wildgaze Films Ltd for Channel 4

Breakthrough on screen: Co - winner: Dearbháile McKinney - Blue Lights - Two Cities Television/Gallagher Films for BBC

Children's/Animation: My Brother the Minotaur - Dog Ears and Cartoon Saloon in association with Apple

Comedy: How to Get to Heaven From Belfast - Hat Trick Productions for Netflix

Current affairs: Spotlight | Politician, Predator & Paedophile for BBC Northern Ireland

Documentary: Peelers: The PSNI For Real - Third Street Studios for BBC

Documentary: Caitlin Hanna: Trafficked in Belfast - Strident Media for BBC

Drama: Trespasses, Wildgaze Films Ltd for Channel 4

Entertainment: Will and Ralf Should Know Better Series 2 - Afro-Mic Productions for U&Dave

Factual and entertainment: Ronan Keating's Wild Atlantic - Alleycats for BBC

Lifestyles and features: Natalie Cassidy: Caring Together - Big Mountain Productions for BBC Daytime

News coverage: BBC - Race Riots for BBC Newsline

Original music score: Katie Richardson, Composer, Crookhaven - BBC Studios for BBC One & BBC iPlayer

Post-Production Individual – Craft: Paul Maynes - Sound Mixing - Trespasses -Yellowmoon Post Production/ Wildgaze Films for Channel 4

Specialist Factual: Queen James - Waddell Media for BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Two

Writer: Ailbhe Keogan, Trespasses - Wildgaze Films for Channel 4

Hidden Hero: Helen Thompson

Brian Waddell Award for Outstanding Contribution to Industry: Richard Williams, CEO of Northern Ireland Screen.