Judging Panel: Graham Little – Freelance Broadcaster (BBC/RTE/SKYSPORTS)
Mark Linsey – BBC, Controller, Entertainment Commissioning
Stephen Mitchell – BBC, Deputy Director of News and Head of News Programmes

Winner: LSTV

Click to Watch!

Graham Little:

Great graphics on introduction of show reel and big names interviewed. A wide range of issues covered and entertainment provided. Professionally shot and edited.

Mark Linsey:

Strong coverage and very thoughtful in execution and production values. Good use of exterior shooting.

Stephen Mitchell:

Some outstanding presentation and real ambition, great sense of being out and about perhaps a few more clearer signposts would have helped appreciation by a newcomer not familiar with what LSTV has achieved over the year.

Highly Commended: YSTV

Click to Watch!

Graham Little:

Large variety of programming of great relevance to their audience. Intelligent, innovative use of social media, and a widening of the station’s influence made for a very positive year.

Mark Linsey:

Very comprehensive broadcaster with wide range of coverage and good presentation.

Stephen Mitchell:

Totally gripping 10 minutes, fast paced without losing the viewer, clever editing on creative content illustrating good use of location and impressive appreciation of the importance of good sound as well as vision.

Judge: Ore Oduba – BBC Newsround & BBC Sport, Presenter and NaSTA Best On-Screen Male 2008

Winner: Chris Wells (Demon TV)

Click to Watch!
I don’t want to say it, because Chris probably hears it too many times per week, but he’d give Jack Black a run for his money in a ‘Being Jack Black’ competition. But just like Jack Black, after seeing some of him I wanted to see more of him. Why is it only two minutes long?? If Chris had showed off his talent on-screen for another few minutes he’d have been very difficult to beat, not just difficult to beat. That said, in that short time, I wouldn’t be surprised if we were seeing Chris on TV soon. He’s got loads of character, has a lot of fun and that all comes pouring out on screen. There aren’t too many people that can stand in front of a plain background delivery pieces to camera and you want to keep watching them. He’s confident, got great entertainment value and he obviously knows his stuff when it comes to films – excellent scripting too.

Highly Commended: James Goldburn (LSUTV)

Click to Watch!
This is a really well edited showreel. Good camera work, lots of good different backdrops and it really shows off James ability. It’s not easy to make Gordon Brown look like he’s worth watching, but with James’s mic in his face it helped! James looks very comfortable on screen, as a studio host, in a live broadcast, reporting on the ground or in front of a green screen. I would have liked to see more of James’s personality applied across the wide variety of shows he does – he’s obviously very confident when he’s delivering to camera, but when he’s able to add his own character to his roles he’s very good. As soon as James pins down exactly what kind of presenter he wants to be I think he’ll be fantastic.

Highly Commended: Lawrence Bolton (NUTS)

Click to Watch!
Lawrence is obviously the leading man at NUTS – his showreel offered a great range of shows and with a well edited compilation it was easy just how much Lawrence has done over the last year. He’s obviously likes to have fun on screen, has good rapport with his guests and co-presenters, can do live TV, is comfortable doing entertainment to news and current affairs and can act too. Lawrence is very good all round and if over the next year or so figure out exactly what he wants to do, he’s got a bright future.