Roughcut TV for Channel 4
Judges applauded the final series of Roughcut’s coming-of-age comedy drama Big Boys for delicately balancing humour with heavier themes.
Jack Rooke’s semi-autobiographical sitcom from Roughcut TV, which first aired on Channel 4 in 2022, was described by judges as a “masterpiece”.
It received five-star reviews from the Guardian and The Independent and was widely recognised for its deftness in both writing and acting. Dylan Llewellyn and Jon Pointing returned for the final series as unlikely best friends Jack and Danny in performances described as “heart-breaking”.
The show’s long running themes of grief and mental health were brought to a head in the final episode, which evoked strong personal responses from the judges. They praised the show for dealing with a difficult topic with hope and humour. Comedy and drama stood “side by side” throughout the series.
Several judges commented on the show’s real-world impact, with one saying: “I wish the people who truly need to see this show will get the chance to do.”
Another said: “There’s no greater show that has carefully brought us through the pain and laughs of what it means to be a human.”
SHORTLISTED
Alma’s Not Normal
Expectation TV for BBC
Sophie Willan draws on her own experiences growing up in the care system in this frank and witty comedy for BBC. Themes of class, poverty, female relationships, and physical and mental illness are balanced with stellar comedic performances. Willan’s writing and acting were commended by judges for this second series.
Am I Being Unreasonable?
Boffola Pictures for BBC
Series two of Daisy May Cooper’s BAFTA-nominated comedy builds on the success of its forebearer with even more tension and hilarity for BBC. The series picks up immediately where the first left off and blends distorted reality with observations on motherhood and marriage in this genre-bending comedy from Boffola Pictures.
Boarders
Studio Lambert for BBC
Boarders follows a group of talented black teenagers on scholarships at a predominantly white private school. Creator Daniel Lawrence Taylor’s exploration of institutional racism resonated with young, diverse audiences and was among the most watched scripted shows since the relaunch of BBC3.
Death Valley
BBC Studios Comedy for BBC
BBC Studios Comedy’s new comedy-drama starring Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth is both a classic whodunnit and a witty character comedy. The regional drama, which is set in Wales, aimed to cast a diverse range of actors with a focus on Welsh talent and disability representation.
Gavin & Stacey: The Finale
Fulwell Entertainment, Tidy Productions & Baby Cow Productions for BBC
The most-watched Christmas Day broadcast in more than two decades, the Gavin & Stacey finale on BBC1 garnered a staggering 19 million views. The joyful and cinematic finale delivered twists and turns until the very end, thanks to a watertight production team that prevented any leaks.
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