BBC in line for Stonewall Awards

The BBC is leading the way ahead of tonight’s Stonewall Awards with five nominations – more than any other broadcaster.

The Great British Bake Off (BBC Two), Last Tango In Halifax (BBC One) and Marrying Mum And Dad (CBBC) are all shortlisted in the Broadcast of the Year category while Rev. Richard Coles (Radio 4) and Adele Roberts (Radio 1 Xtra) go head-to-head for Entertainer of the Year.

The awards celebrate individuals and organisations promoting the positive representation of gay, lesbian and bisexual people in the media.

Amanda Rice, the BBC’s Head of Diversity says: “From our on-going research and interaction with LGB audiences, we know that they want to see themselves reflected on screen, and not just because of their sexual orientation. This year’s Stonewall Awards nominations for the BBC are a real celebration of where we’re making progress to portray more lesbian, gay and bisexual people as part of the fabric of our programmes. The achievements of the nominees builds on work the BBC has done in recent years to understand what LGB licence-fee payers expect from their BBC. We applaud all the nominees.”

Three out of the five nominees for Broadcast of the Year are BBC shows. Great British Bake Off was praised by the judges for its "incidental coverage of gay contenders and their families", Last Tango in Halifax was described as a "touching drama" which sensitively portrayed one of the female character’s new relationship with a woman, while Marrying Mum And Dad "broke new ground... with its incidental coverage of same-sex parents".

Sally Wainwright, creator and writer of Last Tango In Halifax, says: “I'm thrilled to bits that we've been nominated for this award and I would love us to win it. I was really proud of the gay story line in Last Tango, which received such a huge and warm response from the viewers.”

In the Entertainer of the Year category, Rev. Richard Coles was shortlisted for being "a vocal and articulate advocate for equality, commenting with humour and sensitivity on issues affecting the gay community" on his BBC Radio 4 show, Saturday Live. Adele Roberts’ documentary about coming out and her work as a Stonewall Role Model for young people secured her nomination in the same category.

Rev. Richard Coles says: “I am delighted and honoured to be nominated for this Stonewall Award. Thanks to the team at Saturday Live for making it happen, thanks to the BBC for letting it happen, and thanks for a changing world in which a gay Vicar can be on the radio without civilisation collapsing.”

Adele says: “I'm so proud and honoured to have been nominated for 'Entertainer Of The Year' at the 2013 Stonewall Awards. I've admired the amazing work Stonewall has done over the years, so to be recognised by them really does mean a lot. We thought it would be a great time to make the 'coming out' documentary to celebrate LGBT month and the positive response we got was overwhelming. Thank you to the 1Xtra stories team who helped me make it and our wonderful listeners who shared their coming out stories.”

Notes to Editors

Now in their eighth year, the Stonewall Awards celebrate the outstanding contribution of individuals and groups towards equality over the past year. The Stonewall Awards exemplify the individuals and organisations which are critical in ensuring a positive representation of gay people in the media today, one of Stonewall’s key priorities.

Further details of the BBC’s LGB audience research can be found here:bbc.co.uk/diversity/audiences/lgb-consultation.html

November 7, 2013 3:17pm ET by BBC One   Comments (0)

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