The winners were We Are Black And British, a film in which six black Britons came together to discuss their personal stories; Salt, an Arts Documentary telling the account of a young woman grappling with the afterlife of slavery and colonialism; Citizen Ashe, which told the story of sports legend and social activist Arthur Ashe; Jamie MacDonald and Jamie O’Leary for Blind Ambition, which shows them on a journey to see how blind creatives achieve their vision; and The Green Planet, the David Attenborough fronted series which showed the beautiful plant life of Earth.

Kate Phillips, BBC Director of Unscripted, says: “It was wonderful to see the BBC’s bold, innovative and thought-provoking factual content recognised at last night’s Grierson Awards. Huge congratulations to everyone involved in bringing these fascinating stories to screen.”

List of BBC winners:

Channel 4 Best Constructed Documentary Series

We Are Black And British

Narinder Minhas, Becky Clarke, Rebecca Nunn, Lindsay Davies, Ryan Samuda and Jessica Mitchell.

Cardiff Productions, The Open University - BBC

The judges said: “This film allowed us to to learn something new and insightful from the well-cast characters in the series. The thought-provoking questions and personal stories shared through the programme’s central device provided a valuable platform for debate about insufficiently explored issues - with surprising moments shining through.”

Best Arts Documentary

Salt, by Selina Thompson

Selina Thompson, Alison Ramsay, Kate Spankie, Damian Daniel, Lucy Pilkington and Denise Alder

Milk and Honey Productions - BBC

The judges said: “Salt takes viewers on a deeply personal journey, experienced and lived by millions. It’s a story about grief and colonialism, told by Selina Thompson with a strong voice and in an original way. It was moving and, in places, darkly comic. We were captivated by it.”

Red Bull Studios Best Sports Documentary

Citizen Ashe

Rex Miller, Sam Pollard, Beth Hubbard, Anna Godas, Steven Cantor and Jamie Schutz

Dogwoof, Rexpix Media, Stick Figure Productions - BBC

The judges said: “Citizen Ashe was an engaging piece which explored activism through the prism of sport. It tells the story of the life of a quiet hero whilst showcasing the physical impact of competing at such a high level, making a totally gripping watch. The viewer learns a lot about him and his hidden depths, and the film introduced his passion for his sport and activism to a new generation.”

Disney+ Best Documentary Presenter

Jamie MacDonald and Jamie O'Leary for Blind Ambition

Television Repairs - BBC

The judges said: “We loved the unusual vibe of Blind Ambition, which was unlike any documentary we’d seen before. The two Jamies tackled the film’s subject matter and the big themes it contained in a thoroughly authentic, engaging and not a little bit irreverent way.”

Discovery Best Natural History or Environmental Documentary

The Green Planet: Tropical Worlds

Mike Gunton, Rupert Barrington, Paul Williams, James Taggart, Louis Rummer-Downing, Tim Shepherd

BBC Studios Natural History Unit with PBS, bilibili, ZDF, China Media Group CCTV9, France Télévisions, The Open University – BBC

The judges said: “This was simply exemplary natural history filmmaking with stunning visuals and outstanding camerawork, partnered with exceptional quality of writing and storytelling. Genuinely taking us, as viewers, to places we’d never been before.”