The 2021 Royal Television Society Programme Award winners were announced this evening at a virtual ceremony hosted by Jonathan Ross, with Sky’s awards including:

Live Event: The Third Day: Autumn (Sky Arts). Created by Dennis Kelly and Felix Barrett, Autumn captured over 10 hours of a single day in real time and was described by judges as “an astonishing feat, soaring in both its ambition and first-class execution.” Broadcast in one continuous take, the cinematic TV live event invited viewers deeper into the mysterious and suspenseful world of the Sky Original drama The Third Day. It blurred the lines between what’s real and what’s not and was directed by founder and artistic director of Punchdrunk, Felix Barrett and The Third Day ‘Summer’ director Marc Munden.

Sports Presenter, Commentator or Pundit: Michael Holding - England v West Indies. Michael Holding was commended by judges for “capturing the mood of the event perfectly, bringing a personal perspective to bear on a moment of huge significance” with his powerful and personal live testimony of his experiences of racism and the need for education to end institutionalised racism. The win follows Holding’s Sports Journalist’s Association’s (SJA) Award for Best Pundit yesterday (March 15).

Sports Programme: England v West Indies 1st Test - Black Lives Matter. Michael Holding's powerful testimony combined with the words of Ebony Rainford-Brent – the first black woman to play for England – saw the Sky Sports Cricket pundits call for an end to institutionalised racism through meaningful change in society. Judges described it as “a remarkable piece of television – editorially superb and technically exceptional.”