Philippa Dunne and Blue Lights Triumph at RTS Awards, BAFTA Shortlist Announced
Irish actor Philippa Dunne and the Belfast-set police drama Blue Lights were celebrated at the Royal Television Society (RTS) Programme Awards on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel. Both productions have also been shortlisted for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Television Awards, set to take place on Sunday, May 10, 2026, in London.
Dunne Wins for Comedy Performance
Philippa Dunne secured the award for Comedy Performance – Female for her role as Anne Flynn in the BBC’s Amandaland. The series is a spin-off of the acclaimed sitcom Motherland. Judges praised Dunne’s performance, noting her “immediate impact” and “extraordinary comedic ability.”
Blue Lights Honored for Drama
Blue Lights was awarded the Drama Series award, with judges commending the show as “a tense, nail-biting watch – a series so beautifully paced and immaculately written.”
BAFTA Recognition
The success at the RTS Awards was followed by BAFTA Television Award nominations for both Dunne and Blue Lights, signaling continued recognition for their work.
Other RTS Award Winners
Adolescence was the night’s biggest winner, taking home four awards: Limited Series, Writer – Drama (Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham), Supporting Actor – Male (Owen Cooper), and Breakthrough Award (Owen Cooper). Other notable winners included:
- Arts: The Last Musician of Auschwitz
- Breakthrough Award: Owen Cooper – Adolescence
- Children’s Programme: Crongton
- Comedy Drama: Big Boys
- Comedy Entertainment: Last One Laughing
- Comedy Performance – Male: Steve Coogan – How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge)
- Daytime Programme: BBC Breakfast – Our Girls: The Southport Families
- Documentary Series: Bibaa & Nicole: Murder in the Park
- Entertainment & Reality: The Celebrity Traitors
- Entertainment Performance: Rob Beckett & Romesh Ranganathan – Rob & Romesh Vs
- Formatted Popular Factual: The Assembly
- History: Flight 149: Hostage of War
- Leading Actor – Female: Narges Rashidi – Prisoner 951
- Leading Actor – Male: Bobby Schofield – Unforgivable
- Live Event: Holocaust Memorial Day 2025
- Presenter: Hamza Yassin – Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles
- Science & The Natural World: Underdogs
- Scripted Comedy: Things You Should Have Done
- Single Documentary: Grenfell: Uncovered
- Soap and Continuing Drama: EastEnders
- Sports Presenter, Commentator or Pundit: Gabby Logan – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025
- Sports Programme: 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
- Supporting Actor – Female: Anna Friel – Unforgivable
- Writer – Comedy: Kat Sadler – Such Brave Girls
- Writer – Drama: Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham – Adolescence
- Judges’ Award: Stephen Graham, Hannah Walters and Matriarch Productions
- Outstanding Achievement Award: Michael Palin
Where to Watch
Both Amandaland and Blue Lights are currently available to stream on the RTÉ Player.