The Royal Television Society (RTS) North West has announced the nominations for its 2026 Awards, with Coronation Street, Waterloo Road and a host of Greater Manchester stars among those recognised across 24 categories.
Alongside these, Brassic, G’wed, Hollyoaks, Unforgivable, Tip Toe and Small Prophets are also among the programmes shortlisted, bringing together some of the region's biggest productions and best-known creative talent.
Leading acting and writing talent recognised
Leading acting talent recognised includes Sir Michael Palin, nominated for Best Performance in a Comedy for Small Prophets; Anna Friel and Bobby Schofield for Unforgivable; David Morrissey for Tip Toe; Josh Finan for Waiting for the Out; and Sue Johnston for Big Winners.
Emerging talent is also strongly represented, with Austin Haynes (Unforgivable), Evie Ward-Drummond (G’wed), Jackson Connor (Tip Toe) and Lauren Patel (Small Prophets) shortlisted for the Caroline Aherne Award for Best Breakthrough Talent. Patel also receives a second nomination for Best Performance in a Comedy.
Some of the North West's most celebrated writing talents are also represented, with Jimmy McGovern nominated for Unforgivable, Russell T Davies for Tip Toe, Mackenzie Crook for Small Prophets, Lee Thompson for Special Measures and Martha Watson Allpress for Big Winners.
Visual podcasts eligible for first time
For the first time this year, visual podcasts have been eligible for recognition within the Best Digital Content category, reflecting the continued evolution of storytelling and production across the region. Nominees in the category include I’d Do Anything for Hollyoaks, Solve The Story, Stick to Football and Truth or Dare.
The nominations also recognise the breadth of television production across the North West, spanning drama and comedy through to current affairs, factual, entertainment, children's programming, regional news and sport, alongside awards recognising writing, performance and post-production.
Cameron Roach, Chair of RTS North West, said: "The strength and breadth of this year's nominations is a brilliant reflection of the television being made across the North West and the extraordinary talent behind it. From some of the UK's most established names to the next generation of breakthrough talent, these Awards are about celebrating the people and productions that make this region such an important part of our television industry."
He added: "We're particularly pleased to recognise visual podcasts for the first time this year, reflecting how quickly our industry continues to evolve and the exciting new forms of content being created here."
Judges praise quality of entries
Pam Cavannagh, Chair of Judges for the RTS North West Awards, said: "The quality of entries this year made judging no easy task. What really stood out was the range of work being produced across the region, from powerful drama and current affairs to comedy, children's programming, digital content and exceptional craft."
She added: "Congratulations to everyone nominated. Reaching the shortlist is a fantastic achievement and testament to the creativity and talent working across the North West."
The winners will be announced at the RTS North West Awards 2026 on Friday, November 20 at Manchester's Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, bringing together more than 600 figures from across the television industry.
Full list of nominations
The full list of nominations is as follows:
Best Audio Post Production
Brassic - Post Production Audio Team, Core Post
Lazarus - Mark Briscoe, Home Post Production
My Brother the Minotaur - Neil Haggerty, Home Post Production
Tip Toe - Mark Briscoe and Home Post Production Sound Team
The Caroline Aherne Award for Best Breakthrough Talent
Austin Haynes - Unforgivable, LA Productions
Evie Ward-Drummond - G’wed, Golden Path Productions
Jackson Connor - Tip Toe, Quay Street Productions
Lauren Patel - Small Prophets, Treasure Trove Productions & Blue House Productions
Best Comedy Programme
Brassic - Calamity Films
Daddy Issues - Fudge Park Productions
G’wed - Golden Path Productions
Small Prophets - Treasure Trove Productions & Blue House Productions
Best Continuing Drama Storyline
Cleo’s Postpartum Psychosis - Hollyoaks
Diane’s Ovarian Cancer - Hollyoaks
The Grooming of Portia Weever - Waterloo Road
Theo’s Abuse of Todd - Coronation Street
Best Current Affairs Programme
Our Girls: The Southport Families - BBC Breakfast
Panorama: Undercover Estate Agent - Nine Lives Media
Shock Treatment: The Gay Therapy Scandal - BBC England Longform Investigations Unit
Best Daytime Programme
Countdown - Lifted Entertainment
Lost and Found in the Lakes - Tŷ’r Ddraig
Riddiculous - Whisper North
Rip Off Britain - BBC Studios
The Film I’ll Never See - ITV Signpost / Untruth
Best Digital Content
I’d Do Anything for Hollyoaks - Lime Pictures for Channel 4 / 4Studio
Solve The Story - Brickwall / BBC
Stick to Football - The Overlap
Truth or Dare - Twins Incorporated
Best Drama
Special Measures - LA Productions
Tip Toe - Quay Street Productions
Unforgivable - LA Productions
Waiting for the Out - Sister Pictures
Best Entertainment and Reality Programme
22 Kids and Counting - Lion Television
Christmas University Challenge - Lifted Entertainment
Teen Mom UK - True North Productions
The Real Housewives of Cheshire - Monkey Kingdom
Best Factual Entertainment and Features Programme
Four in a Bed - Studio Lambert North
Morning Live, Wild About Nature - BBC Studios
Rob Brydon’s Honky Tonk Road Trip - Salamanda Media
Best Factual Series
Ambulance - Dragonfly Film and Television Production
Cancer Detectives: Finding the Cures - Dragonfly Film and Television Production
Sandi Toksvig’s Hidden Wonders - Salamanda Media
Trauma Room One - Renegade Stories
Best Inclusive Practice: For Programmes with DDN Contribution
Countdown - Lifted Entertainment
Hollyoaks - Lime Pictures
The Film I’ll Never See - ITV Signpost / Untruth
Waterloo Road - Rope Ladder Fiction / Wall To Wall
Best Journalist in the North West
Emma Sweeney - ITV Granada Reports
Mike Hall - ITV Granada Reports
Phil McCann - BBC North West Tonight
Victoria Grimes - ITV Granada Reports
Best Performance in a Comedy
Dylan Thomas-Smith - G’wed, Golden Path Productions
Lauren Patel - Small Prophets, Treasure Trove Productions & Blue House Productions
Pearce Quigley - Small Prophets, Treasure Trove Productions & Blue House Productions
Sir Michael Palin - Small Prophets, Treasure Trove Productions & Blue House Productions
Best Performance in a Continuing Drama
Alex Fletcher - Hollyoaks, Lime Pictures
Jon Richardson - Waterloo Road, Rope Ladder Fiction / Wall To Wall
Lindsey Coulson - Waterloo Road, Rope Ladder Fiction / Wall To Wall
Nadine Mulkerrin - Hollyoaks, Lime Pictures
Best Performance in a Drama
Anna Friel - Unforgivable, LA Productions
Bobby Schofield - Unforgivable, LA Productions
David Morrissey - Tip Toe, Quay Street Productions
Josh Finan - Waiting for the Out, Sister Pictures
Sue Johnston - Big Winners, LA Productions
Best Pre-School Children’s Programme
BooSnoo! Halloween - Visionality & Mackinnon and Saunders
CBeebies Musical: The Great Ice Cream Hunt - BBC Studios
CBeebies Panto: Cinderella - BBC Studios
Hey AJ! - Knot Today - Surfing Giant Europe
I Spy, You Spy - Tiny House / Nest Productions
Best Presenter
Caroline Whitmore - ITV Granada Reports
Helen Skelton - Morning Live
Roger Johnson - BBC North West Tonight
Sally Nugent - BBC Breakfast
Best Regional News Programme
BBC North West Tonight
ITV Granada Reports
Best School-Age Children’s Programme
BBC Live Lessons - Safer Internet Day, CTVC / BBC
Blue Peter - Racing Challenge, BBC Studios
Dexter Procter: The 10-Year-Old Doctor, Various Artists Limited
Girl Troop vs Aliens, Lime Pictures
Best Script Writer
Jimmy McGovern - Unforgivable, LA Productions
Lee Thompson - Special Measures, LA Productions
Mackenzie Crook - Small Prophets, Treasure Trove Productions & Blue House Productions
Martha Watson Allpress - Big Winners, LA Productions
Russell T Davies - Tip Toe, Quay Street Productions
Best Single Documentary
Our Girls: The Southport Families - BBC Breakfast
The Corinthians: We Were the Champions - Films Not Words
The Film I’ll Never See - ITV Signpost / Untruth
The Eubanks: Like Father, Like Son - Workerbee
Best Sports Programme
Sir Chris Hoy: Cancer, Courage and Me - BBC Breakfast & BBC Sport
The Corinthians: We Were the Champions - Films Not Words
The Eubanks: Like Father, Like Son - Workerbee
The Vault - Treasures of the Olympics, BBC Studios Documentary Unit for Olympic Channel
Best Visual Post Production
Brassic - Core Post & Digital Imaging Effects
Lazarus - Editor, David Fisher
Tip Toe - Editor, Tim Hodges
Tip Toe - VFX Team, Space Digital
