Comedy Actress Sally Phillips’ Down’s Syndrome Documentary is a double winner in the Sandford St Martin Religious Broadcasting Awards
Actress Sally Phillips’ moving documentary, A World Without Down’s Syndrome?, has picked up two awards at the Sandford St Martin Awards for religious broadcasting, presented by Bishop Nick at a ceremony at Lambeth Palace last night (Wednesday).
The BBC 2 film saw Sally Phillips examine the implications for society of a new 99% accurate test for Down’s syndrome. It won both the award for 
best TV and also the Radio Times Readers' Award, voted for by readers of the magazine.
Tom Loxley, Executive Editor, Radio Times said: “Sally Phillips’ documentary stood out as a powerful and personal programme that demonstrated that ethical issues are never abstract, as she explored them through her relationship with her son, Olly.'
Bishop Nick Baines, who is the Trust’s Chairman, said: "This year’s winners emerge from a very strong field. They explore a range of matters of huge importance in how we want to shape and order our society. I am delighted that these winners do not close down an issue, but, rather, open up a much wider debate."
In the Radio category the winning programme was BBC Radio Wales’ All Things Considered – Aberfan 50 Year Anniversary.
In the Interview category was BBC News’ Home Affairs Correspondent Dominic Casciani for An Extremist in the Family.
The only non-BBC winner was in the Children’s category, where CCTV Limited’s documentary for TrueTube.co.uk Refugee took the honours. It showed a white middle class UK family apparently escaping from a war zone, becoming refugees.
The prestigious Trustees' Award was presented to BBC Radio 4’s long-running discussion programme The Moral Maze. James Purnell, the BBC's Director of Radio and Education. presented the award. Presenter Michael Buerk said: "The Moral Maze is a cockpit for live argument about the rights and the wrong of the burning issue of the week. There's nothing quite like it even on marvellous Radio 4. I'm very proud of it."
The Sandford St Martin Awards are designed to promote excellence in religious broadcasting, and to champion distinctive journalism and programming that intelligently interprets the world through a religious lens. The Trust encourages and advocates for religious literacy by researching current trends and attitudes as well as providing training throughout the year. More here
(left) Bishop Nick & Aasmah Mir (Co-presenter, with the Revd Richard Coles, of Radio's 4's Saturday Live)
(right) Bishop Nick with Ben Preston, Executive Editor of the Sunday Times.
THE 2017 AWARD RESULTS
TV Award:
Winner: A World Without Down's Syndrome? – Dragonfly Film and Television for BBC 2
Runner Up: Life and Death the Pentecostal Way – BBC Studios (Religion & Ethics) for BBC 2
Radio Award:
Winner: All Things Considered – Aberfan 50 year anniversary: BBC Wales, Religious Programmes Team for BBC Radio Wales
Runner Up: Canada’s Atheist Minister: BBC Radio Production North for BBC World Service
Interview Award
Winner: An Extremist in the Family – Dominic Casciani, Home Affairs Correspondent for BBC News
Runner Up: Out of the Silence - BBC Radio Production North for BBC World Service
Children’s Award
Winner: Refugee - CTVC Ltd for TrueTube.co.uk
Runner up: Some Father's Son – duckrabbit for Youtube/Facebook/Extreme Dialogue website
Radio Times Readers' Award
Winner: A World Without Down's Syndrome? – Dragonfly Film and Television for BBC 2
Trustees' Award
Winner: BBC Radio 4's The Moral Maze
About the Sandford St Martin Trust
The Sandford St Martin Trust is an independent, non-profit organisation. It has been making annual awards for the best programmes about religion, ethics and spirituality since 1978.
The Trust engages with a wide range of media organisations and individual journalists, filmmakers, broadcasters and other media figures, many of whom give their time and expertise voluntarily to support the Trust’s work. The Trust believes the media can be a powerful tool to increase understanding of different perspectives and beliefs in our world, helping create greater understanding, tolerance and thoughtfulness.
The Trust is politically independent and is not affiliated with any media company or organisation. It does not proselytise on behalf of or promote any particular religion or faith, nor does it engage in religious activities itself.