Liverpool writer Jimmy McGovern's The Street sweeps the board at Royal Television Society's 2009 North West Awards

Nov 16 2009

JIMMY McGovern’s critically acclaimed drama series The Street has won a clutch of high profile television awards.

The Street swept the boards at the Royal Television Society’s North West Awards 2009 held in Manchester at the weekend and hosted by Liverpool comedian John Bishop.

Awards went to Esther Wilson, who picked up the Best Newcomer award for her writing on The Street, and former Brookside actress Anna Friel who was honoured for her performance in the show. Her award was picked up by her parents.

Jimmy McGovern and Paul Abbott with Judges Award (for The Street), Royal Television Society North West Awards 2009

Playwright Esther Wilson and award presenter Peter Salmon. She was named Best Newcomer for her work on The Street at the RTS NW awards

Gok Wan (guest presenter) & John Bishop (host of), Royal Television Society North West Awards 2009

Jimmy McGovern and Suranne Jones, RTS NW awards

Unprotected and Ten Tiny Toes playwright Wilson wrote the season three episode starring Friel, about a wounded and disfigured soldier returning from Iraq.

She said: “I was so fortunate that the first thing I was employed to write for television was a high quality, after the watershed drama with Jimmy McGovern.

“I am a very lucky woman.”

McGovern collected the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Craft from actress Suranne Jones and then was back on stage with the rest of The Street production team to receive the Judges’ Award in front of a standing ovation.