BAFTA Scotland recognises Dorothy Byrne's 'Outstanding Contribution'

Channel 4’s Head of News & Current Affairs Dorothy Byrne received one of this year’s Outstanding Contribution awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in Scotland (BAFTA Scotland). She was presented with the award at the British Academy Scotland Awards, hosted by Edith Bowman at Glasgow’s Radisson Blu Hotel, on Sunday 15 November.

BAFTA Scotland cited Byrne’s many accomplishments – in particular her best known work as Commissioning Editor for Dispatches, overseeing Unreported World and Channel 4 News. During her time editing Dispatches the programme won multiple BAFTAs, while Byrne herself won the Women in Film and Television award for Best Woman in Factual Television and was made a Fellow of The Royal Television Society for her, ‘outstanding contribution to television journalism.’

Dorothy Byrne said: “To be honoured in my homeland means a great deal to me. Some of the UK’s best television has come out of Scotland where there is a vibrant creative sector which I believe has even more to offer. I am very proud that BAFTA Scotland, which plays a key role, should have chosen to give this to me.”

The British Academy Scotland Awards is one of the biggest nights in Scotland’s calendar and is renowned for welcoming and honouring an impressive line-up of stars. Alongside Dorothy, actor Bill Paterson and prop master David Balfour received Outstanding Contribution accolades.

Jude MacLaverty, Director of BAFTA Scotland, said: “We are extremely honoured to be celebrating the careers of such prestigious names in the television, film and broadcasting industries. Bill Paterson, Dorothy Byrne and David Balfour are leaders in their fields and we are proud to present the Outstanding Contribution awards to them this year to honour their tremendous body of work.”