Member Article

LA Productions to receive international television award

Liverpool’s independent film and TV company LA Productions is celebrating after its hit BBC drama ‘Care’ is set to receive a prestigious international television award.

Care, which tells the story of a David versus Goliath fight against the healthcare system, will be recognised at the annual Monte-Carlo Television Festival, Monaco’s equivalent to the Oscars, next week (14-18 June).

The one-off TV special will receive the coveted Monaco Red Cross Prize at the Golden Nymphs. The award recognises a fictional program that demonstrates the fundamental principles of the Red Cross. Care was handpicked out of hundreds of entries by the Prince of Monaco, Prince Albert II, himself.

Previous winners at the Golden Nymphs include Little Boy Blue and Sinead Keenan who also stars in Care.

Executive producer and founder of LA Productions, Colin McKeown, will be flying out to Monaco to receive the award in person.

Mr McKeown said: “Care is a hard-hitting one off drama created by the wonderful minds of Jimmy McGovern and Gillian Juckes. Based on real experiences of healthcare in the UK, the drama struck a chord with viewers and highlighted the broken and underfunded system we currently face.

“I am immensely proud of all those involved with Care. It is a real accolade to be recognised by such a prestigious body as the Golden Nymphs. We wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the fantastic work done by the cast, script writers and crew who helped produce this wonderful piece of television.”

Care aired on BBC One in December last year and starred Sheridan Smith and Alison Steadman.

It tells the story of Jenny (Smith), a single mother of two who must fight against the obstructive healthcare system to try and secure the level of care her mother Mary (Steadman) needs after suffering a devastating stroke and developing dementia.

Across the 90-minute film, viewers witness Jenny and her sister Claire (Sinead Keenan) battle against the red tape surrounding the health system while juggling their own lives.

Written by Jimmy McGovern and Gillian Juckes, and directed by David Blair, the one-off drama received rave reviews from critics when it first aired. i-news awarded it a five-star performance with the Guardian calling it ‘Smith’s finest work yet.’

Care was previously shortlisted for Best Single Drama at this year’s Television BAFTAs.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Henry Roberts .