With voting open, brilliant doc from Stern & Wild client is in the running for Radio Times Readers' prize at this year’s Sandford St Martin Awards
Shout out to Stern & Wild filmmaker Helen Nixon whose heart-rending two-part ITV special LONG LOST FAMILY: THE MOTHER AND BABY HOME SCANDAL has been shortlisted for the Radio Times Readers’ Award at this year’s Sandford St Martin Awards.
Directed by Helen and presented by Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell, the documentary investigates the mother and baby homes run by Christian denominations operating in England from the 1940s to the 70s and the traumatic treatment of the unmarried women and girls who were placed there and whose children were forcibly adopted. The production follows the stories of three people with connections to the homes as they track down their relatives and explores the campaign to get the British government, which funded many of the homes, to apologise to those affected. It was first broadcast on ITV1 on 3 September last year.
This month, Children and Families Minister Josh MacAlister said that the case for a formal apology was ‘being actively considered’ by the government, while the Church of England has announced it will issue a formal apology for its role in forced adoptions. In 2016, the then Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, apologised for the ‘hurt caused’ by adoption agencies acting in the name of the Catholic Church, while the Scottish and Welsh governments apologised for their roles in 2023.
Established in 1978, the Sandford St Martin Awards celebrate UK radio, TV and online programming that explores religious, spiritual and ethical themes across all genres. The vote for Radio Times Readers’ Award is open until 10 May at 11:59pm with the winner being announced at the ceremony on 16 June at London's Lambeth Palace.
For a list of all award nominees, click here.
