South Bank Show Award nominees announced

January 06, 2009

Nominees for this year's South Bank Show Awards were announced on 5th January 2009, with work by writer Enda Walsh and directors Christine Gernon and Rowan Joffe all up for awards.

Previous winner Gavin and Stacey, directed by Christine Gernon and featuring Adrian Scarborough as Pete, returns with its second series in the Best Comedy Category.

Enda Walsh's Hunger continues its runaway success with a nomination in the Best Film Category. Directed by Steve McQueen, it tells the story of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands, who was the first political prisoner to starve himself to death under Thatcher's regime. The film has already won numerous awards, including the Camera d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival 2008.

The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall, directed by Rowan Joffe, has been nominated for Best Television Drama. The Channel 4 film was written by Simon Block and follows the Hurndall family's fight for justice after Thomas Hurndall was shot dead by an Israeli sniper in the Gaza strip. "It may not be sentimental, or sensational, but hell, it's moving....Beautifully observed, beautifully written, beautifully performed. And brave" Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

Tom Rob Smith's book, Child 44, has been nominated in the Literature Category, and author Rose Heiney has been nominated for The Times/South Bank Show Breakthrough Award for her novel The Last Days of Judy B.

Winners will be announced at the South Bank Show Awards Ceremony at London’s Dorchester Hotel on 20th January 2009.