River City writer Louise Ironside scoops prestigious Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award

Edinburgh-based writer Louise, scooped the award for the River City episode which aired in November 2014 and centred on the story of Bob O’Hara’s (played by Tom Urie) emotional battle with an eating disorder. Highlighting the impact on his health and his family, the episode saw Bob’s mother Molly (Una McLean) face a heart-breaking decision about her son’s future which threatened to tear the family apart with Bob finally embracing rehab to battle his eating addiction.

Nominated in the ‘Best long Running TV Series’ category, Louise’s River City episode beat off stiff competition from Holby City and Emmerdale.

BBC Scotland’s Creative Director for River City, Sara Harkins, says: “We’re so glad that Louise’s brilliant writing talent has been recognised in this way and lovely for all at River City to see her writing and the show honoured at this prestigious event. This award highlights the depth of writing and creative talent in Scotland and rightly recognises River City’s status as one of Scotland’s most-loved dramas. Congratulations to all involved but most of all to Louise.”

Award-winner Louise is overjoyed with the accolade: “River City gave me my first job writing in TV so to get an award for this show is just so special and absolutely amazing. It’s a show I’m immensely proud of. I’m so grateful to BBC Scotland and River City for giving me my first break.”

Actor Tom Urie who played Bob O’Hara and starred in the award-winning episode is thrilled Louise’s work and River City have been recognised: “It was a complete thrill to be given such a great script to work on. Louise managed - for the first time, to my mind – to sympathetically portray a character in the throes of compulsive overeating. She wrote a beautiful, funny, touching and sometimes harrowing script. I vividly remember Una McLean and I completely buzzing about the script when we first read it. Louise’s success is well deserved and showcases the incredible writing talent in River City which is second to none. Congratulations Louise, you are a star.”

An experienced writer of continuing television drama – and a long-running contributor for River City - Louise’s other writing credits include The White Princess, The Tunnel, Waterloo Road and Lip Service.

Louise has also written original radio drama for Radios 3, 4 and 5 in slots including Writing The century, Women’s Hour, From Fact to Fiction and The Wire. Louise currently also has projects in development with BBC Scotland’s drama department.

After studying at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama (now the Scottish Conservatoire), Louise worked professionally as an actor for 12 years. She has also served tenures as both Associate Playwright and Playwright in Residence at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.

The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Awards also saw Doctor Who and Queer As Folk writer Russell T Davies given the coveted Outstanding Contribution to Writing Award. Other winners on the night included Paul King who was awarded Best Screenplay for Paddington; Armando Iannucci’s Veep won Best TV Situation Comedy; Timberlake Wertenbaker took home the award for Best Play for Jefferson’s Garden; and Best Writing in a Video Game was won by Dan Pinchbeck for Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture.

WGGB President Olivia Hetreed said of the event: “As President of the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, I am immensely proud of all our Award winners and nominees, a truly impressive display of talent, from the ancient art of playwriting to the youngest one of game writing. All our winners display not only a superb grasp of their craft but tremendous insight and empathy with the challenges of modern life.

“The Writers’ Guild has been supporting writers for over 50 years, in their everyday working lives, in times of crisis and triumph. Writers today face many difficulties, we can meet them more strongly together.”

JW4

Related BBC Links

• BBC Scotland
• River City