Ann Ming gets standing ovation at TV awards

A woman who changed the law to see her daughter's murderer finally face justice got a standing ovation when she collected an award for a drama made about her.

Ann Ming was recognised at the annual Royal Television Society (RTS) North East and Borders TV Awards when she picked up the Best Performance accolade on behalf of actor Sheridan Smith.

Smith played Ming in ITV drama I Fought the Law, which charted Ming's over-turning of the double jeopardy law so the man who murdered her daughter Julie Hogg in Billingham in 1989 could be prosecuted again.

Smith, who could not attend the ceremony in Gateshead as she was performing on stage in London, said Ming was her "absolute hero".

Julie Hogg was 22 years old when she was murdered and concealed beneath her bath by Billy Dunlop.

He was acquitted in the 1990s and, due to the double jeopardy law, was unable to be prosecuted again, despite later admitting to a prison guard he was guilty.

Ming campaigned for the law to be changed, which resulted in Dunlop going back to court in 2006 and admitting murder, for which he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 17 years.

I Fought the Law was also named Best Drama and Ben Wilson won the Best Photography prize for the four-part show, which was filmed in north-east England.

Smith sent a video message to the 400 guests at the ceremony at the Hilton Hotel Newcastle Gateshead in which she praised the production and paid tribute to her friend Ann Ming.

"I'm absolutely delighted and honoured to receive this award," she said from her London theatre dressing room.

"Thank you to everyone up in the North East for making us so welcome.

"And thank you to Ann – my absolute hero."

Ming received a standing ovation when she went on stage to collect the award on behalf of the actor alongside Hera Pictures executives and cast members.

There was further drama at the ceremony when its host, the BBC's Anna Foster, found out just hours before the start she was being sent to the Middle East to cover the US and Israeli attack on Iran.

Her husband, broadcaster and Middlesbrough FC announcer John Foster, stepped in to replace her as the event's presenter.

Awards chair Joanna Makepeace-Woods said the ceremony celebrated the "skilled workforce and creative talent that exists in our region".

Other awards winners were:

• Centre Award - Lesley Douglas
• Production Company of the Year - Film Nova
• Broadcast Short Form - Sharuna Sagar of BBC North East
• Best Children's - CBBC for The Dumping Ground
• Best Entertainment - Robson Green's Weekend Escapes
• Best Factual - Newcastle-based Wildcat Films for Arming the Arctic
• Best News Programme - ITV Tyne Tees and Border
• TV Personality of the Year - Ian Payne
• On Screen Journalism - Rachel Bullock
• Post Production - Steffi Orme
• Breakthrough Award - Tom Scott
• Sports Programme - South Shields-based Red Stamp for Sand Dancers
• Non-Broadcast - Morning Sir Productions for Gan Canny
• Best Commercial - Third Aspect
• Crew Award - Graham Jackson for The Feud

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