News
Bafta wins for TV judge Robert Rinder and 'Queer as Folk' producer Nicola Shindler
Robert Rinder was among the prize winners at the British Academy Film Awards event in London on Sunday night
May 13, 2019 11:09
Robert Rinder was among the prize winners at the British Academy Film Awards event in London on Sunday night
May 13, 2019 11:09Robert Rinder, the Jewish lawyer who made his name as television’s “Judge Rinder”, was among the prize winners at the British Academy Film Awards event in London on Sunday night.
Mr Rinder won the award for an episode of the series Who Do You Think You Are? in which he delved into his family history.
As the grandson of a Holocaust survivor named Morris Malenicky, Mr Rinder said that though he was aware of the outlines of his grandfather’s story, “the show really coloured it in”.
He described the journey as “an extraordinary gift of an experience, to be able to tell the story and important for our community as well. It tells the story of two critical moments in the first part of the history of the 20th century of diaspora Jews. The first moments of political antisemitism in Russia moving towards the middle of the century.”
During the programme, he retraced his grandfather’s steps by travelling to Piotrkow, Poland, where Morris was born, through to Buchenwald in Germany and finally to Windermere in the Lake District.
Accepting the award on behalf of the programme Mr Rinder said it was an example of “what this country can be, regardless of our political background, what we can all be when we act at our very best”.
Senior Reform Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner tweeted a message of congratulations to Mr Rinder over the award.
“So thrilled that Robbie Rinder won a Bafta – his description of finding his family’s history had depth, integrity and taught all of us so much. His speech tonight about refugees and showing us Britain at its best is so true,” she wrote.
So thrilled that @RobbieRinder won a #BAFTA - his description of finding his family’s history had depth, integrity and taught all of us so much. His speech tonight about refugees and showing us Britain at its best is so true.
— Senior Rabbi Janner-Klausner (@LauraJanklaus) May 12, 2019
Nicola Shindler, the acclaimed British producer of shows such as Happy Valley and Queer as Folk, also collected an award for her career spanning more than 20 years.
Ms Shindler, who set up Red Production Company from her living room in 1998, aged 29, received the Special Award.
Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, Ms Shindler, who named her company after Manchester United, said: “When I set up Red Production Company 20 years ago, my goal was to make drama that I wanted to watch and that always challenged the audience as well as entertained.
"It hasn’t been easy, but I am proud of the shows we make at Red and how hard we work. I have an amazing team and have worked with a number of the most incredible people, who have made coming into work each day a joy. And I’m not done! I continue to be excited by new ideas every day, and I can’t wait to see what the next 20 years brings."
Ms Shindler has six Baftas to her name and is one of the UK’s most distinguished television producers.
