Production heavyweights, media chiefs and on-screen talent recognised

Jane Tranter, Stephen Lambert and John Whiston are among the TV figures recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.

Tranter, chief executive of Doctor Who indie Bad Wolf, has been elevated to CBE, the highest honour outside of a damehood, for service to television. A former BBC controller of fiction, Tranter oversaw the broadcaster’s comedy and drama output before moving on to become executive vice-president of programming and production at then BBC Worldwide’s Los Angeles base.

In 2015, she set up Cardiff-based Bad Wolf with Julie Gardner, going on to produce BBC1’s His Dark Materials, Sky’s A Discovery of Witches and BBC/HBO’s Industry among others.

“For this honour to arrive in Bad Wolf’s tenth anniversary year means a great deal to me. Running Bad Wolf has been the beating heart of my career – I have loved every job I have ever had, but nothing compares to this one,” Tranter said.

“Special thanks are due to the creative and production communities and people of Wales for so enthusiastically embracing and committing to the work that we do. I want to thank the whole Wolf Pack for all that they do – but especially Julie Gardner without whom none of us would be here in Cardiff; and Natasha Hale, Mary Furlong and Dan McCulloch, who are the strength and stay of the company.”

Also made a CBE is Sky group chief exec Dana Strong for services to business and to media. Strong has been in place since 2021 having succeeded Jeremy Darroch at the pay-TV giant. A media veteran of more than 25 years’ experience in the international telecoms and media industries, Strong was previously president of consumer services for Sky’s Comcast sibling the US pay-TV and broadband provider Comcast Cable. Previously, she served as president and chief operating officer of Virgin Media in the UK, as well as chief transformation officer at its parent Liberty Global.

Studio Lambert founder and chief Stephen Lambert and managing director of continuing drama and head of ITV in the North John Whiston have both been awarded OBEs.

Lambert, who founded his indie in 2008 and has gone on to produce hit shows including Gogglebox, The Traitors, Squid Game: The Challenge, and Race Across the World, said he was “deeply honoured” to be recognised for services to television.

“It’s a privilege to work in television, telling stories that entertain, engage, and, I hope, bring people together. This recognition is a testament to the extraordinary teams I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years — brilliant colleagues, collaborators, and creatives who make it all possible,” he added.

Whiston (pictured left) is honoured for services to television and broadcasting, having announced his retirement in May after almost three decades working at ITV, most recently overseeing flagship soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

Jeff Pope, the writer, producer and director best known for outstanding factual dramas, received an MBE for services to drama, as did Helen Addis, for services to Cancer Awareness and to Charitable Fundraising. She is behind the Change and Check campaign.

Allison Dowzell, managing director of Screen Alliance Wales, has been awarded an OBE for services to broadcasting. Her organisation supports the Welsh film and TV industry by providing training and connecting industry professionals with talent.

She said: “I’m incredibly honoured, and more than a little overwhelmed, to have been awarded an OBE. This recognition means a great deal, but it’s not something I accept alone.

“Building a career, and building something like Screen Alliance Wales, takes a team. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the most talented, passionate and committed people in the industry.

Screen Alliance Wales simply wouldn’t exist without the extraordinary support of our industry partners, broadcasters, studios, crew, educators and facility companies, who have believed in what we do and helped us grow every step of the way.”

Dowzell’s work was trumpeted by Tranter who described her as “a force for all that is good”.

“The work she has done for Screen Alliance Wales, training and teaching the next generation of talent from our home in Wolf Studios, has enabled us to be part of building and consolidating the future of the television industry here in Wales,” Tranter added.

Other media figures to be recognised this year include former Today presenter Martha Kearney who has been awarded a CBE for services to journalism and broadcasting. She stepped down from presenting the radio 4 programme last year after six years at the helm but continues to host for the BBC including the interview series This Natural Life.

Elsewhere, director of operations at Sky News Jacqueline Faulkner has received the same honour, as has BBC local radio presenter Nikki Tapper. Tapper is presenter of Sunday Night With Nikki Tapper on BBC Radio West Midlands.

Strictly Come Dancing presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly have each been awarded MBEs, both for services to broadcasting, as well as NFTS, Bafta and BFI alumna Tricia Tuttle.

This article first appeared on our sister site, Broadcast.

Jane Tranter image credit Gage Skidmore, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0