Trailblazing sports broadcaster Hazel Irvine honoured with special BAFTA award

-Credit: (Image: Euan Cherry/Getty Images)
-Credit: (Image: Euan Cherry/Getty Images)


Trailblazing sports broadcaster Hazel Irvine spoke of her delight as she collected a special BAFTA award on Sunday night.

Hazel, 59, picked up the special Outstanding Contribution to Television award in recognition of almost 40 years as a sports presenter.

Hazel, who arrived at the BAFTA Scotland bash at Glasgow’s Doubletree by Hilton hotel with former STV Head Sport, Russell Galbraith and his wife Mary as her guests, said: “I am only really standing here because of the good auspices of enlightened guys who gave me a chance and I’m delighted about that.”

READ MORE: Richard Gadd snubbed at Scottish BAFTAs after three nominations

READ MORE: Wayne Rooney speaks out ahead of wife Coleen's I’m A Celebrity debut

“I have admired and looked up to these individuals for much of my life. Thank you to BAFTA Scotland for such an amazing and unexpected honour.”

The presenter, who started her career with Radio Clyde in 1986, became one of the UK’s first ever female football pundits for STV’s Sportscene in 1987.

She has covered 18 Winter and Summer Olympics, golf coverage for 25 years, snooker for 23 years and Ski Sunday, for over a decade.

Hazel Irvine
Hazel Irvine

Hazel, whose credits also include four World Cup Finals beginning with Italia 90, the London Marathon, Grandstand, and Wimbledon, added: “I feel overwhelmed and honoured to join the list of Scottish actors, presenters, writers, directors, producers and Doctor Who’s who have received this award over the last two decades.

Ashley Storrie, 38 was among the night’s other winners.

She broke down as she dedicated winning an award to her late mum, comedian Janey Godley, who died just weeks ago following a long cancer battle. Collecting the Writer Film/Television award alongside co-writer Matilda Curtis, Ashley wiped away tears.

Ashley Storrie accepts the Audience Award, in partnership with Screen Scotland, for 'Dinosaur' during the 2024 BAFTA Scotland Awards -Credit:Jeff Spicer/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
Ashley Storrie accepts the Audience Award, in partnership with Screen Scotland, for 'Dinosaur' during the 2024 BAFTA Scotland Awards -Credit:Jeff Spicer/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA

“Thank you so much for this prize,” she sobbed. “Thank you Matilda for writing the pilot and then I got cast in it and now I’ve become a telly writer. I was making videos on Facebook, being Harry Potter shouting bawbag and now I’ve got a BAFTA.”

Before leaving the stage she looked up to the heavens and added: “Thank you, ma.”

She told The Record: “The last bit of work news I shared with my mum was about the BAFTAs and getting to tell her I’d been nominated.

“She was really touched and moved. I got eight seconds of attention before she said,‘Your dad’s annoyed me’.

“I love to celebrate in a room with a lot of people I respect. It means an awful lot. I don’t mean to sound glib but whether my mum was dead or alive I would be thanking her for everything she’d done.

“My mum would get a thank you irrespective of her living status.

“She raised me. She made me who I am. She is in my DNA and she’s here.”

Sons of Anarchy star Tommy Flanagan presented casting director Des Hamilton with an Outstanding Contribution to Craft award.

Des Hamilton poses with the Outstanding Contribution to Television Award inside the winners room at the 2024 BAFTA Scotland Awards -Credit:Euan Cherry/Getty Images
Des Hamilton poses with the Outstanding Contribution to Television Award inside the winners room at the 2024 BAFTA Scotland Awards -Credit:Euan Cherry/Getty Images

The California-based actor said: “I just got back to present Des with his award. He has been a friend of mine these last 40 years. It’s a pleasure to be in my hometown.”

Disclosure’s Catching a Killer: The Murder of Emma Caldwell picked up the News & Current Affairs award.

The programme uncovered a botched police inquiry that left Iain Packer free to rape and assault other women for two decades. Packer, 51, was sentenced to life in February.

Those in attendance at the BAFTA Scotland awards included A Place in the Sun presenter Danni Menzies, Sanjeev Kohli, Dougray Scott, Blue Peter presenter Abby Cook, Kirsty War and host Edith Bowman.

Richard Rankin and Freya Mavor backstage during the 2024 BAFTA Scotland Awards -Credit:John Clark/BAFTA via Getty Images
Richard Rankin and Freya Mavor backstage during the 2024 BAFTA Scotland Awards -Credit:John Clark/BAFTA via Getty Images

WINNERS INCLUDE

Documentary, Liar: The Fake Grooming Scandal

Entertainment, The Agency, Unfiltered

News & Current Affairs, Catching A killer: The Murder of Emma Caldwell (Disclosure)

Short Film, Animation, Blackwool

Factual Series, Not Your Average Family

Writer, Matilda Curtis & Ashley Storrie

Actress, Sofia Oakley Green, Out of Darkness

Features, Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig

Actress, Doon Mackichan, Two Doors Down

Outstanding Contribution to Craft, Des Hamilton

Actor, Film, Kit Young, Out of Darkness

Television Scripted, Float

Actor Television, David Tennant

Outstanding Contribution to Film & Television, Hazel Irvine

Director Factual, Kevin McDonald, High & Low, John Galliano

Director Fiction, Saul Metzstein, Slow Horses

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.