[1] The original Royal Television Society Programme Awards can be traced back to 1975, when there were just seven categories.

Since 2016, the awards have been primarily focussed on home-grown output, with Fargo, the final winner of the International category in 2015.

In February 2017 broadcaster Piers Morgan pulled out as host after only three days, citing a public campaign branding him as damaging and inappropriate for the event.

[2][3] The RTS Programme Awards winners are selected not by public vote but decided via judging panels composed of industry experts and professionals.

In 2016 the make up of the judging panels was adjusted to include more women and people from minority backgrounds.

2022 winners[10][11][12] This year saw the return to a live audience event after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.

Comedian Graham Norton was presented the outstanding achievement award for 2020 which he had been unable to collect at that time due to having COVID-19.

A special award was bestowed on John McVay, Sara Geater, Max Rumney, Hakan Kousetta and their team at PACT (Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television) in this year to recognise the difficulties and challenges for the independent production sector during the pandemic year.

2019 winners[21][22] In 2019 the comedy performance award was split into two (male and female) for the first time.

2018 winners[24][25][26] In 2018 Netflix's historical drama The Crown was bestowed a special recognition award.

2010 winners[58][59][60] 2009 winners[62][63][64] In 2009 the two separate awards for documentaries were merged to make room for an award for constructed factual series, created to recognise the growth and popularity of the reality TV series genre.

2008 winners[65][66][67] In 2008 the RTS Gold Medal was superseded by the lifetime achievement award.

2001 winners (Programme Awards 2000)[91][92] No RTS Gold Medal recipient is recorded for this year.