ITV3 Crime Thriller Winners
Bourne, Ian Rankin, Colin Dexter and The Wire Win at Inaugural Event
Oct 6, 2008
The high point of the night was the presentation by Dame Helen Mirren to Inspector Morse author Colin Dexter of the Writer's Award for Classic TV Drama. This was the one award decided in a free vote by viewers, the others being selected by a panel of publishers, broadcasters and journalists.
Dexter's Oxford-based detective first hit ITV's screens 21 years again and ran for 33 two-hour episodes, becoming a major hit for actors John Thaw as the irascible Morse and Kevin Whately as his sidekick, Lewis.
The Bourne Ultimatum and The Wire both winners
Film of the Year was the pulsating Bourne Ultimatum, the award being presented by Ricky Gervais. The BBC's gritty drama Criminal Justice, starring Ben Wishaw, picked up TV Crime Drama of the Year, with The Wire's final, hugely acclaimed season taking International Crime Drama.
The acting gongs went to Hermione Norris and Rupert Penry-Jones, both for the BBC's Spooks.
Ian Rankin's excellent novel about Inspector Rebus's final case, Exit Music, saw him take the Author of the Year Award ahead of Peter James (Not Dead Enough), Robert Harris (The Ghost) and Lee Child (Bad Luck and Trouble).
Posthumous award for Stieg Larsson
Stieg Larsson, who died aged 50 of a heart attack in 2004, won the International Author's Award for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (released in the UK in 2008). This was one of three detective novels he'd written that gained him a following in Europe and America. His father collected the award on his behalf and paid moving tribute to his son.
Away from the usual crime-writing suspects, the Breakthrough Author of the Year was Stuart MacBride, author of Broken Skin.
All-time greats
Another highlight was the announcement of the first three entries into the International Crime Writing Hall of Fame – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Dame Agatha Christie and PD James.
James, whose latest Dalgliesh novel, The Private Patient, was recently published and who has been conjuring cases for the inspector since 1962, collected her accolade from host Alan Davies and was clearly moved by the tribute. She also praised her fellow writers present at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Among those attending the awards were Silent Witness star Emilia Fox, Wire in the Blood's Robson Green, and best-selling authors Lynda La Plante, Jeffery Deaver and Kate Mosse.
For a full breakdown of all the nominees please go here. ITV3's Crime Thriller Awards are being broadcast on Monday 6 October at 10pm.
