- ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards - ITV
Television and the book world are uniting to bring together some of the finest international crime writers and programme makers to celebrate brutal murder and mayhem.
The fledgling ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards, now in its second year, and the Crime Writers’ Association, which has been saluting superb crime authors since 1956, are aiming to make this a major showpiece event for the genre when their new awards ceremony airs on Wednesday 21 October.
Lawrence Block, Michael Connelly and Martina Cole
The venue will be London’s Grosvenor House Hotel and the awards will be televised by ITV3 later this month.
The audience on the night will be a who’s who of acclaimed crime and thriller writers waiting to see who will declared the best of 2009. Lawrence Block, Michael Connelly and Martina Cole among the contenders.
Block and Connelly are hopefuls for prestigious CWA Dagger awards in the best crime and thriller book categories.
Gangster Sagas and Suspense
Meanwhile, Cole has been pitched into the ITV3 online public poll to settle who receives 2009’s Bestseller Dagger. The Brit-heavy group of contenders cover a spectrum of styles, from Cole's hugely popular gangster sagas, to the psychological dramas of Nicci French, to the suspense of Dick Francis.
Alexander McCall Smith, whose The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series has been put on screen by the BBC, and Harlan Coben, the only American in the ballot, make up the five candidates.
From Wallander to Public Enemies
Among the TV programmes in contention are the Swedish and BBC versions of Wallander, along with Red Riding and Spooks. Dominic West (The Wire) is pitted against Kenneth Branagh (Wallander) and Tom Hardy (The Take) for Best Actor, while Juliet Stevenson (Place of Execution) and Hermione Norris (Spooks) are among the women having a shoot-out for Best Actress.
Big US studio movies fill the slots for Film Dagger 2009, including State of Play, Quantum of Solace and Public Enemies. Clint Eastwood directs the other two contenders, Changeling and Gran Torino.
Last year’s inaugural ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards was a star-packed event, with Helen Mirren and Ricky Gervais among those presenting the gongs.
ITV3 is cramming its schedules with six weeks of special crime seasons in the run-up to 2009’s event.
The Shortlists in Full:
The CWA Gold Dagger for the best Crime Novel of the year.
- When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson, In the Dark by Mark Billingham, Hit and Run by Lawrence Block, A Whispered Name by William Brodrick, The Coroner by MR Hall and Dark Times In The City by Gene Kerrigan? ?
The CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger – for first books by previously unpublished writers, awarded in memory of CWA founder John Creasey.
- Sweetsmoke by David Fuller, Bad Catholics by James Green, No Way To Say Goodbye by Rod Madocks, Old City Hall by Robert Rotenberg, Echoes from the Dead by Johan Theorin and The Blood Detective by Dan Waddell
The CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger – for the year’s best thriller.
- The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly, Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, The Last Child by John Hart, Calumet City by Charlie Newton, Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva, The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer, and The Interrogator by Andrew Williams
ITV3 Bestseller Dagger – voted for by ITV3 viewers.
- Martina Cole, Dick Francis, Nicci French, Alexander McCall Smith, Harlan Coben
The Hall of Fame – honouring the achievements of the genre’s greatest exponents, past and present.
- Lynda La Plante, Ruth Rendell, Colin Dexter, Val McDermid and Ian Rankin will join PD James in the Hall of Fame
The Film Dagger – for the best big-screen crime thriller story.
- Gran Torino, Quantum of Solace, Changeling, Public Enemies, State of Play
The TV Dagger – for the best small-screen crime thriller drama.
- Wallander (BBC1), Red Riding (Channel 4), Spooks (BBC1), Place of Execution (ITV1), Ashes to Ashes (BBC1)
The International TV Dagger – for the best TV crime thriller drama from around the world.
- The Wire (BBC Two), Dexter (FX), Wallander (BBC Four), The Mentalist (Five)
The Best Actress Dagger – for the female star of a crime thriller drama.
- Juliet Stevenson (Place of Execution ITV1), Keeley Hawes (Ashes to Ashes BBC1), Hermione Norris (Spooks BBC1), Emilia Fox (Silent Witness BBC1)
The Best Actor Dagger - for the male star of a crime thriller drama.
- Dominic West (The Wire BBC Two), Kenneth Branagh (Wallander BBC1), Tom Hardy (The Take Sky1), Philip Glenister (Ashes to Ashes BBC1), Paddy Considine (Red Riding Channel 4).
Robin Jarossi - London-based journalist and editor specialising in TV, sport and books. I was the editor of 'Cable Guide' and have worked at 'Radio ...
