Outstanding Contribution to Television: Julie Gardner MBE

While it would be unjust to claim that any one person was responsible for Wales’ renaissance as a dynamic centre for international film and television production, there’s no arguing that Julie Gardner was a principal part of this modern success story. The Glynneath-born producer and commissioner was central to bringing the relaunch of Doctor Who to Cardiff, with writer Russell T Davies at the helm, which directly kickstarted Wales’ screen ambitions from the mid-2000s onwards. Gardner’s leading role deservedly earned her an MBE in 2014.

Gardner’s career began at the BBC, but it was her three-year stint as development producer at LWT from 2000 that proved providential. Here, she sought out Davies to develop a drama based on the life of Giacomo Casanova. When Gardner was tempted back to the BBC as head of drama for BBC Wales in 2003, she brought Davies and Casanova (2005) with her. Beyond Doctor Who’s success, Gardner was also commissioning such award winners as The Girl in the Café (2005) and Life on Mars (2006-2007). A move to the US and BBC Worldwide Productions in 2009 saw further success, with three seasons of Da Vinci’s Demons (2013-2015) produced in Wales.

Gardner clearly has no problem making bold, ambitious and life-changing decisions. In 2015, she teamed up with her former BBC and BBC Worldwide Productions boss, Jane Tranter, to launch production company Bad Wolf. Here, she has produced the multi award-winning I Hate Suzie (2020-2022), current ITV audience-winner Red Eye (2024), The Winter King (2023) and, fittingly, Doctor Who (2023-). Julie is currently in production on The War Between the Land and The Sea. Since 2018, Julie has run Bad Wolf America, which earlier in 2024 launched its first production for Apple+, Lady in the Lake.

Gardner says: “Growing up in Glynneath showed me the value of hard work, humour in tough times and belief in community. Working in Cardiff as head of drama at BBC Wales and in co-founding Bad Wolf has shown me, year after year, that Wales has the most talented, inventive, committed workforce of any nation. It is a privilege to receive this award, which belongs to the cast and crews who have long made Wales a creative powerhouse.”