91Èȱ¬

It was announced today that 91Èȱ¬ Two's popular Springwatch series has been chosen to receive Bafta's Special Award at this year's Craft Awards on the 8 May.

The Chairman of Bafta described the award as: "one of the Academy's highest honours", and it is to be presented in recognition of Springwatch's outstanding creative and technical teamwork and the role it has played in developing technical standards both behind the camera and online.

Janice Hadlow, Controller of 91Èȱ¬ Two said: "Springwatch was launched with an innovative, stripped and live format and, even after seven years, it is a trailblazer for event television. It's all credit to the power of the programme and the creativity of the production team that it manages to engage its audience throughout the year on all platforms, ensuring that they stay with it through summer, autumn and winter, returning with happy anticipation in the spring."

Tim Scoones, Executive Producer said: "Winning the Special Award at the television craft Baftas is a real honour. Over the last seven years, the whole Springwatch team has strived to embrace new technology, to deliver natural history to our audience in a thoroughly modern way. The digital revolution has allowed us to involve our viewers in the real and intimate stories of our animal characters in ever deeper and more engaging ways; from HD mini cameras to the latest in webcam streaming and live broadcast technology.

"That same revolution in broadcasting has allowed us to use multiple platforms – from TV to web and from children's output to local and national news – to develop a long-term and potent relationship with our audience, who now contribute so much themselves to the in-the-moment shared experience of the Springwatch broadcast event. This award is fantastic recognition for the literally hundreds of hard working and uniquely talented behind-the-scenes Springwatch colleagues who have made this possible since our humble beginnings in 2005. Springwatch has always been a big team effort, so I'm delighted that this Bafta is for the whole team."

Kim Shillinglaw, Commissioning Editor of Science and Natural History said: "Springwatch has one of the closest audience relationships of any programme today; built up through seven years of constant digital innovation. In our era of noisy media proliferation that intimacy is gold-dust, and huge testament to the skill of the whole programme-making team."

Viewers will be able to follow the fortunes of Britain's wildlife with Kate Humble, Chris Packham and the Springwatch Team, when the show returns to 91Èȱ¬ TWO for an Easter special broadcast at 8pm on Easter Monday 25 April, with the new series following shortly at the end of May.

FD