Voting opens today for the fourth annual Older People in the Media Awards. The awards are being run by older people’s charity, Independent Age, in collaboration with Gransnet.
Held exclusively online for the first time in 2015, the awards are a celebration of the best representations of older people’s issues in the media. They hope to shine a light on the characters, marketing campaigns and individuals that have either positively portrayed older people, or sensitively highlighted the issues they face. Winners from previous years have included, among others, Dame Judi Dench for her role in the film Philomena and Anne Reid for her portrayal of the character Celia in Last Tango in Halifax.
Gransnet users nominated their favourites throughout August, from which a panel of Independent Age and Gransnet judges drew up a shortlist. Now members of the public will be able to vote for their winners through Gransnet.
The finalists in each category are¹:
· Best older person’s character in a book, film, TV or radio drama
o Mary Baldwin in BBC Two’s Marvellous – played by Gemma Jones
o Frank Derrick in the book Frank Derrick's Holiday of a Lifetime by J.B. Morrison
o Sherlock Holmes in the film Mr Holmes – played by Sir Ian McKellen
o Freddie Thornhill in ITV’s Vicious – played by Sir Ian McKellen
o Stuart Bixby in ITV’s Vicious – played by Sir Derek Jacobi
o Violet Crosby in ITV’s Vicious – played by Frances de la Tour
· Everyday ageism hero – best marketing campaign or initiative that promotes ageing in a positive light
o L'Oréal for Age Perfect campaign with Dame Helen Mirren
o & Other Stories and Vans collaboration for SS2015 campaign with Daphne Selfe
o Yves Saint Laurent for SS2015 campaign with Joni Mitchell
· Best older person’s champion in the media
o Ros Altmann
o Angela Rippon
o Dame Esther Rantzen
o Baroness Joan Bakewell
Voting will take place exclusively through Gransnet from Friday 9th October. Voting is open until 12pm on Friday 6th November and the winners will be announced on Friday 27th November. Winners will be notified and will receive an award to mark their achievement and outstanding contribution.
