The inaugural CCC Champions Awards, proudly sponsored by the Liverpool FC Foundation, were unveiled this evening as leading industry figures John McVay, Donna Taberer, Ruth Pitt and Lynn Saunders were named as the first recipients of the new honour.
The awards brought the first day of the 2026 Creative Cities Convention, being held in Liverpool this year, to a fitting conclusion.
The involvement of the Liverpool FC Foundation as a primary sponsor highlights the strong link between the city’s iconic sporting institutions and its thriving creative sector.
Lisa Campbell, Creative Cities Convention director, said:
“We’ve been showcasing a number of legends on stage throughout this convention, so what a fitting finale it is to recognise four renowned and respected figures who have dedicated their careers to making the industry a better, fairer and more inclusive place.
“These inaugural CCC Champions Awards will inspire others to follow in their footsteps.”
Celebrating Industry Legends
The four recipients represent the pinnacle of British media and production. John McVay served as Chief Executive of Pact for over two decades, contributing significantly to international policy and the growth of independent production across the UK.
Donna Taberer, a former head of entertainment at Channel 5 and a producer on That’s Life, was recognised for her commitment to training and inclusivity.
Ruth Pitt, co-founder of the Creative Cities Convention and former head of documentaries at Granada Television, was honoured for her strategic development of the film and TV sector outside of London.
Joining them was Lynn Saunders, the current head of the Liverpool Film Office, who has been instrumental in making Liverpool the second most filmed city in the UK.
Industry Tributes
In recorded tributes, luminaries from across the industry spoke of the award winner’s impact and achievements.
Kate Phillips, chief content officer at the BBC, said of John McVay:
“Many congratulations to John on this well-deserved award.
“Not only has he done so much for the indie sector over the years, but he has also done so much for the growth of those indies across the UK.
“They really have thrived as a result of a large part of the work that you’ve done. And we can’t thank you enough.
“You are brilliant, you are forthright, you’re opinionated, you’re slightly terrifying, and you’re going to be hugely missed by us all. You do have very big shoes to fill.”
Actor and founder of Hat Trick Productions, Jimmy Mulville, said of Lynn Saunders:
“She’s led the UK’s most successful film office since 2019, turning Liverpool into the country’s top film city outside London.
“She built two studios from scratch and is now reviving the Woods building into a state-of-the-art studio complex, with a sixth-form school inside to train young people for careers in the creative industries.
“Warm, tough, resourceful, and famously no-nonsense, she’s a perfect example of what makes Liverpool special. Oh, and she’s also a great mum, her son supports Everton.
“Need I say more? Congratulations.”
Dame Esther Rantzen said of Donna Taberer:
“I first met Donna when she joined the That’s Life team in 1990.
“We all wanted to make the world fairer but it was very clear that she was supreme at it.
“She has gone far beyond what’s expected of her in supporting hundreds of other people like her without connections who just had their talent to recommend them.
“She has shaped countless careers and created a more inclusive television industry.
“Donna doesn’t just make programmes. She actually changes lives.”
TV Presenter, Kirsty Wark, said of Ruth Pitt:
“What you’ve achieved from supporting and championing television right across the UK to mentoring so many people into the industry and to connecting and developing those already in it, what you’ve done and then the creative cities convention you started that with John big V, how fantastic.
“Many congratulations for a brilliant human being”
