London Bombings Documentary Wins Religious TV Award

A documentary made by Rageh Omaar about the July 7 London bombings for ITV1 has won the top prize at a religious awards ceremony in London. The Granada documentary, 7/7: A Test of Faith, beat Channel 4's Priest Idol, which was runner-up, and BBC2's The Monastery, given a merit prize at the Sandford St Martin Trust Religious Television Awards.

A Test of Faith looked back at the bombings which killed 52 people and injured 700, and the impact events had on people's faith.

"There was fear, pain, scalding anger," said the chairman of the judging panel, Jane Drabble. "All were handled with great sensitivity, without sentiment; but there was no pretence of resolution."

Priest Idol, made by Diverse for Channel 4, told the story of a new American priest in a former Yorkshire mining community near Barnsley. Tiger Aspect's The Monastery, a surprise hit for BBC2, followed five men who spent 40 days and nights at Worth Abbey living the monastic life.

A new award, voted for by Radio Times readers, went to Channel 4's Tsunami: Where was God?, produced by 3BM and broadcast on Christmas Day. The Sandford St Martin Trust Awards, created to promote excellence in religious broadcasting, were presented today at Lambeth Palace. The awards were hosted by Patricia Routledge.