Outlander series and biopic film I Swear win at Scottish Baftas

The Outlander series and the biopic film I Swear have taken home awards at the Scottish Baftas in Glasgow.

Outlander, which concluded earlier this year after 12 years and eight seasons, won the Outstanding Contribution to Television award.

Scottish Culture Secretary Mairi McAllan, who presented the award on Sunday, said the show had “changed Scotland forever”.

I Swear also swept up at the ceremony, taking home an award in the Feature Film category, while actor Robert Aromayo won in the Actor Film category for his role in it.

The Traitors star Stephen Libby, who comes from the Isle of Lewis, won the Audience Award for Favourite On Screen Scot.

Tourette campaigner John Davidson (centre left) and Dottie Achenbach (centre right) with guests at the ceremony (Lesley Martin/PA)

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In an emotional speech the cyber security consultant thanked his parents for letting him be himself, and his partner for his support.

Mr Libby also thanked the BBC and The Traitors for giving him “the opportunity of a lifetime to be on the craziest show”.

Ms McAllan said the Outlander effect had “transformed screen tourism to Scotland, encouraging people to follow in the footsteps of Jamie and Claire, exploring our landscapes, our castles, towns and villages hoping themselves to fall through the stones and into the arms of an 18th century (Highlander)”.

Accepting the award alongside his fellow stars, Outlander actor Sam Heughan said: “It’s hard to put into words the impact the show has had.”

The awards body said Outlander had also had an “undeniable” impact on Scotland’s screen industry, providing opportunities for local talent to develop and flourish.

The Outlander Training Programme, established before Outlander’s first series, has supported more than 170 new entrants through intensive on-the-job training alongside some of the industry’s most experienced technicians.

Traitors winner Stephen Libby (Lesley Martin/PA)

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Matthew B. Roberts, who was showrunner and executive producer, also spoke at the ceremony and thanked everyone who brought the series to life.

He said: “Each and every one of us has been very proud to showcase this – the beauty, the history, and character of this small, but very mighty country.

“As we can see here tonight, there are a wealth of stories and talent to shine so brightly.”

I Swear led with seven nominations at the awards ceremony, and a previously announced Audience Award nomination for Peter Mullan.

The biopic tells the story of the campaigner John Davidson’s life growing up with Tourette syndrome in Scotland.

Accepting the award, I Swear director Kirk Jones said: “As we made this film we were fortunate enough to work with an incredible group of people who simply wanted to serve John Davidson and his story.

“We are a completely independent film, we are made in Scotland, and we are genuinely convinced that the more specific and authentic our homegrown supports are, the more likely they are to inspire others.”

He added that the most rewarding and inspiring moment for the crew was working with the Tourette and neurodiverse community to make the film.

Mr Jones said: “A young man with autism said to me something which I’ve not forgotten.

“He said ‘just remember that your normal is not everybody else’s normal’, and if we can remember that and we can start to relate to and support those who face daily challenges that we cannot begin to imagine, then we can make (…) a much better place.”

The annual ceremony took place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central with broadcaster Edith Bowman returning as host.

I Swear took three awards – Feature Film, Director Fiction for Kirk Jones and Actor Film for Robert Aramayo.

The Bombing of Pan Am 103 won Television Scripted.

Lucy Halliday (The Testaments) and Robert Carlyle (The Hack) won Actress Television and Actor Television.

Lesley Manville took the Actress Film award for Midwinter Break.

Felipe Bustos Sierra won Director Factual for Everybody To Kenmure Street.

Maggie O’Farrell won Writer Film/Television (in partnership with Screen Scotland) for Hamnet.