Stanley Baxter to receive outstanding contribution award at Scottish Baftas

Actor and comedian Stanley Baxter has won an outstanding contribution award, Bafta Scotland has announced.

The 94-year-old will be presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television Award at the digital ceremony on Tuesday December 8.

Broadcaster and presenter Edith Bowman will host a socially distanced, closed studio show alongside Sanjeev Kohli and other guest presenters.

He is also know for his Parliamo Glasgow sketches sending up his native city.

Starting out as a child actor in the Scottish edition of BBC’s Children’s Hour, he then developed his skills in the Combined Services Entertainment Unit during national service.

Afterwards, he returned to Glasgow and later to London, where he embarked on his highly successful TV career.

He made his debut in the BBC’s Shop Window in 1952, followed by numerous guest appearances in variety shows.

Baxter’s major TV break came with the satirical BBC show On The Bright Side in 1959, for which he was awarded a Bafta for light entertainment performance.

The Stanley Baxter Show, which aired on the BBC between 1963 and 1971, cemented his reputation and catapulted him to stardom.

Later shows won further Baftas and attracted audiences of around 20 million.

Baxter was also a popular figure on the Scottish pantomime circuit before he largely retired from stage and screen in 1991.

A second outstanding contribution award will be given to film and television editor Phyllis Ironside.

Having spent more than 40 years in the role, documentaries are the core of her work and include The Marriage with Desmond Wilcox and Michael Palin’s arts documentaries.

Other credits include The Odd Job Man, Taggart and Bafta-nominated feature film Wasted.

She will receive the Outstanding Contribution to Craft (In Memory of Robert McCann) Award.

Jude MacLaverty, Bafta Scotland director, said: “We are delighted to be presenting this year’s outstanding contribution awards to two exceptional recipients, each representing outstanding talent in their fields.

“Stanley Baxter is one of the true creative geniuses in British television light entertainment, who combined superbly observed, written and performed comedy in a truly unique and unforgettable style.

“Phyllis Ironside is a highly respected member of the industry in Scotland, renowned for her editing skills as well as her integrity with her CV reflecting the best of programming making in Scotland.”

She added: “Both Stanley Baxter and Phyllis Ironside have created work that is not only recognised by their peers and the public but that has also inspired future generations of film and television makers.

“We are honoured to present the awards and look forward to recognising their outstanding achievements on Tuesday December 8.”