The first ever BAFTA award for Interactivity went to the BBC TWO series Coast, whose presenters include Bristol University experts, Dr Mark Horton and Dr Alice Roberts, and Bristol graduate, Miranda Krestovnikoff.

The award was for the interactive content of the website that was associated with the programme. The site enabled the public to download 30 walks from around the country onto their MP3 player or mobile phone. When played back these provided an audio landscape along the walk, describing the history and giving general information about the area.

Dr Mark Horton, one of the series’ presenters, said: “What was so great about the interactivity of the programme is that it got people out to have a look at a  forgotten resource – our coastline.”

Steve Evanson, the series producer said: “Alice and Mark did a fantastic job on the series and we are thrilled to have them on board for the next two series,”. He went on: “ I really feel this series was setting a trend in interactivity. The programme itself was just the tip of the iceberg. More than 5,000 walks were downloaded, so the project took on a whole new life beyond the screen.”

Coast celebrates the unique character of the British Isles, featuring stories about the people, wildlife and events that make our coastal communities what they are.  Through a mixture of expert comment, contemporary storytelling and computer-generated images, Coast tells a wealth of fascinating stories illustrating life as it is today, and as it was in the past.  The first series was transmitted last summer.  Filming on the second series begins this month.

The new series of Coast will be on air later this year.  The first series is currently being repeated on BBC TWO, Sundays, 6.00-7.00pm.

Walks on the award-winning web site can be downloaded from: www.bbc.co.uk/coast