Award recognition would be fitting tribute to Burrow

BBC Breakfast presenter Sally Nugent has spoken movingly about the experience of working on Rob Burrow’s third and final documentary, There’s Only One Rob Burrow, which has been shortlisted in the Authored Documentary category at this year’s National Television Awards (NTAs).

For Nugent and the BBC Breakfast team, the film was never just another film – it was, she says, a labour of love, shaped by a deep sense of care for Burrow, his wife Lindsey and their three children. The former Leeds Rhinos star, who defied expectations throughout his rugby career, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2019. His openness in sharing his journey has made him one of the most admired figures in British sport.

Reflecting on her first encounters with Burrow, Nugent recalled how quickly she came to see his character shine through. “The first time we met was when Rob joined us for a piece with Doddie Weir and Stephen Darby. I knew Doddie prior to that but it was the first time I had met Rob. We were so worried about everybody there, making sure the lads were all comfortable. And Rob asked me how I was, which was mad really considering what he was dealing with. That was an early sign of the kind of man he was – always thinking about other people, never himself.”

The idea for the first documentary grew shortly after his diagnosis. Nugent remembers coming back to the Breakfast newsroom and telling colleagues that each of the sportsman affected by MND – Burrow, Weir and Darby – could have carried a documentary on their own. It was our boss Richard Frediani who said: “It’s Rob. We have to find a way to make a film about Rob.”

That decision led to a trilogy of films charting Burrow’s battle with MND, culminating in There’s Only One Rob Burrow. From the beginning, the production team knew they had to balance journalism with compassion. “It’s like a team, a bit like Leeds Rhinos,” Nugent explained. “We were lucky because we all did our jobs well, and it meant Rob and Lindsey hopefully got an experience that was kind, reassuring and supportive. You’ve got to remember – they were opening the door to strangers at the most vulnerable time in their lives.”

Much of that delicate work was carried by producer Claire Ryan, who developed a close relationship with the Burrow family. Cameraman Sean Twamley, too, became a trusted presence, capturing moments of extraordinary intimacy with sensitivity. “When you see those shots of Lindsey lifting Rob, or Rob at his most vulnerable, Sean was in the room. That’s the sign of a great cameraman – people just get on with their lives because they feel safe.”

The trust built between family and crew allowed the documentaries to show the raw reality of living with MND while retaining dignity. Nugent recalled persuading Lindsey to take part in her first interview. “They were such a private family. That honesty, though, is why people connected with them. Viewers could see their own families in Rob and Lindsey.”

Behind the cameras, the BBC Breakfast team often worked in their own time. “Particularly with the first film, we just kind of did it on our days off,” Nugent admitted. “We felt so strongly about the family that we made it work.

The recognition that followed – including nominations at the NTAs – took the team by surprise. “To be blunt, our film cost next to nothing compared with some of the others, yet there it was, up against million-pound productions. But our little film had one purpose: to look after Rob and his family. That’s what made us proud.”

There’s Only One Rob Burrow carries an extra poignancy. Made with the knowledge that it would be his final film, it was designed as a lasting message. “Everything about it was for after he’d gone,” Nugent said. “It’s a love letter to his family, to Leeds, to rugby, to anyone who’s ever supported a team. But it’s also about hope and defiance in the most awful circumstances.”

That message, Nugent believes, is why the film deserves to be recognised. “It’s a real David and Goliath moment. We’re up against incredible films with big budgets. But we’ll give it one more go because Rob would say: go again, bang the drum.”

Win or lose, Burrow’s legacy continues. The family’s campaigning has helped secure funding for a new MND facility in Leeds, ensuring that others will not face the same lonely experience of diagnosis that Rob described. “He once said no family should ever just be sent home with a leaflet. Now, there’ll be a place in his name where people can find real support. That’s extraordinary.”

As the NTAs approach, Nugent admits she has one wish: “My dream is to get Rob’s children on that stage. To see them celebrate their dad’s life in front of the nation – that would be everything.”

The National Television Awards take place on September 10 at the O2 Arena, broadcast live on ITV1. The free public vote at www.nationaltvawards.com is open until noon on Wednesday 10th September with the results announced later that day.