Award-winning Mansfield film maker Jay Martin is celebrating again.

Independent film maker Jay saw his unique political documentary about the unprecedented political shift in Mansfield scoop two awards. REDt’BLUE tells the story of how the mining town of Mansfield, a rock solid Labour ‘safe’ seat, switched to the Conservatives for the first time at the 2017 General Election… and remained Blue two years later.

Now Jay (above), 22, a former student at The Brunts Academy, Mansfield, is enjoying good reviews for a trilogy of short documentaries for the BBC about how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the area over the past year.

The films, created by Sharp Edge Productions, the same team behind REDt’BLUE, show how the creative industries such as the Arts have been affected; the mental and physical toll working on the frontlines has had on doctors and nurses; and how MPs feel about the government’s role in the pandemic and how different areas in Nottinghamshire can recover economically.

They are called ‘Frontline’, ‘The Excluded’, and ‘A Tale of Two Towns’. The latter features Mansfield and the town’s MP, Ben Bradley, who discusses how he feels the Government has handled the crisis, while ‘Frontline’ was filmed at King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton, as Jay talked to medical staff in moving interviews.

He spoke to deputy ward leader Kayleigh Lawrence (top) and consultant, anaesthetist and critical care Pulak Paul (above) about their experiences.

‘The Excluded’ features Nottingham-based actor Michael Muyunda and ambient rock band Eyre Llew, who explains how their lives were turned upside down by the pandemic.

The documentaries are being broadcast on BBC Radio Nottingham and links can be found here.