BBC AUDIO DRAMA AWARDS
"As a devotee, I know that radio drama builds a uniquely deep connection with its audience, as well as being hugely important to the nation's cultural and creative life. It deserves to be formally recognised, and the BBC, which invests in so many outstanding productions, is very proud to launch these awards." - Tim Davie, Director
You can listen to David's welcome below, in which he makes a joke about Drill Hall. This former venue used by the BBC for radio broadcasts with an audience is now owned by RADA.
(A big thank you to Justine Potter, producer of A Shoebox full of Snow, Best Drama nominee, for all of the audio clips.)
David Tennant, seen here as the host of the event, was quoted in the press:
"The quality of our radio drama is one of the things that makes me proud to be British. Acting on the radio is challenging, inspiring, delicate and always a privilege.
Radio drama is often overlooked and undervalued next to its showier, younger siblings on the television and in the cinema, and yet it is on the wireless that so many important and brilliant talents have been discovered and nurtured. I am delighted radio drama is being celebrated in this way, it's about time."
The Telegraph - Gillian Reynolds - January 31, 2012
Not only the host but a winner too!
David won the Best Actor Award for his performance in Kafka The Musical.
Click here to see the nominees and winners for 2012
PLUS photos of the night and to hear some of David's introductions.
David did such a fabulous job he was asked back to host in 2013!
THE AWARD
Here is a close up look at the actual award that the winners receive, courtesy of winner Brian Sibley.
The award has the etched face of Prospero, based on the sculpture that adorns the front of Broadcast House in London. The Tempest, who gives the famous speech:
Our revels now have ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Ye all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep
THE RULES AND AWARD CATEGORIES
The Awards will cover audio dramas first broadcast in English in the UK between October 1, 2010 and September 30, 2011 (October 1, 2011 and October 31, 2012 for 2013) – or first uploaded/published for free listening online in the UK during the same period. Entries are welcome from all makers of audio drama, and are not restricted to BBC broadcasts.
Each programme producer may enter up to three categories (one entry only per category) and there is no entry fee. The panel of judges will be taken from within and outside the BBC and each category has its own set of three judges.
The Imison and Tinniswood Awards, in conjunction with the Society of Authors and The Writers' Guild of Great Britain, will also be announced at the winners' ceremony.
The Imison Award was created in 1994 after the death of Richard Imison, Script Editor BBC Radio Drama 1963-91 and you can read all about it here at the Society of Authors website.
The Tinniswood Award was created in 2004 after the death of Peter Tinniswood, TV and Radio author and novelist who died in 2003, and was established by the Society of Authors and the Writers' Guild of Great Britain.
Click here to access the awards homepage.
The award categories are:
Best Audio Drama
Best Actor in an Audio Drama
Best Actress in an Audio Drama
Best Supporting Actor/Actress in an Audio Drama
Best Adaptation from Another Source (script award)
Best Use of Sound in an Audio Drama
Best Scripted Comedy Drama
Best Online Only Audio Drama
Innovation Award (2012 only)
Best Actress in an Audio Drama
Best Supporting Actor/Actress in an Audio Drama
Best Adaptation from Another Source (script award)
Best Use of Sound in an Audio Drama
Best Scripted Comedy Drama
Best Online Only Audio Drama
Innovation Award (2012 only)