News

Sony Radio Academy Awards Winners Revealed

• 11th May 2010

The gold, silver and bronze winners of the 28th annual Sony Radio Academy Awards, the UK’s most prestigious radio accolades, were announced this evening at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, hosted by Chris Evans. The event was also webcast live.

In addition to the 35 Award categories, The Special Award was given to the Forces broadcaster BFBS Radio with the legendary broadcaster, Trevor Nelson MBE, proving a popular recipient of this year’s Gold Award. The Awards ceremony was a vivid reflection of the strength and depth of the UK radio industry.

The Special Award salutes the outstanding achievements of The Forces broadcaster BFBS Radio –‘in recognition of more than sixty years of radio broadcasting and in particular for its current commitment to our serving men and women both on, and behind, the front lines of international conflict. BFBS Radio has served its target audience with legendary success, not just here in the UK, but in most of the territories in which British Forces are currently serving providing a unique and impressive link between those serving abroad and their families here at home.’

Commercial radio had plenty of reasons to cheer, scoring a total of 12 golds, with notable wins for Moray Firth Radio in Station of the Year (up to 300,000), their fifth win in this category, KISS FM in the Station of the Year (1 million plus), Planet Rock scooped Digital Station of the Year and Radio City 96.7’s Euan McMorrow won Station Programmer.

Radio 1’s Zane Lowe added more Sony gold to his trophy cabinet doing the double in Best Specialist Music Programme and Music Broadcaster of the Year. The judges agreed that: “(he) is an outstanding music broadcaster whose technical expertise serves to enhance his dynamic style.”

Dermot O’Leary also proved that he’s got the X Factor and claimed Best Music Programme for his Radio 2 show.

Absolute and Real both struck gold twice. Absolute defended their 2009 title for Best Live Event, this year with ‘Absolute Blur’ and Christian O’Connell reclaimed Best Competition with ‘Who’s Calling Christian’. The Real Radio Group became the first winner of two new Sony Awards, with an outstanding win in Breakfast Show of the Year (under 10 million) for Real Radio Yorkshire’s ‘Dixie & Gayle, The Real Breakfast Show’ and triumphing in Best Promotional/Advertising Campaign with ‘Vote Joe’, for Real Radio North East.

Breakfast Show of the Year (10 million plus) proved to be sunny-side-up for Radio 4’s ‘Today’, with the judges commenting: “In a year of great social and economic upheaval, Today has risen to the challenge of being the country’s programme of record.”

Runner up Trevor Nelson, added his silver for ‘The 1 Xtra Breakfast Show with Trevor Nelson & Gemma’ to The Gold Award accolade he received for being ‘a true champion of Music Radio, a master of his craft and a role model for our times. Heard on the UK’s airwaves for a quarter of a century and currently broadcasting regularly on Radios 1, 2 and 5 Live, his playlist remains as contemporary as ever. His work as a music industry professional and a committed broadcaster has ensured that his is a name that commands respect throughout the music world.’

One of the hottest rivalries in radio was settled, for the evening at least, as Radio 1’s Scott Mills took the gold for Music Radio Personality of the Year leaving Chris Moyles to collect silver. The citation noted that: “ (Scott is) on top form, laugh-out loud funny, cheeky, inventive and original.”

The 2010 Sonys have honoured a record number of women presenters: BBC Radio 4’s Jenni Murray, the doyenne of British radio, wins her first ever solo gold, for Best Interview, Lyse Doucet for BBC World Service wins the vote in the traditionally male-dominated News Journalist of the Year, regional powerhouse, BBC Radio Nottingham’s Frances Finn beat off stiff opposition to get the nod for Speech Radio Personality and 5 Live’s Victoria Derbyshire scored two silvers. Lisa Snowdon won her first Sony gold for Best Entertainment Programme sharing the winners’ laurels with her Capital 95.8 Breakfast Show buddy, Johnny Vaughan. The judging panel commented: “Great originality and a wonderful chemistry between the two hosts.”

A discernible thread running through this first Sony Awards of the new decade was television presenters and rock stars making their mark on radio and demonstrating their enthusiasm and talent for this most versatile medium. So U2’s Bono brought his Midas touch to Radio 4 and won gold with his debut nomination for Best Music Special about Elvis, national treasure, Sir David Attenborough exchanged jungle khaki for black tie as he ascended the winner’s podium in the Speech Broadcaster of the Year category giving Radio 4 another golden moment, Jarvis Cocker won the Sony DAB Rising Star Award, voted for by listeners, for his 6 Music Show and Frank Skinner won silver for Absolute Radio in Best Entertainment Programme.

Stations the length and breadth of the country were honoured throughout the night, BBC Radio Derby won gold in the highly prestigious Station of the Year (300,000 – 1 million), diminutive Oxfordshire’s 106 JACK FM pipped KISS 100 to the winning post for Best Station Imaging and also took silver, as Radio Berkshire went gold with ‘The New Ballads of Reading Gaol’ in Best Community Programming.

Perennial Award nominees, 6 Music’s Adam and Joe, finally got their hands on gold, winning Best Comedy.

Radio 3 upset the formbook by taking the honours for Best Drama, a play written by Jack Thorne titled ‘People Snogging in Public Places’, which focuses on attitudes to mental health. ‘Alzheimer’s Tragedy’ was the subject of BBC Radio Ulster’s winning entry for Best Breaking News Coverage, illustrating what a powerful medium radio is in covering difficult and often sensitive issues.

Other golden moments included ‘Nihal on BBC Asian Network’ for Best Speech Programme, BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound for ‘Best Sports Programme’, talkSPORT’s Dear Stan for Best Single Promo/Commercial and Best Internet Programming went to Hackney Podcast, impressing the judges as: “just the type of targeted and locally orientated content that sets podcasting apart from conventional radio broadcasting.”

The blue riband award of UK Station of the Year went to 5 Live, with the judges citing: “..a station at the top of its game with an enviable roster of skilled presenters.”

Tim Blackmore, Chairman of the Sony Radio Academy Awards said:
“Having been associated with these awards since their inception in 1983, I remain immensely proud to be part of an industry that continues to deliver high quality audio on an ever increasing range of platforms. Radio is truly one of our most creative industries and the proof is in the work of this year’s gold, silver and bronze winners.”

Ex-Brit pop favourite and new BBC 6 Music regular, Jarvis Cocker has scooped this year’s Sony DAB Rising Star Award, established in 2008 to recognise new radio talent. The former Pulp front man turned successful solo star has been hosting the Sunday Service on BBC6 Music since January this year.

Presenters of the Awards included golden girl gymnast Beth Tweddle, Claudia Winkleman, Alistair McGowan, Louie Spence, Katie Melua, Danielle Spencer (aka Mrs Russell Crowe), Fiona Phillips, Shami Chakrabati, Kirsty Young, Anna Ford and Richard Madeley.