BBC launches new Audio Drama Awards

Today sees the launch of the BBC Audio Drama Awards. The awards aim to celebrate and recognise the cultural importance of audio drama, on air and online, and to give recognition to the actors, writers, producers, sound designers, and others who work in the genre.

The short-listed entries will be announced on Monday 9 January 2012 and the winners announced at a ceremony to be held on Sunday 29 January 2012 in the Radio Theatre at BBC Broadcasting House, London.

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

David Tennant, actor, says: “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.”