Nominations Announced for the UK 2018 Audio Production Awards

The list of nominations has been released for the 2018 Audio Production Awards (APAs), the premier awards for production skills across radio, audiobooks and podcasting, both off and on-mic.

The APAs are sponsored by leading audiobook publisher Audible.

Will Jackson, Managing Director of AudioUK, which organises the APAs, said:

“This year there has been a record number of entries to the awards, with the content showing a real depth and range. We’ve been using where possible the blind judging again which worked well last year, to make sure everyone, whether a well-known producer or a breaking new talent, is on a level playing field. We’re really looking forward to the awards night, which is always tremendous fun and look forward to seeing everyone there.”

This year’s newly featured Audio Performer category has had a high level of entries from actors to voice-over artists, and the awards have had more judges than ever before.

Nominees are from across the range of UK production talent, including from audio production companies, in-house producers and freelance producers.

Out-of-London entries run across the UK, from Scotland’s Gusman and BBC Sussex and Surrey, also Kent’s Bafflegab, Northern Ireland’s Foghorn, and Manchester’s Reform Radio.

PRA Productions is defending its ‘Production Company of the Year’ status which it won at the 2017 APAs.

Women’s Radio Station, launched earlier this year, is nominated in the Grass Roots category.

The presenter nominees feature talent from a variety of other creative backgrounds, with singer Jesse Ware among those nominated in the New Voices category, and West End actor Ruthie Henshall nominated in the Best Presenter category.

Tickets on sale from Tuesday 23 October for the gala night on Thursday 22 November at the BFI Southbank, starting at 6pm, and with the awards beginning at 7.30pm.

ENDS

The Best Podcast Producer nominees range from ‘Everyone Else’ podcast producer Eva Krysiak; Fresh Air Production’s Neil Cowling; Boffin Media’s Sue Nelson and Lucy Dearlove, producer of ‘Layers’ and also the Guardian’s ‘Let’s Eat’. The nominees also include two BBC nominations, Radio 5 Live’s Mike Holt for ‘You, Me and The Big C’ and ‘Flintoff, Savage and the Ping Pong Guy’ and Radio 1 Newsbeat’s Tamsyn Kent.

Notes

1. The awards – which are now in their ninth year – reflect the continued expansion of audio distribution online and via downloads, in addition to traditional broadcast radio. The awards are open to all audio producers, from BBC and commercial radio to community stations and podcasters, as well as production companies working across all forms of audio, including audiobooks, podcasts and radio. More at https://audioproductionawards.awardstage.com/#About and https://audioproductionawards.awardstage.com/#Faqs_And_Entry_Guidelines

2. The APAs are organised by AudioUK Events Ltd, the events arm of AudioUK. AudioUK is the trade association for UK audio production companies, with nearly 100 members, spread across the UK, making high-quality award-winning radio, audiobook and podcast content, as well as audio games, audio branding and other content. It also created the Audiotrain skills programme. More at www.audiouk.org

3. Audible, an Amazon.com, Inc. subsidiary (NASDAQ:AMZN), is the leading provider of premium digital spoken audio information and entertainment, offering customers a new way to enhance and enrich their lives every day. Audible was created to unleash the emotive music in language and the habituating power and utility of verbal expression. Audible content includes more than 300,000 audio programs from leading audiobook publishers, broadcasters, entertainers, magazine and newspaper publishers, and business information providers.

Full list of nominees for the 2018 Audio Production Awards, sponsored by Audible

The mission of the Audio Production Awards is to recognise and celebrate outstanding achievement in audio and radio production within the designated categories covering both producers and on-mic talent. Important Note: Categories in no particular order. Shortlist in alphabetical order, unless numbers are used in which case numbers will come first.

1. BEST ARTS PRODUCER

This category celebrates the best of arts and culture-based audio, reported and produced to the highest of standards, giving a sense of special insight into the subject.

• Andrew McGibbon, Curtains For Radio
• Anna Scott-Brown, Overtone Productions
• Jo Wheeler, Freelance
• Mair Bosworth, BBC Radio 4
• Michael Umney, Resonance/Reduced Listening
• Victoria Ferran, Just Radio Ltd

2. BEST MUSIC PRODUCER

This award is for an exceptional producer working in music audio. Entries can range from single programmes and documentaries to sequence programmes, as well as specialist music programming, live music and discussion.

• Jax Coombes, BBC 6 Music
• Natalie Steed, Freelance
• Nick Harris, Absolute Radio
• Ollie Wilson, Somethin’ Else
• Paul Smith, Just Radio Ltd
• Steve Urquhart, Listen To Steve

3. BEST FACTUAL PRODUCER

This category is for non-news based factual programming. The judges will be looking for a strong storytelling capability and a crystal clear, gripping narrative, plus compelling and creative production values that resonate with the audience.

• Dom Byrne, Greenpoint
• Jo Wheeler, Freelance
• Kate Cocker, Reform Radio
• Katherine Godfrey, Whistledown Productions
• Natalia Golysheva, Freelance
• Sue Nelson, Boffin Media

4. BEST NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS PRODUCER

Celebrating the best in news and current affairs production. Entries here should be from programmes which are clearly led by the current affairs agenda.

• Gabriela Jones, Wisebuddah
• James Shield, The RSA
• Robert Nicholson, Whistledown Productions
• Rory Carson, BBC Radio 5 Live
• Siobhann Tighe, BBC Radio 4
• Tim Johns, BBC Radio 2

5. BEST SPORTS PRODUCER

Entries can feature outstanding, engaging sports programming from many formats; from live daytime programmes to round-table podcasts, but they must relate to sports in a clear and defined way.

• Ben Green, Muddy Knees Media
• Ben Mundy, BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat
• Mark Sharman, TBI Media
• Tom Whalley, Freelance

6. BEST ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCER

Recognising producers who successfully create fresh and fun entertainment content. For example, entries might be drawn from live programmes and/or light-hearted podcasts.

• Brian Murphy, Magic Radio & Absolute Radio
• Claire Solan, Absolute Radio
• Darby Dorras, Somethin’ Else
• Dave Masterman, Absolute Radio
• Ed Morrish, Freelance
• Peter Curran, The Foghorn Company

7. GETHIN THOMAS COMEDY AWARD

All comedy-based audio can be entered here, including sitcoms, scripted comedy, sketch shows or comedy-led panel shows. Any format with the primary aim of making people laugh fits the billThe category is named in honour of the pioneering Welsh comedy producer and performer, Gethin Wyn Thomas, who died suddenly and prematurely earlier last year.

• David Tyler, Pozzitive
• Ed Morrish, Freelance
• Gareth Gwynn, Freelance
• Giles Gear, Union JACK Radio
• Gus Beattie, Gusman Productions

8. BEST LIVE EVENT/OUTSIDE BROADCAST PRODUCER

Entries here may span a wide range of formats and subject matter. The key is that they must have been created in a live broadcast setting.

• Annabelle Buckland, JACKfm
• Chris Evans Production Team, BBC Radio 2
• Chris Gilvear, Jazz FM
• Mark Carter, BBC Sussex & BBC Surrey
• Nick Carter, BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

9. BEST PODCAST PRODUCER

Celebrating an outstanding Podcast Producer who truly understands the special possibilities of the medium.

• Eva Krysiak, Freelance
• Lucy Dearlove, Freelance
• Mike Holt, BBC Radio 5 Live
• Neil Cowling, Fresh Air Production
• Sue Nelson, Boffin Media
• Tamsyn Kent, BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat

10. BEST DRAMA PRODUCER

Recognising exceptional producers who know how to bring the story, characters and narrative to life in listeners’ minds.

• Boz Temple-Morris, Holy Mountain
• David Beck & Katie Arlett, Wireless Theatre Company, Audible Studios
• Kate Valentine, Digital Drama
• Laurence Bowen, Dancing Ledge Productions
• Nicolas Jackson, Afonica
• Simon Barnard, Bafflegab Productions

11. BEST AUDIOBOOK/READINGS PRODUCER

Judges will be looking at the range and choice of material, performance, direction and production values here. Producers can enter an unedited section from a single book/reading or extracts from several books/readings.

• Chris Thompson, Heavy Entertainment
• Karen Rose, Sweet Talk Productions
• Natalie Steed, Freelance
• Roy McMillan, Penguin Random House
• Samuel Gunn, Heavy Entertainment
• Tanya Hougham, Harper Collins Publishers

12. BEST NEW PRODUCER

Celebrating a newcomer to audio production who shows potential to reach the very highest level.

• Hannah Dean, Freelance
• Jonathan O’Sullivan, TBI Media
• Nathan Gower, Whistledown
• Nick Harris, Absolute Radio
• Shanida Scotland, Falling Tree Productions
• Stuart Russell, Eyebrow Media

13. BEST STATION SOUND PRODUCER

For exceptional contributions to audio imaging and/or station sound production.

• Ben Stones, BBC Radio Pop Hub Station Sound
• Carl Kinsman, Q Radio
• Dan Prior, Absolute Radio
• Gordon Lundy, Absolute Radio
• Liam Hadley, BBC Radio Pop Hub Station Sound
• Stan Was, BBC Radio 4

14. BEST SOUND DESIGNER/ENGINEER

Celebrating the talents of sound designers, mixers, studio managers and others who create startling soundscapes that elevate audio from great to extraordinary.

• Adam Fowler, Overtone Productions
• Alasdair McGregor, Holy Mountain
• Antony Shaw, TBI Media
• Eloise Whitmore, Naked Productions
• Steve Bond, Freelance
• Steve Urquhart, Listen To Steve

15. GRASSROOTS PRODUCTION AWARD

For an individual, production company, radio/audio station or community-based organisation that has shown extraordinary achievement in identifying, nurturing or mentoring new and diverse talent to the audio industry.

• PRA Productions/Prison Radio Association
• Reform Radio
• Radio Wanno - HMP Wandsworth
• Resonance
• Transmission Roundhouse
• Women’s Radio Station

16. AUDIO PERFORMER OF THE YEAR

Recognising and rewarding a performer who has demonstrated exceptional talent at interpreting the written word over the year, as exemplified by a single outstanding piece of work or a body of work. This could include narrators of audiobooks or actors in an audio drama.

• Bill Nighy for Penguin Random House
• David Rintoul for Penguin Random House Audio
• David Walliams for HarperCollins Publishers
• Jacob Anderson for Penguin Random House
• Lee Ingleby for Penguin Random House Audio
• Oliver Jeffers for HarperCollins Publishers

17. BEST PRESENTER - SPEECH

For exceptional on-air talent presenting speech programmes. Compelling conversation, high production values, brilliant interviews, a sustained contribution to the genre, outstanding creativity and deep-rooted connection to the audience.

• Abdul-Rehman Malik, TBI Media
• Andrew Mueller, Monocle 24
• Cole Moreton, TBI Media
• Justin Dealey, BBC Three Counties Radio
• Nihal Arthanayake, BBC Radio 5 Live
• Tony Livesey, BBC Radio 5 Live

18. BEST PRESENTER - MUSIC

For exceptional on-air talent presenting music programmes. Unrivalled understanding of their chosen music genre(s), the ability to share that passion, plus constant creativity, strong production values and powerful audience connection.

• Cerys Matthews, BBC Radio 2 & BBC 6 Music
• Emily Segal, heat radio
• Lauren Laverne, BBC 6 Music
• Ruthie Henshall, Mellow Magic
• Steve Lamacq, BBC 6 Music
• Trevor Nelson, Somethin’ Else for BBC Radio 2

19. NEW VOICE AWARD

For outstanding presenters who have recently entered the audio world or recently gained significant mainstream presentation recognition for the first time.

• Blanche Girouard, BBC Radio 4
• Jessie Ware, Table Manners
• Julia Raeside, Great Big Owl
• Martin Morales, Block Media
• Frankie Wells & Anouszka Tate, Project Pleasure – Transmission Roundhouse
• Ronan Keating, Magic Radio

20. GOLD AWARD – to be announced at the ceremony

Recognising and celebrating an individual who has made an outstanding contribution, usually over a number of years, to the audio sector in the UK.

21. PRODUCTION COMPANY OF THE YEAR

This award recognises and celebrates a company’s success across the year.

• Naked Productions
• PRA Productions - Prison Radio Association
• Reduced Listening
• Somethin’ Else
• Whistledown
• Wisebuddah