Radio 4 honoured at industry awards

BBC Radio 4 have been honoured by the radio industry after scooping seven gongs at the prestigious Sony Radio awards.

The station defeated BBC Radio 2 to win become the national station of the year, with the host of its Today programme John Humphrys receiving the lifetime achievement award.

Humphrys referred to Radio 4 as the country's "civilising influence", before suggesting that his award be renamed "the OFA - the Old Farts Award".

"I've survived for 45 years and for that I am enormously grateful," he told the ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

BBC Radio 2 DJ Jonathan Ross won the titles of best entertainment presenter and the 2002 yearly achievement award, while Xfm breakfast DJ Christian O'Connell fought off Terry Wogan to become the best breakfast presenter.

Additionally, Radio 2's Paul Gambiaccini won the title of best music presenter, while Mark Murphy of BBC Radio Suffolk was named as best news presenter and Belfast City Beat phone-in host Stephen Nolan was awarded two speech prizes.

Other station prizes went to Saga Radio - named digital station of the year - and station sound winner BBC7, with Cornwall station Pirate FM, BBC Radio Ulster and Milton Keynes' FM103 Horizon winning awards for smaller stations.


FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Music Programming Award - Daily Sequences
Late Junction - BBC Radio 3

Music Programming Award - Single Programmes
Dominic Mohan: The Who Special - Virgin Radio

Breakfast Award - Music
Christian O'Connell's Breakfast Show - XFM

Specialist Music Award
Bobby Friction and Nihal Presents - BBC Radio 1

Entertainment Award
The Jonathan Ross Show - produced by BBC Radio 2 and Off The Kerb Productions for Radio 2

'Music Special' Award
Axles, Engines, Music And Motown - produced by BBC Wales Music for Radio 4

Music Broadcaster Award
Paul Gambaccini - Howlett Media Productions and Unique The Production Company for BBC Radio 2

News Coverage Award
Today Programme: Ethiopian Famine - BBC Radio 4

News Programme Award
File on 4: Cot Deaths - BBC Radio 4

News Output Award
Andy Whittaker's Breakfast Show - Radio Derby

Sports Award
Football Finance: The Bankrupt Game - BBC Five Live

Event Award
Cheltenham Festival - BBC Five Live

News Broadcaster Award
Mark Murphy - BBC Radio Suffolk

Feature Award
The Troubles With Drugs - produced by All Out Productions for BBC Radio 1

Short Form Award
On Saying Goodbye - BBC Radio 4

Speech Award
Stark Talk: Joe Simpson - produced by Stark Productions for BBC Radio Scotland

Comedy Award
Just A Minute - BBC Radio 4

Drama Award
Runt - BBC World Service

Speech Broadcaster Award
Stephen Nolan - Belfast City Beat

Interaction Award
The Stephen Nolan Show - Belfast City Beat

Community Award
Altogether Now - BBC Radio Leeds

Competition Award
Caravan Of Doom - 102.7 Hereward FM

Station Sound Award
BBC7

Station Of The Year with less than 300,000 listeners
FM103 Horizon

Station Of The Year with 300,000 to one million listeners
Pirate FM

Station Of The Year with more than one million listeners
BBC Radio Ulster

UK Station Of The Year
BBC Radio 4

Digital Terrestrial Station Of The Year
Saga Radio

The 2002 Award
Jonathan Ross

Gold Award for Outstanding Contribution
John Humphrys