The Audio and Radio Industry Awards, or ARIAS, often called the “Oscars of audio” by those in the know, took place on Wednesday this week. Originally dominated by traditional radio, recent years have seen a flood of awards for podcasters.
In the Best Entertainment category, Gold went to Josie Long for the now cancelled Short Cuts on BBC Radio 4. Silver went to Alice Levine and Matt Forde’s British Scandal and Bronze went to Help I Sexted My Boss with William Hanson and Jordan North.
“Sexted” also received Bronze in the Best Comedy category, whilst Green Wing: Resuscitated got Silver and BBC Radio 4’s The Skewer achieved Gold. In the best Factual Series category, Grenfell: Building a Disaster was Gold, Silver went to County Lines and The Trapped by Daniel Hewitt and ITV News got Bronze.
Finally, One Hundred and Fifty Days received the Best Drama or Fiction Award, Silver went to Audible’s 1984 and Bronze went to Life & Time on BBC Radio 4.
As I write this column on a Friday, I’m not able to confirm how well we did at Eurovision, so just so I have my bases covered and ask you to edit as appropriate. Wow the United Kingdom, we are finally back on top again. I always knew we would make it! OR For goodness sake why isn’t our act ever decent enough?
For the latest on the winner and overview of this year’s contest, follow The Official Eurovision Podcast and the (unofficial but brilliant) Euro Trip Podcast.
Oh, and even though this is a UK-centric column I have to tell you about a great US podcast that I have been enjoying lately. Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer looks at how the former mayor of Cincinnati became the host of one of the most controversial and notorious television shows of all time. It has a great level of detail, much more so than Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action on Netflix.
