Exemplar Best Series WINNER

Last night at the BBC Audio Drama Awards, Exemplar, which I co-wrote with Ben & Max Ringham, won Best Series or Serial. The judges said:

In a diverse field one entry was a standout. With strong performances from the entire cast and exceptionally detalled, evocative foley work, this was a fusion of form, content and medium: a credible world of political intrigue which demands further listening - with surprising plot twists often hanging on the evidence of audio files. For sheer originality, dramatie heat and technical innovation, we award the Best Series Award to ... EXEMPLAR for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

It was a lovely, surprising win against strong competition, including the very lovely (and very different) Song of the Reed by my friend Steve Waters and This Thing of Darkness produced by the brilliant Kirsty Williams. The award was presented by the wonderful Monica Dolan. Joining us in the winning party were producer Joby Waldman, codirecter Jade Lewis and actor Shvorne Marks.

Not to toot my own horn, but also earlier in the ceremony, they said they’d asked people in the BBC to nominate the greatest radio dramas of all time. There were probably around 25-30 titles mentioned, including the obvious (and correct!) Under Milk Wood, Lord of the Rings and more - but they also mentioned two of mine: Emile Zola: Blood, Sex & Money and My Life is a Series of People Saying Goodbye. Samuel Beckett only got one. In yer FACE, Sam.

We’re keen to do a second series so more on that story when we get it.

The award itself

Me with the award at the after-show party

Ben saying very nice things about me in the acceptance speech