Chris Addison scoops Sony Award

Chris Addison has won the top award for radio comedy for his show The Ape That Got Lucky.

He scooped the Gold Sony Award for Comedy for his Radio 4 programme, which charted he evolution of man. It was originally performed at the Edinburgh Fringe before being adapted for radio.

In award him the prize, judges said: ‘The sheer concentration of gags, asides and original thoughts really sets this show apart.

‘It never deviates far from its theme, and satisfies on all levels: intelligent subject matter, sharp writing, and a staggeringly high joke rate, matched by impressive performances.’

The programme was co-written with Carl Cooper and the cast also included Jo Enright, Geoffrey McGivern, Dan Tetsell and John Shrapnel.

The silver award went to David Mitchell and Robert Webb’s That Mitchell & Webb Sound on Radio 4. Their citation read: ‘They have such a refreshing and unlikely sound, which makes them extremely engaging. Even when tackling familiar themes, the spin they put on them is always surprising and funny’

And the bronze went to Radio 4’s Flight Of The Conchords, described as ‘deceptively effortless comedy which draws the listener into a strangely ordinary world without apparently trying. The relaxed, uncontrived dialogue is a real breath of fresh air.’

Also nominated was an episode of Radio One’s Milk Run performed by Andrew Lawrence (‘dark, deep and disturbing. Beautifully written and performed, with an equally hypnotic music component, tailored to the network.’) and Radio 2’s Lee Mack Show (‘a traditional radio comedy format given a modern reworking by an irresistibly funny performer.’)

In a separate category, comic Justin Moorhouse had been nominated for the interactive award for his show on Manchester’s Key 106 – but he was beaten to it by Radio 1’s Scott Mills.

In their citation, judges said: ‘Justin Moorhouse is cheeky, funny and irreverent, but leaves a lot of  space for his listeners to be all of these things too.’

Comics Gary Delaney and Tom Binns also contributed to the success of Kerrang! radio in the West Midlands, as writers of the comic jingles and inserts that contributed to its Gold awards for station imaging and best promotional campaign.

Published: 9 May 2006