...but no women in the comedy categories

Alexei Sayle, Terry Alderton, Phil Wang and Mark Steel are among the nominees in this year’s  BBC Audio Drama Awards.

The shortlisted shows have been unveiled today – more than a month after the longlist, in which 11 of the 12 comedy contenders were fronted exclusively by men. The only exception was the group effort of Dead Ringers, which did not make the final cut,.

The shortlist in the comedy categories are:  

Best Scripted Comedy (Longform)

• Mark Steel’s In Town: The Forest Of Dean by Mark Steel and Pete Sinclair, producer Carl Cooper, BBC Studios, BBC Radio 4
• Phil Ellis Is Trying by Phil Ellis and Fraser Steele, producer Sam Michell, BBC Studios, BBC Radio 4
• Phil Wang: Wangsplaining by Phil Wang, producer Matt Stronge, BBC Studios, BBC Radio 4

Best Scripted Comedy (Sketch Show)

• Alexei Sayle’s Imaginary Sandwich Bar by Alexei Sayle, producer Joe Nunnery, BBC Studios, BBC Radio 4
• Kevin Eldon Will See You Now by Kevin Eldon with Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris, producer David Tyler, Pozzitive, BBC Radio 4
• Terry Alderton’s Whole Half Hour by Terry Alderton and Richard Melvin with Julia Sutherland, Paul Tonkinson, Steven Dick and Bobby Davro, producers Al Lorraine and Richard Melvin, Dabster Productions, BBC Radio 4

Meanwhile Rebecca Front has been shortlisted for best actress for her role in the Radio 4 comedy Love In Recovery 

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at BBC Broadcasting House, on London on Sunday February 2, hosted by Meera Syal.

The categories are judged by a team of industry experts including Gavin & Stacet co-creator Ruth Jones, journalist Baz Bamigboye and Catastrophe star Mark Bonnar.

The full list of nominees in other categories is:

Best Actor

Stephen Dillane, Sea Longing, director Karen Rose, Sweet Talk, BBC Radio 3

Sule Rimi, I Am Kanye West, director John Norton, BBC Cymru Wales, BBC Radio 4

Stanley Townsend, The Macefield Plot, director David Hunter, BBC Radio Drama London, BBC Radio 4

Best Actress

Rebecca Front, Love In Recovery, director Ben Worsfield, King Bert, BBC Radio 4

Katherine Kelly, A Badge, director Tony Pitts, Savvy Productions, BBC Radio 4

Lydia Wilson, Black Water: An American Story, director Gaynor Macfarlane, BBC Scotland, BBC Radio 4

Best Adaptation

Body Tourists by Jane Rogers, producer Clive Brill, Brill Productions, BBC Radio 4

Black Water: An American Story by Joyce Carol Oates, adapted by Sarah Wooley, producer Gaynor Macfarlane, BBC Scotland, BBC Radio 4

Orlando by Virginia Woolf, adapted by Caroline Bird, Amanda Dalton, Zena Edwards, Hannah Silva and Karen McCarthy Woolf, producer Nadia Molinari, BBC Radio Drama North, BBC Radio 3

Best Debut Performance

Nadia Clifford, Good News Stories, director Mary Peate, BBC Radio Drama London, BBC Radio 4

George Kent, A Kestrel For A Knave, director Fiona McAlpine, Goldhawk Essential, BBC Radio 4

Sade Malone, Torn, director Gary Brown, BBC Radio Drama North, BBC Radio 4

Best Director

Mair Bosworth, Deaf Republic, BBC Bristol, BBC Radio 4

Nicolas Jackson, Savages, Afonica, BBC Radio 4

Mary Ward-Lowery, Talk To Me: HP Lovecraft, BBC Bristol, BBC Radio 4

Best European Drama

Buzz Suppression: Recording Strictly Off The Record by Ulrich Bassenge, producers Ulrich Bassenge, Martina Müller-Wallraff and Anina Barandun, WDR (Germany) and SRF (Switzerland)

The Invisible by Jaroslav Havlíèek, adapted by Marie Nováková and Renata Venclová, producer Renata Venclová, CZR Czech Radio

When The Stars Fall: Life Fragments Of Maria Callas by Cesare Ferrario, producer Francesca Giorzi, RSI Italian Swiss Radio Television

Best Original Series or Serial

D For Dexter by Amanda Whittington, producer Mary Ward-Lowery, BBC Bristol, BBC Radio 4

Life Lines by Al Smith, producer Sally Avens, BBC Radio Drama London, BBC Radio 4

Undercover Mumbai series three by Ayeesha Menon, producers John Scott Dryden and Nadir Khan, Goldhawk Productions, BBC Radio 4

Best Original Single Drama

The Invisible by Linda Marshall Griffiths, producer Nadia Molinari, BBC Radio Drama North, BBC Radio 3

Sea Longing by Elizabeth Kuti, producer Karen Rose, Sweet Talk, BBC Radio 3

Torn by Eve Steele, producer Gary Brown, BBC Radio Drama North, BBC Radio 4

Best Podcast or Online Audio Drama

Forest 404 by Timothy X Atack, producer Becky Ripley, BBC Bristol, BBC Sounds

Passenger List created by John Scott Dryden, Lauren Shippen and Mark Henry Phillips, Goldhawk Productions, Radiotopia

The Ordinary Epic by Brandon M. Crose, producer Jordan Stillman, Crose to Home Productions

Best Use of Sound

An Angel In Miami, sound by Steve Bond, producers Joby Waldman and Steve Bond, Reduced Listening, BBC Radio 4

Hello Caller, sound by Michael Harrison and Alison Crawford, producer Alison Crawford, BBC Bristol, BBC Radio 4

The Invisible, sound by Steve Brooke, producer Nadia Molinari, BBC Radio Drama North, BBC Radio 3

The Imison Award

Bathwater, Vicky Foster, Sue Roberts (producer) for BBC Radio 4

The Beatboxer Testament, Gary Brown (producer) for BBC Radio 4

By God's Mercy, Colette Victor, David Hunter (producer) for BBC World Service

The Tinniswood Award

Death Of A Matriarch, Tanika Gupta, Polly Thomas (producer) for BBC Radio 3

A Fragile Peace, Katie Hims, Jessica Dromgoole (producer) for BBC Radio 4

The Hartlepool Spy, Ian Martin, Sam Ward (producer) for BBC Radio 4

Published: 7 Jan 2020