Shortlist released

Bridget Christie, Olga Koch and axed topical programme Newsjack have all been shortlisted for a BBC award.

They are in the running for the BBC Audio Drama Awards, which also recognises comedy.

Up for Best Scripted Comedy (Longform) areL

• Bridget Christie: Mortal by Bridget Christie, producer Carl Cooper, BBC Studios for Radio 4
• Charles Paris: A Deadly Habit by Jeremy Front, an amateur detective story from the novels of Simon Brett, producer Sally Avens, BBC Audio Drama London for Radio 4
• God Squad by Jack Chisnall and Barney Fishwick, producer David Tyler, Pozzitive for Radio 4
• The Musical Life of… Betsi Cadwaladr by Dan Kiss and Dave Cribb, producers Tom Price and Dave Cribb, Rubber Chicken for Radio Walees
• Olga Koch: OK Computer, stand-up show based on Benjamin Sutton, BBC Studios for Radio 4
• Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Austen, a one-off show starring Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders star as respected novelist Florence and movie star Selina, written by David Quantick, produced by Liz Anstee of CPL Productions for Radio 4

Up for Best Scripted Comedy (Sketch Show) are:

• The Damien Slash Mixtape by Daniel Barker, producer Benjamin Sutton, BBC Studios for Radio 4
• Drop the Dead Panda East Asian themed comedy show by Evelyn Mok, Ken Cheng, Amille Jampa-Ngoen, Vivian Xie, Joanne Lao, Bruce Tang, producer Sam Michell, BBC Studios for Radio 4
• Gemma Arrowsmith  by Gemma Arrowsmith, producer Victoria Lloyd, Mighty Bunny Productions for Radio 4. It also starred With Tom Crowley, Adam Courting, Hugh Dennis & Susan Harrison.
• Newsjack, Series 24 by presenter Kiri Pritchard-McLean and members of the  public. Producers Gwyn Rhys-Davies and Hayley Sterling, BBC Studios
• The Skewer by creator and producer Jon Holmes with members of the public, Unusual Productions
• Sound Heap by John-Luke Roberts, with Cariad Lloyd, Charlie George, Deborah Frances-White, Gareth Gwynn, Katherine Parkinson, Katy Brand, Ken Cheng, Kieran Hodgson, Paddy Gervers, Ruth Bratt, Saima Ferdows, Sooz Kempner, Amy Gledhill & Chris Cantrill, Tom Allen, Tom Neenan and Toussaint Douglass, producer Ed Morrish, Lead Mojo.

The 24th series of Newsjack was the last, the BBC announced after it ended in September. Previous presenters inlcuded Miles Jupp, Romesh Ranganthan and Nish Kumar.

BBC bosses have vowed that another open-access topical programme, inviting contributions from the public, will take its place.

The winners of the BBC Audio Drama Awards will be announced in London on Sunday March 20.

Published: 22 Dec 2021