From Humphrys to Peel: who's the best radio broadcaster?

By Jonathan Brown

Wednesday, 28 March 2007

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Radio performers living and dead will be enterednext month in an event to find "the broadcasters' broadcaster" as a way of marking 25 years of the Sony radio awards.

One hundred prominent people in British radio are being asked to vote, from a shortlist of 25 names, for who they think provided, or provides, the best voiceon microphone.

The list ranges from the late John Peel and Alistair Cooke through a variety of stylesto Tony Blackburn and Alan "Fluff" Freeman.

Prominent on the list is the Today presenter John Humphrys who is nominated in two other categories - news journalist and speech broadcaster of the year. Radio 4's Today programme is nominated in a further three categories while its reporter Mike Thomson is shortlisted for news journalist of the year.

Organisers said the strong showing of Today marked the enduring appeal of news and current affairs on radio, with speech programming enjoying a particularly strong showing despite the advance of new technologies. Sony described this year's awards as a barometer of new listening habits in the wake of digital downloads and the decline of jukebox radio.

But, in what will be seen as an old-style embarrassment for the BBC, Radio 4's flagship morning show will not be competing against the corporation's two other big names for the best breakfast show category. Neither the self-styled saviour of Radio 1, Chris Moyles, nor the Radio 2 stalwart Terry Wogan have been nominated.

Meanwhile, the BBC's £6m signing, Jonathan Ross, is shortlisted in only one category, as music personality of the year. He will be up against Chris Evans, Andy Kershaw, Mark Radcliffe and XFM Scotland's Dominik Diamond

Meanwhile, Clint Boon, whose Farfisa organ and pudding-bowl haircut helped create the sound and look of late-1980s Madchester, could prove a surprise winner in the best music broadcaster category. Having found himself virtually penniless following the split from his band Inspiral Carpets in 1995, Boon has successfully established himself as a DJ. He joined Manchester's Xfm at its launch last year and hosts weekday evening and Saturday shows.

He will be competing against Radio 1's Colin Murray and Jo Whiley as well as her former Evening Session colleague Steve Lamacq, now on the digital channel BBC 6 Music.

Classic FM will be hoping to reclaim its title as station of the year, last won in 2000, against two other previous winners, BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2. The former Sex Pistols' manager Malcolm McLaren is nominated in the special music category for his Musical Map of London for Radio 2.

Sony's Tim Blackmore said: "It is a testimony to the respect in which these awards are held that after 25 years of their existence this year's event attracted the all time highest number of entries. In our multi-platform, multi-media world, it is so good to have such solid confirmation that the creative use of audio continues to excite listeners and practitioners alike."

The results will be announced at an awards ceremony in the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane in London on 30 April.

An A-Z of radio greats: the 25 names on the shortlist

Danny Baker

A former Sony winner, now at BBC London

Zoë Ball

The first female Radio 1 breakfast presenter

Tony Blackburn

A Radio 1 original now at Capital Gold

Alistair Cooke

Creator of Letter from America

Noel Edmonds

From Radio 1 to Deal or No Deal on daytime television