Laura Smyth wins gold at Radio Academy Awards 2024
- Gold: Laura Smyth: I Don't Know What To Say; Silver: The Skewer; Bronze: Kathy Burke's Where There's A Will, There's A Wake
- John Robins revealing his struggles with alcohol addiction was named Moment of the Year
- Bronze in Best New Podcast category: James Acaster's Springleaf; Bronze in Best Audiobook: Alan Partridge: Big Beacon
Radio 4 stand-up show Laura Smyth: I Don't Know What To Say has been awarded the gold prize in the Comedy Award category at the ARIAS 2024, the audio awards run by the Radio Academy.
The programme was described as an "engaging, funny and moving stand-up special about how humans respond when faced with difficult news.
"Centred around her own experiences with breast cancer, and using funny and shocking anecdotes, Laura Smyth asks what the 'correct' things to say are when trying to support a loved one, and why we so often find ourselves screwing it up. A confessional and cathartic evening of comedy around a topic that is still taboo for many."
The single-episode special, which was first broadcast in November, was produced by Sasha Bobak for BBC Studios. It is still available to listen to via BBC Sounds
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The silver award in the Comedy category went to The Skewer, with judges picking Kathy Burke's podcast Where There's A Will, There's A Wake for the bronze placing.
The other nominees were Forth At The Fringe, Help I Sexted My Boss, Manx Radio's IM1: A NEW HOPE - LIVE!, James Acaster's scripted podcast Springleaf, Radio Ulster format Tell Teresa and The Frank Skinner Show on Absolute Radio.
The results were announced last night (8th June) at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in a ceremony hosted by Alice Levine and Romesh Ranganathan.
Elsewhere in the awards James Acaster was given Bronze in the Best New Podcast category for Springleaf and, in the Best Audiobook or Reading list, Steve Coogan was recognised with a Bronze award for Alan Partridge: Big Beacon.
Meanwhile the Radio Times Moment of the Year - which was voted for by the public - was presented to John Robins for the radio clip in which he revealed his struggles with alcohol addiction and his journey of recovery on the BBC Radio 5 Live show he hosts with Elis James.
He tweeted: "Thank you so much to everyone who voted for us and those who have contacted us about their own sober journey. It's a privilege to broadcast with my friend every week."
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In total, there were trophies across 27 categories, with other winners including Scott Mills, Marianna Spring and BBC Asian Network. The ceremony also saw tributes paid to the late Annie Nightingale and Steve Wright. A full list of winners across all categories can be seen via radioacademy.org