The Radio Academy ARIAS 2024, hosted by Alice Levine and Romesh Ranganathan, took place tonight at London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The winners of 27 awards were announced, including Best Music Entertainment, Best New Podcast, The Comedy Award, Best Local Radio Show and Network of the Year, as well as a special award bestowed by the trustees of The Radio Academy, The Pioneer Award.
After another landmark year for the audio and radio industry, the ARIAS celebrated some of the most inspiring achievements of UK individuals, networks and stations over the last 12 months. Created by The Radio Academy, a charity dedicated to supporting people in audio and radio, The ARIAS is an inspiring evening committed to shining a light on audio's thriving community.
Attendees this year included Greg James, Vick Hope, Marvin Humes, Trevor Nelson, Jane Garvey and Fi Glover, Jamie Laing, Nish Kumar, Rick Edwards, Ken Bruce, Nicole Appleton, Lauren Laverne and many more. KISS FM's Sam Darlastan, a former Radio Academy 30 Under 30, also hosted backstage interviews with winners.
Rugby League legend Rob Burrow MBE took home two gold awards for Best New Podcast and The Creative Innovation. He also won silver in the Best New Presenter category for his podcast, Seven: Rob Burrow. Produced by BBC Radio Leeds, the one-of-a-kind podcast is hosted by Rob alongside his wife Lindsey. He asks seven questions to a range of sporting greats using an eye gaze machine due to having Motor Neurone Disease.
Rob Burrow gave a speech using his eye gaze machine, showing off his personality to the audience as he said, "What a result - the last big trophy I lifted wasn't as big as this but it's certainly as special. This is the first time someone like me with Motor Neurone Disease has been given the opportunity. Thanks for being brave enough to give me the microphone and trusting I won’t say something inappropriate. Hope everyone has a great night and doesn’t get too drunk at the after party..."
Radio trailblazer Annie Nightingale MBE was honoured with the Pioneer Award posthumously for her vital contribution to the broadcast industry and for paving the way for talented women and non-binary people in the electronic music scene. BBC 6 Music's Lauren Laverne and BBC Radio 1's Martha were joined onstage by Annie's daughter Lucy who gave an emotional speech about how grateful she is to the ARIAS for supporting Annie Nightingale's scholarship programme and continuing her legacy. Their speech was accompanied by clips from Annie's documentary and photos of her throughout the years.
The radio industry also joined together to pay tribute to the late Steve Wright. Lead singer of Scottish rock band Wet Wet Wet, Marti Pellow, gave a special music performance onstage of his song 'Wichita Lineman' – a regular track that Steve played on his BBC Radio 2 Sunday Love Songs show and personal favourite. A tribute video was also played to the audience with familiar names including Sara Cox, Sarah Millican, Vernon Kay, Craig David, Jon Culshaw, Gary Davies, Greg James, Ken Bruce, Tony Blackburn, Chris Moyles, followed by a huge applause and some tears in the audience.
Regional and local radio took home 11 Gold awards including Forth 1's Boogie in the Morning for Best Music Breakfast Show; Pulse 1 Breakfast with Mylo & Rosie for Best Local Show; BBC Radio Manchester for The John Myers Station of the Year Award and BBC Radio Newcastle won The Impact Award and Best Speech Breakfast Show.
Further wins across the evening included BBC Radio 2 Scott Mills for Best Music Entertainment Show, Absolute Radio's Tim's Listening Party for Best New Radio Show; Marianna Spring for Best Speech Presenter; Prison Radio Association's Free Flow for Best Specialist Music Show; The Royal National Institute of Blind People for Community Station of the Year; Goldhawk Productions' The Sisters for Best Drama and BBC Asian Network was crowned winner the prestigious UK Station of the Year.
BBC 5 Live's 'John Robins reveals his struggles with alcohol addiction and his journey of recovery' won the popular public-voted Radio Times Moment of the Year which gained over 20,700 votes this year.
Full List of Winners
BEST NEW PRESENTER
GOLD WINNER
Caroline Steel
BBC Science Radio Unit
SILVER
Rob Burrow
BBC Radio Leeds
BRONZE
Ali Ali
Prison Radio Association
BEST NEW RADIO SHOW
Supported by Carver PR
GOLD WINNER
Tim's Listening Party
Absolute Radio
SILVER
Unexpected Elements
BBC World Service
BRONZE
Takeover Tuesdays
Prison Radio Association
BEST NEW PODCAST
GOLD
Seven: Rob Burrow
BBC Radio Leeds
SILVER
Near Death
BFBS
BRONZE
Springleaf
Mighty Bunny
BEST SPEECH PRESENTER
GOLD WINNER
Marianna Spring
BBC Radio 4
SILVER
Zak and Jules
Prison Radio Association
BRONZE
Jack Boswell
Flanuer Productions
BEST SPEECH BREAKFAST SHOW
GOLD WINNER
Matt Bailey at Breakfast
BBC Radio Newcastle
SILVER
talkSPORT Breakfast
talkSPORT
BRONZE
5 Live Breakfast
BBC Radio 5 Live
BEST NEWS COVERAGE
Supported by Radio News Hub
GOLD WINNER
Shiny Bob: The Devil's Advocate
BBC Scotland News
SILVER
Israel-Hamas War Coverage
Times Radio
BRONZE
Pod Save the UK
Reduced Listening / Crooked Media
BEST SPORTS COVERAGE
GOLD WINNER
GameDay
talkSPORT
SILVER
Everton: Nothing Will Be The Same
BBC Studios
BRONZE
Sportsworld
BBC World Service
BEST COVERAGE OF AN EVENT
GOLD WINNER
Windrush 75
Spiritland Productions for BBC Radio 2
SILVER
Clyde 1 The First 50 years
Clyde 1
BRONZE
The Great North Run
Metro Radio
THE COMEDY AWARD
GOLD WINNER
Laura Smyth: I Don't Know What To Say
BBC Studios
SILVER
The Skewer
unusual for BBC Radio 4
BRONZE
Where There's A Will, There's A Wake with Kathy Burke
Sony Music
BEST MUSIC BREAKFAST SHOW
Supported by PRS & PPL
GOLD WINNER
Boogie in the Morning
Forth 1
SILVER
Pulse 1 Breakfast with Mylo and Rosie
Pulse 1
BRONZE
The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show
BBC Radio 2
BEST MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT SHOW
GOLD WINNER
Scott Mills
BBC Radio 2
SILVER
National Prison Radio's Rock Show
Prison Radio Association
BRONZE
Penny Smith
Scala Radio
BEST SPECIALIST MUSIC SHOW
GOLD WINNER
Free Flow
Prison Radio Association
SILVER
Classical Connections Radio with Alexis Ffrench
Apple Music Radio
BRONZE
Folk on Foot
Matthew Bannister
BEST MUSIC SPECIAL
GOLD WINNER
21st Century Folk
7digital Creative for BBC Radio 2
SILVER
Change Your Tune
Podcart for The Bach Choir
BRONZE
How The UK Changed Hip Hop Forever with Ashley Walters
BBC Audio
BEST FACTUAL - SINGLE PROGRAMME
GOLD WINNER
File on 4 - Jon Holmes, Generation Shame
BBC Radio 4
SILVER
Children Locked Away: Britain's Modern Bedlam
Tortoise Media
BRONZE
Inside an Autistic Mind
Boffin Media for BBC News World Service
BEST FACTUAL - SERIES
GOLD WINNER
Terri White: Finding Britain's Ghost Children
BBC Radio 5 Live
SILVER
White Smoke: America's Chemsex Killer
Whistledown Productions
BRONZE
I Am Not Nicholas
BBC Studios for Audible
BEST DRAMA
GOLD WINNER
The Sisters
Goldhawk Productions for Realm FM, in association with Lights out
SILVER
Sherlock & Co
Goalhanger
BRONZE
Hamlet Noir
Almost Tangible for BBC Radio 3
BEST AUDIOBOOK OR READING
GOLD WINNER
Open Throat
BBC Audio Wales and the West of England
SILVER
Rave New World
Bonnier Books UK
BRONZE
Alan Partridge: Big Beacon
Orion Publishing
BEST STATION SOUND
GOLD WINNER
BBC Radio 1Xtra
SILVER
Absolute Radio
BRONZE
talkSPORT
BEST COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIP
GOLD WINNER
A Place To Call Home
Audio Always
SILVER
Change Your Tune
Podcart for The Bach Choir
BRONZE
Today with tonies
Mags Creative
BEST LOCAL SHOW
Supported by RCS
GOLD WINNER
Pulse 1 Breakfast with Mylo & Rosie
Pulse 1
SILVER
The Graham Liver Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Lancashire
BRONZE
Boogie in the Morning
Forth 1
THE IMPACT AWARD
GOLD WINNER
Stoma Swimmer
BBC Radio Newcastle
SILVER
Seven: Rob Burrow
BBC Radio Leeds
BRONZE
Different: Nicky Campbell
BBC Radio 5 Live and Audio Always
THE CREATIVE INNOVATION AWARD
Supported by All In Media/Xperi
GOLD WINNER
Seven: Rob Burrow
BBC Radio Leeds
SILVER
My Dream Dinner Party: Series 5
Tuning Fork for BBC Radio 4
BRONZE
Hamlet Noir
Almost Tangible for BBC Radio 3
THE GRASSROOTS AWARD
Supported by BBC Sounds
GOLD WINNER
Three Ways to Save a Life
BBC Radio Manchester
SILVER
300 Seconds Podcast
Ocean Youth Radio
BRONZE
Life After Prison
Prison Radio Association
COMMUNITY STATION OF THE YEAR
GOLD WINNER
RNIB Connect Radio
SILVER
Radio Platfform
BRONZE
ALL FM
THE JOHN MYERS STATION OF THE YEAR AWARD
Supported by News Broadcasting
GOLD WINNER
BBC Radio Manchester
SILVER
Reform Radio
BRONZE
Clyde 1
UK STATION OR NETWORK OF THE YEAR
Supported by Arqiva
GOLD WINNER
BBC Asian Network
SILVER
talkSPORT
BRONZE
Fun Kids
RADIO TIMES MOMENT OF THE YEAR
Voted by the public
GOLD WINNER
John Robins reveals his struggles with alcohol addiction and his journey of recovery
BBC Radio 5 Live
SILVER
Ken Bruce joins Greatest Hits Radio
Greatest Hits Radio
BRONZE
Luton Town are promoted to the Premier League
BBC 3 Counties
THE PIONEER AWARD
GOLD WINNER
Annie Nightingale
Pictured: Romesh Ranganathan & Alice Levine, Lindsey & Rob Burrow, Elis James & John Robins, Trevor Nelson
