Tinniswood Award

Anita Sullivan, winner of the 2023 Tinniswood Award. © Tricia Yourkevich / BBC

The Tinniswood Award is presented annually for the best original audio drama script of the year.

The Tinniswood Award was established by the Society of Authors and Writers’ Guild of Great Britain to perpetuate the memory of Peter Tinniswood as well as to celebrate and encourage high standards in radio drama.

Submissions will be accepted from any party (producer, broadcasting organisation, writer, agent etc.). 

Previous winners include Anita Sullivan, the late Sonya Hale, Christopher Douglas, Ian Martin, Oliver Emanuel, Sarah Woods, Morwenna Banks, Mike Bartlett, Rachel Joyce, Stephen Wyatt, Nick Warburton, Christopher William Hill and Colin Teevan.

We are grateful to ALCS for sponsoring the Tinniswood Award.​


2023

End of Transmission by Anita Sullivan

Produced by Karen Rose, Sweet Talk Productions, BBC Radio 4 (57 minutes) | Read more

2022

Blis-ta by Sonya Hale

Produced by Mimi Findlay, Clean Break, Spotify  (56 minutes 37 seconds) | Read more

2021

Tristram Shandy: In Development by Christopher Douglas

Produced by Gary Brown, BBC Radio Drama North, BBC Radio 4 (60 minutes) | Read more

2020

The Hartlepool Spy by Ian Martin

Produced by Sam Ward, BBC Studios, BBC Radio 4 (45 minutes)

2019

When the Pits Stop by Oliver Emanuel

Produced by Kirsty Williams, BBC Glasgow, BBC Radio 4 (44 minutes)

2018

Borderland by Sarah Woods

Directed by James Robinson, from an original idea by John Norton, BBC Cymru Wales, BBC Radio 4 (45 minutes)

2017

Comment is Free by James Fritz

Produced by Becky Ripley, BBC Radio & Music Bristol, BBC Radio 4 (45 minutes)

2016

Fugue State by Julian Simpson

Produced by Karen Rose, Sweet Talk Productions, BBC Radio 4 (45 minutes)

2015 

Goodbye by Morwenna Banks

2014

Marathon Tales by Colin Teevan and Hannah Silva *

Award date now reflects actual year of award and not year of broadcast.

2012

Kafka the Musical by Murray Gold *

2011

Gerontius by Stephen Wyatt *

2009

Ivan and the Dogs by Hattie Naylor

2008

Goldfish Girl by Peter Souter

2007

Memorials to the Missing by Stephen Wyatt

2006

Not Talking by Mike Bartlett and To Be a Pilgrim by Rachel Joyce

2005

Beast by Nick Warburton

2004

Norman by Mike Stott

2003

Killing Maestros by Christopher William Hill

* these years had an extended submission period of 18 months (an extra six months) to coordinate with the BBC Audio Drama Awards.

With thanks to:

The Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) – a not-for-profit organisation that works to ensure that writers are fairly compensated when their works are copied, broadcast or recorded.