The Imison Award (£3,000) celebrates the best in new writing for the medium of audio drama.
The prize was established in 1994 in memory of Richard Imison, a BBC script editor and producer, to acknowledge the encouragement, support and friendship he invariably gave to all writers, and particularly those working in the medium of radio.
The award is presented annually to an audio drama script by a writer new to the medium and which, in the opinion of the judges, is the best of those submitted.
Submissions will be accepted from any party (producer, broadcasting organisation, writer, agent etc.).
Previous winners include Faebian Averies, Fraser Ayres, Vicky Foster, Adam Usden, Mike Bartlett, Gabriel Gbadamosi, Murray Gold and Nell Leyshon.
We are grateful to the Peggy Ramsay Foundation and Hawthornden for sponsoring the 2025/2026 Imison Award.
If you have any questions about the prize, please contact Sophia A Jackson.
2024
Benny & Hitch by Andrew McCaldon
Produced by Neil Varley and Tracey Neale, BBC Audio Drama Wales, BBC Radio 3 | Read more
2023
The Making of a Monster by Connor Allen
Produced by Emma Harding, BBC Cymru Wales, for BBC Radio (44 minutes) | Read more
2022
The Lemonade Lads by Faebian Averies
Produced by James Robinson, BBC Cymru Wales, for BBC Radio (44 minutes) | Read more
2021
Maynard by Fraser Ayres
Produced by Mel Harris, Sparklab Productions, BBC Radio 4 (44 minutes) | Read more
2020
Bathwater by Vicky Foster
Produced by Sue Roberts, BBC Radio Drama, BBC Radio 4 (44 minutes)
2019
Of a Lifetime by Lulu Raczka
Produced by Polly Thomas, BBC Radio 3 (30 minutes)
2018
The Book of Yehudit by Adam Usden
Produced by Charlotte Riches, BBC Radio Drama Salford, BBC Radio 4 (45 minutes)
2017
Comment is Free by James Fritz
Produced by Becky Ripley, BBC Radio & Music Bristol
2016
30 Eggs by Eoin O’Connor
Produced by Gemma McMullen, BBC Drama Belfast, BBC Radio 4
2015
How to Say Goodbye Properly by E.V. Crowe
2014
The Loving Ballad of Captain Bateman by Joseph Wilde with the composer Tim van Eyken*
From this point the award date now reflects actual year of award and not year of broadcast
2012
Do You Like Banana, Comrade? by Csaba Székely*
2010
Amazing Grace by Michelle Lipton
2009
The Road Wife by Eoin McNamee
2008
Girl From Mars by Lucy Caldwell
2007
The Magician’s Daughter by Adam Beeson
2006
Not Talking by Mike Bartlett
2005
Mixed Blood by Nazrin Choudhury
2004
Mr Sex by Steve Coombes
2003
All You on the Good Earth by Stephen Sharkey
2002
Milk by Nell Leyshon and Stephen McAnena and The Skategrinder by Celia Bryce
2001
The Waltzer by Rhiannon Tise
2000
Electricity by Murray Gold
1999
A Matter of Interpretation by Peter Morgan
1998
Skin Deep by Ben Cooper
1997
Earthquake Girl by Katie Hims
1996
Wilde Belles by Rosemary Kay and Holy Secrets by John Waters
1995
I Luv You Jimmy Spud by Lee Hall
1994
Daisy the Cow Who Talked by Gerry Stembridge and Kissing the Gargoyle by James Stock
1993
The Long, Hot Summer of ’76 by Gabriel Gbadamosi
* These two 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 Peggy Ramsay Foundation seeks to perpetuate Peggy Ramsay’s ideals, by directly helping dramatists at very different stages of experience in ways which it is determined to keep as quick and unbureaucratic as possible.
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.