2022 Winners
On 8 April the five winners of the 2022 Charles Parker Prize were announced by Hannah Sander on behalf of Richard Knight, BBC Radio 4’s Commissioning Editor for Factual Programmes. The winning features, plus a highly recommended piece by Anna Budd, were broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the New Storytellers Series and are available on BBC Radio 4’s New Storytellers website or by searching “New Storytellers” on BBC Sounds.
This year the judges were Philip Sellars, Stephanie Billen, Monica Whitlock, Alia Cassam, Tony Phillips and Simon Elmes (chair). Here are the results and the judges’ citations for the five winners and six others who were nominated for the Prize.
Gold Award
The Sound Collector – Talia Augustidis, University College London
This featured two sisters whose mother died in an accident when they were children. Together, the sisters recollect their mum as they leaf through an old exercise book in which one of them, as a child has written a poem, and three simple words: ‘My Mummy Died’. This moving and original tale about the death of a mother has, according to the judges, a wonderful, intriguing opening, gentle pace and use of poetry. ‘Such a layered piece: intelligent, probing, sensitive. A piece to makes us think and feel.’ ‘It’s cleverly elliptical, a proper feature that has great power’.
In addition to the BBC Radio 4 broadcast at 9:30am on Tuesday 9 August, Talia receives a professional SADiE Radio Producer editing system
Prizewinners
Alec Anonymous – Christina Hardinge, University College London
When a parent has a toxic relationship with alcohol, the presence of alcoholism can start to feel familiar - like a member of the family. For Katie, 'Alec' was always there - he came between Katie and her mum. But Alec isn’t a man - he is a construct, used by Katie to help describe her mother’s alcoholism and its impact on her life. Christina also adopts this device in her highly creative feature.
The judges said: This is ‘a very tough listen’ that ‘almost brought me to tears’. The programme has ‘a real creative spark as well as being very authentic and emotional’ with ‘a speaker both articulate and vulnerable. It flowed so well I barely noticed the structure.’
Christina’s piece will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at a later date.
Down on the Farm – Megan Hayward, University of Sunderland
A subject rarely spoken of – outside the confines, that is, of Farming Today – is the stressed-filled lives of Britain’s small farmers, up before dawn, not in bed often till the small hours. The multiple pressures of livestock, spiralling costs and bad weather can conspire to drive farmers to the edge of suicide, as we heard in. Megan counterpointed the narrative with a lyrical evocation of the countryside. The judges liked its ‘impressive storytelling – frank and raw and honest.’ It included ‘lovely use of song’ and was very well recorded and professional.’ ‘The poem,’ another judge observed, ‘is beautiful and well delivered’.
Megan’s piece will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 9:30am on Tuesday 19 July
Breathing Lyrical – Taqwa Sadiq, University College London
This piece dealt with Long Covid. The woman at the centre of the story found herself devoid of energy and, at a loss for a pathway to recovery, turned to the power of an ancient Persian poem to help her breathe. A ‘very unusual, interesting take on a now common problem’, said the judges. ‘The journey of the programme is beautiful, a real feature,’ a ‘fantastically interesting idea, well made’. ‘Music and effects are used with great good taste, an excellent programme.’
Taqwa’s piece will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 9:30am on Tuesday 12 July
He Wears a Mask, and His Face Grows to Fit It – Guy Gardener, Goldsmiths, University of London
The memories of a retired police officer who recalled the stresses of life on the force, having to deal daily with bereaved relatives, violence and horrific scenes of accidents were interleaved with an upbeat period recruitment film. ‘The mix is powerful’, the judges said; it was ‘interesting to hear this perspective in a beautiful interview. The stories the policeman told were ‘very vivid’ and the programme was a ‘powerful listen – a bit gruesome but not in a bad way.’
Guy’s piece will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 9:30am on Tuesday 26 July
Other Nominees
Sara’s Spirit – Anna Budd, Goldsmiths, University of London. This piece was highly recommended and was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday 2 August
This told the story of a young Australian au pair who lost her life in the London Bridge terror attack of 2017, through the poignant recollections of her mother and her stepfather. According to the judges, this was ‘a very accomplished, professional piece’, gripping, harrowing and ‘emotionally immersive’. It ‘didn’t sugarcoat the impact of the tragedy’ and had an admirably downbeat ending. ‘Very professional,’ they concluded.
Letters from a Stranger – Ella Bicknell, Leeds Trinity University
Ella had the brilliant idea of reaching out to people during the pandemic. She wrote warm letters of friendship to people she’d never met, selected randomly by postcode. Judges said it was ‘a lovely idea’, ‘nicely contained and simple in approach’. ‘Star of this piece was the random recipient of the letters, Pedro – a beautiful, thoughtful, reflective voice’. The programme was ‘a little gem about kindness and connection’.
Black Box – Charlie Billingham, Goldsmiths, University of London.
A mystery box, locked and discovered in a dusty attic lies at the heart of this feature. What lies within and what does it reveal about the maker’s father, an unassuming Mr Chips-like former Latin teacher? ‘This started so strongly,’ judges agreed, ‘exciting, elegant, with good music and effects. It was ‘very well structured’, ‘a good tale’.
Living with HIV – Kate White, University of the West of England
This feature chronicled the lives of a number of people who, despite the availability of modern and life-preserving treatments, still face a life of uncertainty and prejudice. This is a proper documentary, said the judges, ‘a good idea.’ Despite the familiarity of the topic, these subjects are less well-covered, including straight white and black women who are still facing prejudice and life-changing shock following a positive HIV diagnosis. ‘Accomplished, confident, and fascinating, an important story’, ‘with strong interviews – great to start,’ they said, ‘with a middle-aged woman’.
Finding a Voice – Gabriel Agranoff, University College London
This featured a group of women to whom this feature gave a voice and articulacy. They are women living in London for whom English is not their first language, but who’ve acquired language skills and agency thanks to a local programme of teaching and empowerment. Now, though, funding has been withdrawn and the project is to close. It’s ‘a heartfelt piece,’ said the judges, with ‘moving voices’, ‘great stories’ and ‘exceptional music’. The programme ‘took us into whole other world’ with ‘a brilliantly simple and memorable opening scene’. It’s a ‘worthy subject’ and ‘a brave piece of advocacy’.
Starting to Forget – Jaden Steele, University of Sunderland
Articulacy of a very different sort was at the heart of this searing programme, focusing on a devoted elderly Scottish couple. The problem is that the husband, tenderly looked after by his wife, suffers from dementia, though he refuses to believe his diagnosis. ‘Heartbreaking’, said the judges: as the grandfather repeats throughout “I don’t think I’ve got this dementia”. The couple’s relationship is ‘delightful and they reveal themselves as a loving and remarkable pair, broken across this horrific affliction. The programme is ‘honest, personal and really well put together.’
You can see all the nominees talking about their features to Sara Parker in a video interview.