Double win for BU students at Student Radio Awards

30 November 2007

Gold winner Jackie Curthoys with Channel 4 presenter Rick Edwards at the awards

Radio Production students win Gold and Silver at awards ceremony.

Jackie Curthoys, a recent graduate of our MA Radio Production course, has won Gold for Best Scripted Programme at the Student Radio Awards (SRAs), supported by BBC Radio 1.

The evening was a double celebration for BU, as Dave Dodd, also from MA Radio Production, achieved silver in the category of Best Presenter for his role on our internet radio station, BIRSt.

Jackie’s programme, entitled ‘Kwik Lit Classix presents...Wuthering Heights’, is a contemporary re-telling of the well-known Bronte story. The judges commented that "it took a relatively simple concept and gave it a novel twist, making good, effective use of simple sound effects".

In accepting her award, Jackie said: “It’s fantastic to have your work judged by industry professionals, and for them to say it’s good. I didn’t have any radio experience before I started the MA, so it’s also a huge tribute to the teaching staff and my fellow students for their support and inspiration.

“The award was sponsored by 4radio (Channel 4) who are now assigning me a mentor in the industry, and I’m currently working on a Radio 4 Archive Hour due to be broadcast in October 2008.”

In offering his congratulations, Professor of Radio, Sean Street said: “Both Jackie and Dave are original thinkers, and therefore it doesn’t surprise me that they have won the top awards. Indeed it demonstrates that wherever radio takes us in terms of technology, it is still about creating good programme ideas.”

Jackie’s success follows in the success of last year’s winner and former MA student, Kathryn McDonald, who has gone on to work in a number of high-level production jobs for independent production companies and the BBC.