EMBARGOED UNTIL 12.00 NOON ON Wednesday 14th November 2007
Winners will remain unaware of their awards until 12 noon on Wednesday 14th November
2007. This press release is sent to you in confidence – please do not spoil the surprise by
contacting any of the programme makers in advance
God and the Gun
John Humphrys and Martin Bell competed for top honours in this year’s Sandford St Martin
Trust Religious Radio Awards at Lambeth Palace today. The Archbishop of Canterbury
presented the Premier Award to Martin Bell’s investigation into the role of chaplains in
today’s British army – God and the Gun, produced by Phil Pegum from BBC Religion &
Ethics for BBC Radio 4. A merit award was given to Humphrys in Search of God, in which
Dr. Williams had been in conversation with John Humphrys. It was produced by David
Coomes also for BBC Radio 4. Tony Stoller, chair of the judging panel, said it was a rare
privilege to “hear our leading churchman thinking aloud to such tremendous effect”.
He described God and the Gun as “one of those programmes that gets better and better the
more you listen to it”. Martin Bell “produced the most compelling radio, with a strong sense
of place, without ever getting in the way between his subjects and their audience”.
The BBC World Service won the two remaining prizes. The Runner-Up award went to Life
Beyond Death which the judging panel felt was one of the most moving pieces of radio that
any of them had heard. In it the father of a Palestinian boy and mother of a Jewish young
man talked about the deaths of their children and the subsequent donation of some of their
organs to people across the divide. A merit award went to Matt Wells’s examination of the
proposition Do You Have to Be Religious to Get Elected? (in the USA), described by
Stoller as “a finely crafted piece of radio journalism”.
Tony Stoller appealed for more resources for radio generally and local radio in particular. He
observed that the starving of support available to local radio made it harder than ever for
programme makers there to achieve excellence.
For further information please contact Pat Spencer, Awards Administrator on 020 7898 1796
or Michael Barton the Awards Consultant on 07904 372836.
Notes to editors: The Sandford St Martin Trust was set up in 1978 to encourage excellence
in religious broadcasting and each year gives awards to both radio and television
programmes.
The judges this time were Tony Stoller, CBE (chairman), former Chief Executive, Radio
Authority and Deputy Chair, Joseph Rowntree Foundation; Andrew Brown, writer and
journalist; Dr Elizabeth Harris, Senior Lecturer in the Comparative Study of Religion
Liverpool Hope University; and Michelene Wandor, dramatist, poet, writer and broadcaster
WINNERS
Premier Award (£2,000)
God And The Gun
Broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 19 March 2007. Producer: Phil Pegum (BBC Religion &
Ethics)
What is the role of religion on the battlefield in the 21st century? Martin Bell went to Basra to
find out.
Runner-Up (£1,500)
Life Beyond Death
Broadcast on BBC World Service on 4 August 2007. Produced & written by Anne Khazam;
Editor: Emily Kasriel; Reporter Fouad Abu-Ghosh
“My son was dead but 6 Israelis now have a part of a Palestinian in them and maybe he is
still alive in them”. These were the words of a Palestinian father who donated his 12-year-old
son’s organs after he was shot by Israeli soldiers. A similar act by the parents of a Jewish
boy helped save the life of a Palestinian girl. Vera Frankl examines the generosity and faith
of the two families.
Merits (£1,000 each)
Do You Have To Be Religious To Get Elected?
Broadcast on BBC World Service on 26 July 2007. Producer: Katy Hickman; Editor: Emily
Kasriel
Matt Wells explores the influence of religion in the forthcoming presidential elections in the
United States. In this first programme he asks how central faith is in politics and whether an
atheist could ever become President.
Humphrys In Search Of God, Programme 1
Broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 31 October 2006. Producer: David Coomes; Editor: Christine
Morgan (BBC Religion & Ethics)
John Humphrys wants to believe but can’t and in this series he explores the nature of
personal faith with three leading religious figures – in this programme he talks to the
Archbishop of Canterbury.
Other programmes on the shortlist
Abolition 200: Bristol’s Church – past present & future
Broadcast on BBC Radio Bristol on 25 March 2007. Presenter: Trevor Fry, Producers: Lucy
Bull & Trevor Fry
As Bristol’s commemorations of Abolition 200 reach the anniversary, Trevor Fry looks at the
Church’s relationship to the slave trade. By 1807 over 2,100 voyages had set sail from the
port – amounting to around half a million Africans being enslaved. In spite of its power and
wealth the Church continued to defy the abolitionists.
Amazing Grace
Broadcast on BBC Radio 1Xtra on 21 March 2007. Producers: Richard Fenton-Smith &
Harshad Mistry (BBC Radio Current Affairs)
Charts the story of Gospel music’s most famous song which is told by Michelle Williams.
The contributors include the Archbishop of Canterbury.
He Is There
Broadcast on Home FM Huddersfield on 6 April 2007. Producers: Sandra Conaghan & Nick
Mangeolles (Whistling Frog Productions)
A special Good Friday feature about the United Churches Healing Ministry with the voices of
those who have used their service, including one with a troubled past.
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Broadcast on BBC Radio Nottingham on 12, 19 & 26 November 2006 as part of the Sunday
breakfast programme. Producer/reporter: Celia Kellett
In this 5-part series Celia Kellett investigates what the people of Nottingham know about the
Jehovah’s Witnesses, what it is like being brought up within the faith, and visits one of their
meeting places or Kingdom Halls.
Misunderstanding Islam
Broadcast on BBC Radio Oxford on 15 April 2007. Producers: Rich Ward & Ru Hollier (Seen
Two Productions)
In recent years Islam has had a bad press, often hysterical in tone. In this first of a 2 part
series, we hear from those who are away from the media spotlight – but increasingly affected
by it.
Something Understood
Broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 5 August 2007. Producer: Eley McAinsh; Executive Editor:
Laura Parfitt (Unique)
Mark Tully asks if spirituality would be a more effective starting point for inter-faith dialogue
than religion. He talks to Hindu activist Swami Agnisvesh.
Sunday Worship – This Is The Best Of Me
Broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 3 June 2007. Producer: Simon Vivian (BBC Religion &
Ethics)
On the 150th anniversary of the birth of Edward Elgar, the Revd Stephen Shipley led a
meditation which reflected on Elgar’s quest for spiritual truth in his sacred music. Includes
contributions from the conductor of the Halle Orchestra, Mark Elder, and pianist Stephen
Hough.
Walking In The Steps Of Christ
Broadcast on BBC Radio Wales on 6 April 2007. Producer: Lisa Hawkins
A special Good Friday programme with Antoine Rutayisire, a Tutsi who survived the
genocide in Rwanda and now dedicates his life to working for unity and reconciliation in his
country.