The BBC has revealed the winners of the 2025 Audio Drama Awards, celebrating talent and creativity in the field of audio drama and comedy.

The ceremony included a posthumous Outstanding Contribution award for much-missed producer Bill Dare, given in recognition of his huge influence on comedy, and particularly his contribution to audio comedy on BBC Radio 4. Dare, who tragically passed away earlier this month following an accident overseas, leaves behind a legacy of award-winning satirical programmes for radio and TV, including Dead Ringers, which is set to mark its 25th anniversary on Radio 4 later this year, Spitting Image, and recent Radio 4 comedy The Island starring Stephen Mangan.

Julia McKenzie, BBC Radio 4’s Commissioner for Comedy, said, "Bill Dare's contribution to comedy is unparalleled. He brought joy to so many listeners and his unique talent is hugely missed. This award is a tribute to his legendary status and the immense impact he had on comedy, at BBC Radio 4 and beyond."

Further comedy winners were the late Janey Godley, Travis Jay and Rosie Cavaliero.

Full List of Winners of the 2025 Audio Drama Awards:

• Best Original Single Drama: The Invitation by Katherine Chandler, produced by John Norton, for BBC Audio Wales & West. Special commendation for Nearly Light by Kit Withington, produced by Jelena Budimir at Naked Productions for BBC Radio 4.

• Best Original Series or Serial: Life Lines by Al Smith, produced by Sally Avens at BBC Studios Audio London for BBC Radio 4.

• Best Adaptation: Tam O’Shanter by Robert Burns, adapted by Gary McNair, produced by Kirsty Williams for BBC Audio Scotland. Special commendation for Love and Information by Caryl Churchill, produced by Mary Peate and Jessica Dromgoole at Hooley Productions for BBC Radio 4.

• Best Actor: Sean Bean for his role in Antigone, directed by Pauline Harris at BBC Studios Audio London for BBC Radio 3.

• Best Actress: Cecilia Appiah for her role in Oleanna, directed by Gary Brown for BBC Studios Audio Salford. Special commendations for Michelle Fairley in Hello, I Appear to Have Killed My Husband, directed by Kirsty Williams for BBC Audio Scotland, and Kate O’Flynn in Spores, directed by Nicolas Jackson at Afonica for BBC Radio 3.

• Best Comedy Performance: Rosie Cavaliero in The Train at Platform 4, produced by James Robinson at BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4.

• The Marc Beeby Award for Best Debut Performance: Mae Munuo in Tribe of Two, directed by Jesse Fox at Afonica for BBC Radio 4.

• Best Sitcom or Comedy Drama: Rum Punch by Travis Jay, produced by Daisy Knight at Avalon for BBC Radio 4.

• Best Stand Up or Sketch Comedy: Janey Godley: the C Bomb Series 2 by Janey Godley with Ashley Storrie, produced by Richard Melvin at Dabster Productions for BBC Radio 4. Special commendation for Munya Chawawa’s Election Doom Scroll by Munya Chawawa, Matthew Crosby, James Farmer, and Joe McArdle, produced by Jo Maney and Ben Wicks at Expectation TV for BBC Radio 4.

• Best Use of Sound: Restless Dreams, sound by Eloise Whitmore, produced by Eloise Whitmore and Polly Thomas at Naked Productions for BBC Radio 4.

• Best Podcast Audio Drama: The Skies Are Watching, written and produced by Jon Frechette and Todd Luoto at Goldhawk Productions for BBC Radio 4. Special commendation for Central Intelligence by Greg Haddrick, produced by John Scott Dryden and Emma Hearn at Goldhawk Productions, and executive-produced by Howard Stringer and Jeremy Fox, for BBC Radio 4. Central Intelligence also received an Outstanding Contribution Award.

• Best European Drama: The Fall of Lapinville by Benjamin Abitan, produced by Chloé Asous-Plunian for Arte Radio, France.

• Imison Award: Tether by Isley Lynn, produced by Fay Lomas at BBC Audio Wales and West for BBC Radio 4.

• Tinniswood Award: Man Friday by Edson Burton, produced by Mary Ward-Lowery at BBC Audio Wales and West for BBC Radio 4.