Sara Parker introduces a new generation of student features makers, all winners and finalists of the Charles Parker Prize 2023 – set up in memory of her father.

The annual Charles Parker Prize celebrates a new generation of audio producers and storytellers - open to anyone studying radio and audio at Higher or Further Education establishments across the U.K.

Broadcast through the 1950s and 60s, along with Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger, Charles Parker's series known as the 'Radio Ballads' arguably left a lasting legacy on the landscape of radio storytelling; by interweaving original musical composition with remote interview recordings, and with a focus on highlighting working class voices - a practice until then unheard on BBC radio.

Charles’ daughter Sara Parker, herself an award-winning radio producer, hears this year's very best features; woven between highlights from their features, our ten new storytellers share their experience and journey creating their prize-winning work.

An “expertly montaged” undersea dive exploring how man-made sounds threaten underwater ecologies; the “delicate and mysterious” unveiling of a serial womaniser and his hitherto undiscovered children; the “beautiful and evocative” ode to the Irish language and its ‘life force’; an “engrossing and touching” investigation into the declining numbers of wild house martins; and a startlingly vivid and intimate depiction of two siblings’ relationship with their abusive late father that judges agreed was both “captivating and horrifying”.

There are extracts from the prize-winning features of; Thea Rickard, Dom Brown, Christina Hardinge, George Ruskin, and Lottie Steele, as well as five of our finalists; Kieran Davis, Petra Jones, Lydia Kenny, Matthew Temporal, and Alice Whalley.

You can hear the five winners’ work in full in the series ‘New Storytellers’ on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

Producer: Jay Sykes

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra by Soundscape Productions.

Charles Parker Prize 2023 - BBC Radio 4 Extra

🎙 Freelance Audio Producer & Storyteller
 🎓 Lecturer (AFHEA), University of Sunderland​​​​​​​
 📻 Dramas & Docs on BBC Radio 4 / 4 Extra

 🎨 Passionate about creative narrative audio
 🥇 New York Radio Awards gold-winning producer & writer
 📖 LGBTQ+ young adult writer

Jay has been teaching at the University of Sunderland since 2015, where he specialises in audio production workshops - drama, documentary, podcasting, and audio journalism.

 📷 Profile photo by Jamie Allison

 🙋‍♂️ 31 years old, he/him
 💍 Engaged to a beautiful man named Kostas
 🐈‍⬛ Cat-dad to Bowser, Daruk, and Riju
 🏡 Sunderland, UK. Originally from Huddersfield
 🌱 Vegan for ethical reasons
 🎮 Nintendo gamer, Legend of Zelda enthusiast
 🎷 Amateur tenor saxophonist
 🇬🇷 Learning Greek (beginner)

Jay specialises in composed feature documentary and “mosaic” structures; using aspects of non-linear narrative construction, interlacing voice, music, and sound-art.

A New York Award-winner for his audio drama ‘SeaBurn’, and an avid reader of queer fiction, Jay is keen to continue developing his writing and production practice in the fictional space. Jay identifies as homoromantic, and yearns to tell stories that resonate with the queer community.

🥇 Gold winner - "Arts & Creative Radio of the Year" - Community Radio Awards 2022
🥇 Gold winner - "Podcast of the Year" - Community Radio Awards 2019
🏅 Finalist - "Best Podcast: Arts and Culture" - New York Radio Awards 2019
🥇 Gold winner - "Community Development Project of the Year - Community Radio Awards 2017
🥇 Gold winner - "Arts & Creative Radio of the Year" - Community Radio Awards 2016
🥇 Gold winner - "Best Student Drama Program" - New York Radio Awards 2015
🥉 Bronze winner - "Best Speech Programming" - Student Radio Awards 2015
🏅 Finalist - "Best Drama Producer" - Radio Production Awards 2015

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