Going for Gold - Spiteful Puppet at the New York Radio Awards 2016 ...

I'm delighted to announce that SPITEFUL PUPPET have been nominated THREE TIMES in the NEW YORK FESTIVALS RADIO & AUDIO AWARDS which celebrate the world of radio programming on a global scale. Nominated programmes come from as far a field as Afghanistan to Australia and South Korea to the United Kingdom.

This year they have been nominated TWICE in the same category BEST AUDIO BOOK for the last two audio adventures of  the 'HOOD' series as well as picking up a nomination for BEST SPECIAL DRAMA for 'MAGNA CARTA: LEGACY', a one-off dramatisation recounting the origins of the Magna Carta which last year saw the 800th Anniversary of it's signing. 

I am very proud to be have in all three audio dramas with wonderful casts across them all ... The nomination for 'MAGNA CARTA:LEGACY' will be particularly poignant for us all with the recent sad loss of 'BLAKE'S 7' star GARETH THOMAS who voiced the lead role of Elias of Dereham in the drama. If 'MAGNA CARTA:LEGACY' was to win, it would be surely a fitting tribute to a fine actor in one of his last roles ... You can listen to it here for free ...

BBC AUDIO DRAMA AWARD Winners - SPITEFUL PUPPET came away with TWO BRONZE MEDALS last time at the 2015 Awards. I'm sure this time they'll be going for gold!!

And The Final Score is: BLAKE'S 7 - MAGNA CARTA 800 ...

JUNE 15th 2015 is MAGNA CARTA DAY!

A couple of weeks ago I had the great pleasure of meeting and working with actor GARETH THOMAS, perhaps best known for playing ROJ BLAKE in the British Sci-Fi series 'BLAKE'S 7' (1978-1981). It was such a tremendous thrill for me to work with Gareth as I was a big fan of the series growing up as a teenager. 

What was the occasion I hear you ask?! Well ... the good folk at the BBC Audio Drama Award Winning SPITEFUL PUPPET had been commissioned by Salisbury Cathedral to produce a standalone audio drama for visitors to listen to as they walk around the new exhibition to mark the 800th Anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta. The 30 minute drama entitled 'MAGNA CARTA: LEGACY' was terrific fun to record and listening to the final result it's fair to say that Spiteful Puppet have produced yet another authentic period piece! No surprise really after their wonderful work on the Robin Hood reboot 'HOOD', which I was fortunate to work on with them playing BROTHER TUCK. 

Cast from left to right: Gareth Thomas, Sean Connolly, Peter Greenall, Damian Cooper and Ian Brooker. The director was Iain Meadows and the play was written by Kelly Dobitz.

Four members of the 'HOOD' cast were involved in recording the Magna Carta piece, joined of course by Gareth. The play (as does the exhibition) explores the link between Elias of Dereham (Gareth Thomas), the right hand man of Archbishop Stephen Langton (me!) and a key negotiator between the Barons and the King, and Salisbury Cathedral’s Magna Carta. Present at Runnymede, Elias had the responsibility of distributing the charter across England in 1215 and began masterminding the construction of Salisbury Cathedral five years later.

The cathedral now is home to the "finest preserved" of the four original copies of the historic charter. Signed by King John at Runnymede in 1215, it is seen as the foundation of constitutional law in England. Outlining basic rights with the principle that no-one was above the law, including the king, the Magna Carta charted the right to a fair trial and limits on taxation without representation.