"Divided We Fall" wins Sony Award

Polly Thomas (Drama Producer) Chris Mann (Executive Producer – with award) Sohail Nawaz (Programme originator)  Val Wallace (Production Manager)

At last night’s Sony Radio Academy Awards, Mannmade Production’s drama serial “Divided We Fall” which was edited by Mike Thornton, and made for Preston FM won the Bronze Sony in the “Best Community Programming” category. It was the brainchild of Sohail Nawaz and his Northwest Muslim Community organisation, Shanbash.  Sohail is always looking for new ways to convey the message that the majority of Muslims are peace-loving and law abiding citizens and he hit on the idea of a radio soap to illustrate the paths to extremism. Mannmade Productions was commissioned to make the twenty part serial which was recorded in BBC Manchester’s drama studio, with sound design and editing by Mike Thornton and transmitted on Preston FM.  Chris Mann, the executive producer said:

“I’m delighted this gripping serial has been awarded a Sony.  It’s refreshing to make a drama with the freedom of expression a good community station can give you.   Preston youth were enlisted to give insight into their problems and street-cred to the dialogue, enabling the soap to bring to life the inexorable path to extremism and the tradgedy of violence”

Of Mike’s cotribution Chris Mann said….

We are all very pleased and you must take credit for all you did to keep the show on the road!

This is what the Sony Award judges had to say…

Preston FM Community Radio has taken a very difficult subject, directly relevant to the diverse communities they serve, and tackled it in a brave and accessible manner. Through the innovative use of drama they have raised awareness of the complexity of the issues around violent extremism, faith communities and social exclusion and used the medium of radio to increase public understanding.