"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.

3 nominations for awards including 1 Sony Award nomination

3 programmes I have worked on recently have been nominated for awards Firstly a Sony Award nomination for Best Community Programming 


Nomination - Divided we Fall

Christopher Mann Executive Producer
Polly Thomas Drama Producer
Mike Harris Writer
Kev Curtis Composer
Mike Thornton Editor
Sohail Nawaz Project Originator
Val Wallace Production Manager

Mannmade Productions for Preston FM

Then 2 programmes I have worked on have been shortlisted for the Sandford St. Martin Radio Awards...

The Story of the King James Bible – Broadcast by BBC Radio 4 on 5th January 2011.  Producer Rosie Dawson and Presented by James Naughtie.

The King James Bible is everywhere – in  commercials, film titles, novels, music, even the way we speak.    “The Great monument to English prose” but how and why has it achieved such status? In the final programme to mark the 400th anniversary, James Naughtie assesses the legacy of the King James Bible.

The Choice – Heather Pratten – Broadcast by BBC Radio 4 on 12 August 2010. Producers  Dawn Bryan and Amanda Hancox. Presented by Michael Buerk.

Heather Pratten’s life has been dogged by Huntington’s chorea which  is an inherited condition that attacks the brain and destroys the personality before leading to a slow and painful death. It turned her husband from a kind man into a stranger and now she has to watch her children to see where and how it would appear in the next generation. 

The Sony Radio Academy Awards winners will be announced on the evening of Monday, May 9th at The Grosvenor House Hotel, London and The Sandford St. Martin Trust 2011 Awards will be presented at Lambeth Palace on Tuesday 17th May.