UK indie B7 Media has once again triumphed at the New York International Radio Festivals 2018, winning the prestigious ‘Best Digital Drama’ Gold award for Volume 2 of its acclaimed audio reinvention of DAN DARE.

Based on the classic Eagle comic strip of the 1950s, the audio series (released by Big Finish in 2017) features Ed Stoppard, Geoff McGivern, Heida Reed, and Raad Rawi as the Mekon. Episodes in this volume were written by Simon Guerrier (Reign of the Robots), Patrick Chapman (Operation Saturn) and Colin Brake (Prisoners of Space). The lead writers for the audio series were Richard Kurti and Bev Doyle.

The New York Festivals’ International Radio Program Awards for the World’s Best Radio Programs honours radio programming and promotions in all lengths and formats, entered by radio stations, networks and independent producers from around the globe. Now in the eighth year of the awards, nominations in the categories of documentary, drama and music, were judged by the 2018 Grand Jury on production values, organisation, presentation of information, creativity and use of the medium. The Grand Jury is made up of over 130 directors, producers, journalists, writers, actors, creative directors, composers, on-air talent, and programming executives who are all award-winners themselves. That mix of perspectives is one of the strengths of this jury process to determine the World’s Best Radio Programs.

“We are perhaps in a golden age of audio drama. Submissions recognized this year by our Grand Jury included drama series, drama specials, mini-series, drama features, digital drama programs, and regularly scheduled drama programs, from countries around the globe and appealing to listeners of all ages,” said Rose Anderson, VP/Executive Director of New York Festivals Radio Program Awards. ”

“Dan Dare was the original ‘Guardian of the Galaxy’ and it’s great that this truly British space hero has won such a prestigious international audio award,“ said Producer/Director, Andrew Mark Sewell. “To be honest, I’m gobsmacked. For our work at B7 Media to once more be recognised by our peers is exceptional by any measure, especially when considering the calibre of the competition, both from independent drama producers and major international broadcasters.”

“This is excellent news and the series deserves this fantastic acknowledgment,” said Colin Frewin, CEO, Dan Dare Corporation.

NYF’s 2018 awards for B7 Media are:

Dan Dare: The Audio Adventures (Vol 2)

‘Best Digital Drama’ Gold Award Winner / ‘Best Director’ Bronze Award Winner

Inspired by the original Eagle comic strips Dan Dare: The Audio Adventures features Ed Stoppard as Dan Dare, Heida Reed as Professor Peabody, Geoff McGivern as Digby and Raad Rawi as the Mekon. Season 1 of B7’s audio reimagining of this enduring British space hero (released on CD and digital download www.DanDareAudio.com) features stories written by Richard Kurti & Bev Doyle, James Swallow, Marc Platt, Simon Guerrier, Patrick Chapman and Colin Brake.

CRITICAL SUCCESS…

Dan Dare’s return to the airwaves (with the first three episodes to air on BBC Radio 4 Extra from Saturday 4 August at 6pm) has been a big hit with critics and listeners.

Indie Mac User said of the series: “This audio revival of Dan Dare is a triumph. Each of the episodes has the feel of an audio movie.” Whilst Sci-Fi Bulletin heralded the first season as: “… one of the best collections of audio fiction I’ve heard in a long time. The combination of old-school British space heroics and a distinct, post-BSG mindset paid off again and again and set it up as a hopeful, if cautious, vision of the future.” Starburst Magazine added: “All aspects of this series have been polished and the results speak for themselves.”

BUY the complete Season 1 at www.DanDareAudio.com

DAN DARE Website(s): www.DanDareAudio.com

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