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B7 Media’s Dan Dare and Bafflegab’s Blood on Satan’s Claw have both won Gold Awards at the prestigious New York Radio Awards on June 18.

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.

Blood on Satan’s Claw (read our review here) won Best Special Drama. Dan Dare Volume 2 (and here’s our review of that) won Best Digital Drama. “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’s producer and director Andrew Mark Sewell, who won a Bronze Award for directing the series, noted, “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. 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.”

Bafflegab’s Simon Barnard was equally pleased. “I say this every year, but this really is a lovely surprise. Who’d have thought this strange tale about the Devil growing new skin on the bodies of 17th century teenagers would prove a hit with an international prize jury? Making Blood on Satan’s Claw has been a wonderful experience from start to finish, from first reading Mark’s brilliant adaptation, through working with talent such as Mark Gatiss, Reece Shearsmith and Alice Lowe, to hearing the amazing work from sound designer Simon Robinson and composer Edwin Sykes, and then reaching such a huge audience with the support of Audible Studios. Winning this is the icing on the cake.”

Blood on Satan’s Claw adaptor Mark Morris added, “Winning this award is a huge honour, and I couldn’t be more delighted. Blood on Satan’s Claw is a seminal film for me – I first saw it when I was twelve – and so to get the chance to adapt it for audio was a dream come true. And then to work with such a brilliant cast, director, sound engineer and composer, and then to win this award… well, my cup runneth over! Heartfelt thanks to everyone who came with us on this amazing journey, and who have supported our efforts. Now all I have to do is find a time machine and go back to 1975 to tell that twelve-year old kid what would one day come to pass….”

Blood on Satan’s Claw is available from Audible now. It will be released on CD and download by Bafflegab next Friday, June 29th. Dan Dare is available on download via www.DanDareAudio.com or from Big Finish.