Last night, Doctor Who – Absent Friends was a winner for Big Finish in the 2017 BBC Audio Drama Awards…

The opening story of last year’s Doctor Who – Doom Coalition Series 3, Doctor Who – Absent Friends by John Dorney, starring Paul McGann, Hattie Morahan and Nicola Walker, directed by Ken Bentley – was the winner last night in the Best Online Only Audio Drama category at the 2017 BBC Audio Drama Awards.

Says producer David Richardson: “I’ve always been very proud of Absent Friends – I thought John’s script was exceptional, and Paul, Nicola and Hattie and the whole cast performed it just beautifully. Benji Clifford and Jamie Robertson did such gorgeous sound design and music, and Ken’s direction (as always) was note perfect. It has always felt like a magnificent team effort.”

“I was pleased for John most of all. We all put everything we can muster into these productions, but he went one step further and channelled his grieving and his loss for his late father. The result was a script that left me sobbing after I first read it, and – from what I’ve seen – that’s how everyone else has reacted to it too.”

We wish to thank everyone who wished us luck when the nominations were announced, and the listeners who enjoy what we do and always let us know.

In celebration of the win, from now until mid-day tomorrow (UK time), Doctor Who – Doom Coalition Series 3 is available at the special price of £20 on Download and £23 on CD, for this four-story set. All four series – including next month’s jaw-dropping conclusion – can be found bundled together for just £80 in either format.

The Doctor’s companion Liv Chenka returns to Big Finish tomorrow for Doctor Who – Short Trips: The World Beyond the Trees by Jonathan Barnes, read by Nicola Walker, a story which may have a small, passing connection to Absent Friends…

The List of 2017 Winners

Best Single Drama

The Sky is Wider

By Linda Marshall Griffiths

Producer: Nadia Molinari

BBC North

Radio 4

Commendation

Jump Blue

By Hannah Silva

Producers: Nicolas Jackson & Steve Bond

Afonica

Radio 3

Best Series or Serial

Life Lines

By Al Smith

Producer: Sally Avens

BBC Radio Drama London

Radio 4

Best Adaptation

Emile Zola: Blood, Sex and Money Episode 9

Adaptors: Oliver Emanuel, Martin Jameson, Lavinia Murray and Dan Rebellato

Producers: Gary Brown, Pauline Harris, Nadia Molinari, Polly Thomas, Kirsty Williams

BBC North, BBC Scotland & Sparklab Productions

Radio 4

Best Actor

Danny Sapani

A Raisin in the Sun

Director: Pauline Harris

BBC North

Radio 3

Best Actress

Christine Bottomley

The Sky is Wider

Director: Nadia Molinari

BBC North

Radio 4

Best Supporting Actor or Actress

Valene Kane

The Stroma Sessions

Producers: Nicolas Jackson & Steve Bond

Afonica

Radio 3

Best Debut Performance

Lee Rufford

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

Director: Carl Prekopp

Goldhawk Essential

Radio 4

Best Use of Sound

Tracks (Ep 1)

Sound by Nigel Lewis

Producers: James Robinson, Helen Perry and Abigail le Fleming

BBC Cymru Wales

Radio 4

Best Scripted Comedy Drama

Secret Kebabs

by Christine Entwisle

Producer Kirsty Williams

BBC Scotland

Radio 4

Commendation

The Strange Vanishing of Julian Quark

by Tom Wainwright

Producer: Sasha Yevtushenko

BBC Radio Drama London

Radio 4

Best Scripted Comedy with a Live Audience

Robert Newman’s Entirely Accurate Encyclopedia of Evolution

by Rob Newman

Producer: Jonathan Harvey

Hat Trick

Radio 4

Best Online Only Audio Drama

Dr Who – Absent Friends

Big Finish Productions

Imison Award for Best Radio Drama Script by a New Writer

Society of Authors and the Peggy Ramsay Foundation

Comment is Free

James Fritz

Producer: Rebecca Ripley, BBC Bristol

Radio 4

Tinniswood Award for Best Radio Drama Script

Society of Authors and Writers’ Guild of Great Britain

in association with the ALCS

Comment is Free

James Fritz

Producer: Rebecca Ripley, BBC Bristol

Radio 4

Outstanding Contribution

The Archers

Special Award for Services to Radio Drama

Bill Nighy