News / radio
Bristol writer wins prestigious award
A Bristol poet, writer and historian has won an award for the best original audio drama script of the year.
Edson Burton is the winner of the 2025 Tinniswood Award for Man Friday, broadcast on BBC Radio 4, which centres on the reimagining of Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe from Man Friday’s point of view.
The Tinniswood Award was established in memory of novelist, dramatist, scriptwriter and journalist Peter Tinniswood as well as to celebrate and encourage high standards in radio drama.
is needed now More than ever
Edson Burton received the Tinniswood Award at the BBC Audio Drama Awards – photo: Tricia Yourkevich
Judges called Burton’s play “hugely entertaining” and “a slow burn brilliantly achieved”, describing the University of Bristol academic as “a terrific writer with a deep love of language and a thorough understanding of structure”.
Burton, who received £3,000 for winning the award, said: “On many levels, Man Friday was a coming together of my creative and academic writing, and my love for speculative fiction and historical realism.
“While the Tinniswood Award celebrates the script the drama could not have come to the attention of the dramas were it not for the sterling work of my long-time producer/director Mary Ward Lowery, the actors and the production team.”
Main photo: University of Bristol
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