An interview conducted by Emma Barnett on the Today programme has been judged the overall winner of “Interview of the Year” by listeners to BBC Radio 4’s Feedback.
The interview, with terminally ill aid worker Simon Boas, was broadcast on July 4th 2024 and was described by judges as “an absolutely beautiful interview which smacked right to the heart.
Emma spoke to Simon with compassion and integrity, asking straight to the point questions without any soppy sympathy.”
Simon Boas, who died ten days after the interview was broadcast, reflected on his life and those he was about to leave behind. “This is almost certainly my final week, but I am so happy and contented. My lovely wife and parents are about to go through one of the most difficult things in their lives, but we all write chapters and all our lives are little books. They’ll go on writing more chapters when I’m gone.”
On receiving the award, Emma Barnett said, “I’ll always be grateful to Simon for using his precious energy to talk to our listeners in the way he did.”
Nominations for the award came entirely from listeners to Radio 4’s Feedback, and a panel of listeners judged a final shortlist of ten on impact, insight and interviewer’s skill.
Feedback, presented by Andrea Catherwood, is produced in Glasgow by independent producer Whistledown.
“This is the second year we’ve run the award, and it’s clear that listeners have really got behind it,” says Whistledown Managing Director David Prest, “It’s a great way to celebrate those “driveway moments”, the interviews which make a real mark and stay with people for a long time”.
Runners up were John Wilson’s interview with film editor Thelma Schoonmaker on This Cultural Life, and an interview on Today with Saudi Ambassador Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud conducted by Mishal Husain.
Also included in the top ten was a powerful interview with Peter Welburn, a victim of the Hull funeral home scandal, conducted by Peter Levy on BBC Radio Humberside.
The full list of nominations:
- Clare Balding interviews Dwayne Fields on Ramblings.
- Amol Rajan interviews Rev. Giles Fraser on Today
- John Wilson interviews Thelma Schoonmaker on This Cultural Life
- Nuala McGovern interviews Paul Ford/Tuam baby scandal on Woman’s Hour
- Emma Barnett interviews Simon Boas on Today
- Peter Levy interviews Peter Welburn on Radio Humberside
- Sian Williams interviews Agnes Nisbett on Life Changing
- Evan Davis interviews Laura Trott on PM
- Mishal Husain interviews the Saudi Arabian ambassador on Today
- Lauren Laverne interviews Mark Steel on Desert Island Discs
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