 | Press ReleasesRecord entries for Gillard Awards as BBC Local Radio turns 40 |
More than half of BBC Local Radio stations are competing to be the Frank Gillard Awards' Station Of The Year, the year BBC Local Radio marks its 40th birthday. A record 21 stations have entered the Station Of The Year category, won last year by BBC Radio Manchester. And there's a David and Goliath feel about this year's contest with Manchester defending the title and both BBC Radio Guernsey and BBC London – serving around 20,000 and almost 550,000 listeners respectively – in search of this most coveted award. There are the usual big fields for best Breakfast Programme – 26 entries – and Programme Presenter – 27 entries – and a doubling of entries for the Outstanding Contribution To BBC Local Radio awards, which in this anniversary year covers outstanding contributions in any of the four decades of BBC Local Radio's existence. Nominations will be announced on 9 October 2007, with the Frank Gillard Awards presented to the winners by well–known alumni of BBC Local Radio – Kate Adie, Michael Buerk, Jane Garvey, Simon Mayo, Garry Richardson, Sophie Raworth, Sonia Deol and Mary Rhodes – at an awards ceremony hosted by the BBC Director-General Mark Thompson in Birmingham Town Hall on 24 November. JW | 
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