Interview of the Year (TV, Radio Or Online) 1. Premier Drive

Interview of the Year (TV, radio or online)

1. Premier Drive - Andrew and Emma Davies - Living with Locked In Syndrome

TX: 14/10/2015 Premier Christian Radio Dur: 22’30”

Production Company: Premier Christian Radio

Living with Locked In Syndrome was one of the toughest interviews we broadcasted on Premier Drive this year. Andrew, although slurred, has some amazing goals in life that he wishes to achieve and was a broadcast that really hit home with the listeners.

2. Premier Drive - Leader of the Salvation Army General André Cox

TX: 29/06/2015 Premier Christian Radio Dur: 30’26”

Production Company: Premier Christian Radio

Ahead of the Salvation Army's 150th anniversary and 2015 conference, General André Cox popped by Premier Drive for an exclusive chat with Anna Cookson about what life is like running one of the world's biggest organisations.

The General speaks openly about his life, family and things he's had to overcome whilst in charge of the Salvation Army, as well as some of the triumphs of its 150 year history.

3. A Mother's Good Friday: Diane Foley

TX: 03/04/2015 Things Unseen website (www.thingsunseen.co.uk) Dur: 29’21”

Production Company: CTVC

St John’s gospel tells the story of Mary standing by the cross, witnessing her son’s torment and death. It is an image that has inspired the Stabat Mater, a 13th century hymn which has been set to music by many composers.

But how many Christians really pause to think what it must have meant for a mother to know that her innocent son had been condemned to death, and then to witness his torture and execution?

This Good Friday edition of Things Unseen brings this story right into the 21st century, with a present- day mother who has had to endure the knowledge that her son was in danger of execution, and then had to learn to live with his very public and brutal killing. She is Diane Foley, whose son, US journalist James Foley, was beheaded by Islamic State in Syria in August 2014.

We are submitting this interview as an exceptional exposition of faith and suffering, telling the story of a mother of deep Christian faith who was nevertheless unfazed by reports of her son's conversion to Islam - and who found it in herself to forgive "Jihadi John", his killer.

4. The Word: Katharine Welby-Roberts

TX: 11/08/2015 Things Unseen website (www.thingsunseen.co.uk) Dur: 26’23”

Production Company: CTVC When Justin Welby took over as spiritual leader of 80 million Anglicans in 2013, one of his five children shot to unexpected fame: his daughter Katharine, whose passionate tweets about her father’s appointment brought her a large Twitter following. She quickly became known as the ABCD – the Archbishop of Canterbury’s daughter.

Now 29, Katherine Welby-Roberts has used this status to speak out about matters close to her own heart – first and foremost mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, which she knows well from many years of her own painful experience.

In conversation with Alison Hilliard, Katharine shares her favourite Bible verses and reflects on how they show God as a God of the suffering and anxious – one who, as she says, does not expect his people to get well as soon as they start to believe in him: “He does not yank you out of the hole, he gets in there with you”.

Katharine's chosen Bible verses are read by David Suchet.

5. The Meaning Of Life, With Gay Byrne: Stephen Fry

TX: 01/02/2015 RTÉ Dur: 38’37”

Production Company: RTÉ Religious Programmes

How and why did a no-frills, no-clips, face-to-face religious interview make such an enormous global impact? One clip alone of Stephen Fry's answer to Gay Byrne's standard final question went viral, attracting over 6.6 million hits on Youtube and well over twice that on Facebook; it drew extensive comment and coverage from Time Magazine, Huffington Post, The Washington Post, ABC, The Australian Times, Russell Brand’s Trews, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, BBC News, Sky News, BBC Radio 4's Today Programme and every imaginable platform of Irish media and social; Ellen De Generes, Richard Dawkins and the Archbishop of Canterbury were just some of the international figures who felt obliged to speak about the clip, which also became the subject of innumerable school assemblies, RE lessons and sermons, including on BBC Radio 4's Daily Service. Why?

In that famous exchange, Stephen revealed spontaneously what he would say to the God he doesn't believe in, if they meet at the Pearly Gates, distilling into one impassioned diatribe one of the great unresolved conundrums for believers: why, if God is omnipotent and good, does he allow or cause suffering in the world? To Stephen Fry, "bone cancer in children" is proof that God either doesn't exist or is a monster. Tens of thousands agreed with him. But tens of thousands didn't. That's the nature of a good TV discussion: it doesn't claim to offer the last word on any subject and is only too happy to prompt more discussion after the credits have rolled.

That final question and answer was just one element, however, in a broad-ranging conversation about the events, people, experiences and ideas that have shaped Stephen Fry's values and beliefs... or lack of them. It's a simple formula that has sustained THE MEANING OF LIFE through 12 series, 2 bestselling books and 2 IFTA nominations, as a host of leading public figures from every walk of life, from Bono to Archbishop Rowan Williams, from Bob Geldof to Gerry Adams, have accepted the Irish broadcasting legend's invitation to sit in "the chair opposite." Some guests are devout, some are devoutly atheist, some are undecided. But all of them, like all of us, have had cause to think about the meaning of life.

6. 'A Thousand Words': Dr Gavin Merrifield (as part of smallVOICE podcast)

TX: 05/06/2015 www.smallvoice.org.uk Dur: 09'16" Production Company: GRF Christian Radio

'A Thousand Words': Dr Gavin Merrifield

This interview was broadcast as part of the smallVOICE podcast.

Dr Gavin Merrifield is a research scientist at the University of Glasgow, with academic publications in physics, biology, and theology. His particular interest is in the meeting points of Christianity with potential new discoveries in science and emerging technologies.

Gavin's photograph that is worth 'A Thousand Words' is ‘The Sombrero Galaxy‘ and you can hear why it is important to him in our June podcast. You can see the photo on our website here: http://www.smallvoice.org.uk/a-thousand-words-gavin-merrifield/

7. 'A Thousand Words': Dr Beth Routledge (as part of smallVOICE podcast)

TX: 07/08/2015 www.smallvoice.org.uk Dur: 12'38"

Production Company: GRF Christian Radio

'A Thousand Words' : Dr Beth Routledge

This interview was broadcast as part of the smallVOICE podcast.

Beth Routledge is Anne's guest in August's smallVOICE podcast and she talks about a photo that is worth 'A Thousand Words' to her. How have experiences around the scene in the photo shaped her as a person and as a medical doctor?

You can see the photo on our website here: http://www.smallvoice.org.uk/a-thousand-words-dr-beth- routledge/

8. Advent Reflection - Waiting For Refugee Status

TX: 29/11/2015 Manx Radio Dur: 05'29"

Production Company: GRF Christian Radio

Music and words for advent on the theme of waiting. Featuring an interview with the foster mother of an asylum seeker.

Alison Phipps is professor of Language and inter-cultural studies at the University of Glasgow, co- convener of the Glasgow Refugee, Asylum and Migration Network (GRAMnet) and a foster mother.

9. Travellers Tales - John Fieldsend

TX: 25/10/2015 Premier Radio Dur: 27'19"

Production Company: TBI Media

Travellers Tales is a half hour interview programme, which each week talks with a Christian believer about their faith journey through life's twists and turns. Presenter Hannah Scott-Joynt is a personable, warm interviewer who has a talent for encouraging her guests to speak openly about their experiences. She isn’t afraid to ask in depth questions, but expertly manages to do so without coming across as intrusive or pushy.

The key to the success of Travellers Tales has been in speaking to guests who have great stories to tell, and through-out 2015 this has included Lords, Bishops, Oxford dons, as well as a great mix of people with less impressive titles. But despite how they’re introduced, the challenge with each interview is the same; provide a convivial space for them to tell their stories.

For this interview Hannah spoke with John Fieldsend, a retired Anglican clergyman who was born to Jewish parents in Germany in 1931. When the rise of Hitler made life increasingly dangerous John and his elder brother became 2 of the nearly 700 Jewish children to come to England on Kindertransport, on trains organised by the late Sir Nicholas Winton.

John talks of friends suddenly turning against him as they played in the sandpit near his Dresden home, of leaving his parents to make the long journey across Europe and of ending up in a Christian foster family. He describes the painful disentangling he’s had to do to work out his identity, and, of course, the sacrificial love of his parents whose agonising decision gave him and his brother life.

The interview ends with John reading a farewell letter from his parents. They wrote it a few days before they were taken to Auschwitz, where they died. The message they leave their sons with is one of courage and hope, and is full of a strength that John has made part of his own life. You can hear this in John’s closing words as he imagines what he would say to his parents now, “If you could write that letter with obviously no bitterness, what right have we to be bitter?”

The following is the last ever photo taken of John and his brother with their father, just before they left for the station.

10. Travellers Tales - Stuart Hallam

TX: 05/04/2015 Premier Radio Dur: 28'01"

Production Company: TBI Media

The key to the success of Travellers Tales has been in speaking to guests who have great stories to tell, and over the past year this has included Lords, Bishops, Oxford dons, as well as a great mix of people with less impressive titles. But despite how they’re introduced, the challenge with each interview is the same; provide a convivial space for them to tell their stories.

The interview that you’re about to hear is with Stuart Hallam, a commando-trained Royal Navy Chaplain, who’s completed two tours of duty in Afghanistan with the Royal Marines. The interview ends with one of the most moving, graphic stories we heard in 2015, as Stu tells Hannah about the death of his friend JT.

A young officer in his twenties, JT was the first soldier to be brought into the hospital in Camp Bastion alive but then die. Because of this, his death shocked the entire camp and you can hear the struggle in Stu’s voice as he recounts this story.

12. The Refugee Crisis: a personal insight by Bishop Angaelos

TX: 25/11/2015 BOB fm Hertfordshire Dur: 10'06"

Production Company: BOB fm Hertfordshire's News Team (Chris Hubbard)

The Refugee Crisis: a personal insight by Bishop Angaelos'

(Please find supporting evidence of our website/social media coverage emailed to Colette Cunningham)

With global attention on the human cost of conflict in the Middle East, Bishop Angaelos has a vital role as a unifying figure contributing to peace and stability...

So, it stands to reason that the General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK has been particularly outspoken on the refugee crisis and persecution of Christians in the region.

In September 2015, he was one of several religious leaders visiting people who had made it to the Greece/Macedonia border after fleeing their home countries to escape the troubles.

In a special interview which featured on-air, online and in an extended news podcast, BOB fm

Hertfordshire's News Editor Chris Hubbard spoke to one of the country's most prominent religious leaders, who is also a source of inspiration for many listeners in the county.

In his own time (due to limited resources and a news team of just two people!), Chris recorded the interview at the Coptic Orthodox Church's UK base at Shephalbury Manor in Stevenage. He set about exploring His Grace's personal understanding of the crisis and how that relates to his spiritual existence.

The Bishop's calm, but considered approach raises vital questions about how the international community is dealing with the crisis, telling us: "They (the refugees) referred to being on 'death boats' - some of them are rubber dinghies and inflatables that are large enough for twenty people, but have more than forty people are packed on them.

One man told me: 'In Syria, we are used to quick deaths. We are used to bombings, we are used to beheadings and we are used to shootings; but this, for us, is a very slow death".

Chris questions the Bishop on how he personally feels the issues should be tackled.

He examines his calls for world leaders to carefully consider the important Christian, and indeed human, notion of the 'sanctity of life' when preparing to take action, whether that be militarily or humanitarian.

Concluding his heartfelt views, Bishop Angaelos summed up his thoughts: "There is no Church of the East and Church of the West; it is one Body and it suffers equally, and so we need to approach this matter collaboratively".

At a time when religions are sometimes portrayed as divisive and divided in the mainstream media, Bishop Angaelos has a salient point when it comes to working together without animosity or conflict with our fellow man.

And - it is his compassion and genuine concern in relation to the crisis that makes this interview so compelling.

Click here for further information

13. Good Morning Sunday - Patricia and Alana Raybon Interview

TX: 25/10/2015 BBC Radio 2 Dur: 19’40”

Production Company: BBC Religion & Ethics Radio

The theme for Radio 2’s “Faith in the World Week” was Growing up in a multi-faith society. On Good Morning Sunday Clare Balding closed the week with a fascinating interview with Patricia Raybon and her daughter Alana. Patricia was an evangelical Christian whose faith meant everything to her. When her daughter, Alana, announced she was converting to Islam Patricia’s life fell apart. In this interview, although Patricia and Alana live in different parts of the USA, we brought them together via different studios to candidly discuss the events leading up to Alana’s conversion, the affect it had on their family and how they tried to reconcile their differences. As Clare found out – Patricia’s relationship with her daughter is much closer than it has been but she still wishes she would come back to the Christian faith.

Good Morning Sunday is Radio 2’s Sunday morning breakfast show with a mix of music and conversation. It has an audience of 2.22 million with an average age of 59. The audience has a wide mix of backgrounds and beliefs. Many of the audience have no religious belief and listen to the network for the music content. The show tries to provide something for all the listeners and broadcasts a mix of secular and religious music. It also tries to highlight religious, moral and ethical aspects of life and events in the news in a way that includes rather than excludes the non-religious members of the audience. Producer: Janet McLarty

Executive Producer: Amanda Hancox

14. Good Morning Sunday - Melodie Gardot interview

TX: 10/04/2015 BBC Radio 2 Dur: 21’42”

Production Company: BBC Religion & Ethics Radio

Melody Gardot is a jazz singer/songwriter who was involved in a serious car accident just as her musical career was beginning to take off. She sustained serious head injuries and spent many months in hospital. Whilst there, she read a book on Buddhism which profoundly influenced her. She tells the story of her accident and recovery to Clare Balding on Good Morning Sunday.

Producer: Janet McLarty

Executive Producer: Amanda Hancox

15. One to One: Selina Scott speaks to Canon Paul Greenwell

TX: 07/07/2015 BBC Radio 4 Dur: 15’00”

Production Company: BBC R&M Factual, Bristol

No additional information supplied.

16. One to One: Selina Scott talks to Yasmin Ishaq

TX: 07/14/2015 BBC Radio 4 Dur: 15’00”

Production Company: BBC R&M Factual, Bristol

No additional information supplied.

17. One to One. David Schneider talks to Kathryn Mannix

TX: 10/11/2015 BBC Radio 4 Dur: 13’30”

Production Company: BBC Radio and Music Factual (Bristol) One to One is a BBC Radio 4 series that allows presenters to talk to people whose stories interest them most.

David Schneider is terrified of death. He wanted to to try to overcome his fear by talking to those who have first-hand understanding of dying. In this programme, he talks to Palliative Care consultant, Kathryn Mannix. With almost forty years of clinical experience and witnessing over twelve thousand deaths, she believes that a 'good death' is possible even when you are seriously ill. She explains the process of dying to David.

On the programme page we also posted a twenty eight minute version of the programme. We received unprecedented interest, via email, twitter and on Facebook.

In the second programme David talked to the terminally ill writer, Jenny Diski.

18. The Chef: "We cook as if we were cooking for our own family"

TX: 25/05/2015 BBC Radio 4 PM Programme Dur: 07’39”

Production Company: BBC

As the first port of call for most of the boats that survive the journey from North Africa, the people of Italy have more first-hand experience than most Europeans of the Mediterranean migrant crisis. In 'The Cook, the Carpenter and the Migrants', we get an insight into how ordinary Italians are dealing not just with the practicalities of the arrival of so many desperate people, but also how they are coping emotionally seeing such sadness and suffering in close proximity.

Emma-Jane Kirby meets a big-hearted soup-kitchen chef who overcomes her prejudices and doles out hundreds of kilos of pasta a week. We meet a gruff grave-digger who is haunted by the unidentified migrants he buries but who never misses a funeral. Then there's the initially indifferent optician who has an epiphany after a sailing holiday where he finds himself in the middle of a shipwreck and rescues dozens of drowning migrants. And we hear from the Lampedusa carpenter who is so distraught by the bedraggled asylum seekers he sees on his island that he has stopped making furniture and instead spends his time making crosses from the wrecks of migrant boats which he then offers to them as a symbol of their rescue and new life.

We had an unprecedented amount of listener feedback following the broadcasts. One listener, a museum curator, was so moved by the simplicity and strength of the carpenter's faith that she ordered a cross from him. In December the Carpenter of Lampedusa's Cross was unveiled at the British Museum, chosen as the last acquisition of the outgoing director Neil MacGregor.

19. The Carpenter: "It's a good feeling, to give a cross"

TX: 29/05/2015 BBC Radio 4 PM Programme Dur: 05’52””

Production Company: BBC

See entry 18 The Chef: "We cook as if we were cooking for our own family" for more details.