The UK's audio storytelling scene celebrated its finest at the inaugural Speakies awards, a landmark event held at London's Royal Opera House. The ceremony, hosted by comedian Sally Phillips, honoured the entire ecosystem of audio creation, from actors and writers to sound designers and publishers.
Star-Studded Winners Lead the Night
The evening's biggest triumph belonged to Ncuti Gatwa, who clinched the award for Best Performance for his lead role in the BBC drama Gatsby in Harlem. The production itself was a major winner, securing the coveted Audio of the Year prize as well as Best Audio Drama Adaptation. Judges praised Gatwa for his remarkable poise and flair in capturing the essence of the iconic character.
In the sci-fi and fantasy category, the award went to Nicola Coughlan for her narration of Juno Dawson's Queen B. The Bridgerton star was commended for bringing wit and vivacity to the story, successfully transporting listeners to the court of King Henry VIII.
Independent Publishers and Nonfiction Triumphs
Independent voices made a significant impact. Galley Beggar Press and Spiracle Audio beat out major publishing houses to win Best Fiction Audiobook for All My Precious Madness by Mark Bowles, narrated by Paul Hilton. The win was hailed as an example of audio evolving as a distinct and ambitious art form.
The nonfiction categories recognised powerful personal stories. Sarah Wynn-Williams won Best Audiobook: Memoir for her self-narrated work, Careless People, a whistleblowing account of speaking out against Meta. The award for Best Nonfiction Audiobook went to Why Are You Here, Mrs Hamilton?, the memoir of Post Office scandal victim Jo Hamilton, narrated by Monica Dolan.
A Booming Industry Gets Its Moment
The awards come at a time of significant growth for the UK audio sector. According to the Publishers Association, audiobook sales surged by 31% in 2024, reaching a record £268m. A recent National Literacy Trust study also found that while only 32% of young people read for pleasure, 42% enjoy listening to audiobooks.
Philip Jones, editor of the Bookseller, which co-runs the awards with the Stage, stated the event reflected a pivotal moment for UK audio. He expressed delight at the winners, noting that as listener interest grows, so does investment and excellence across the industry.
Other notable winners included:
- David Tennant and Louise Brealey for Best Crime & Thriller Audiobook (Him by JD Kirk).
- Georgia Tennant, who accepted Best Romance Audiobook for Jilly Cooper's Rivals.
- Mark Gatiss for Best Performance as a Narrator for Ian Fleming's From Russia With Love.
