Awards Archive
After more than four decades in the business, the Sandford St Martin Trust holds a unique record of the best UK broadcasting about religion, ethics and morality across all broadcast media.
When the Awards were first established in 1978, prizes were given out every two years to either Radio or TV programmes, in rotation. Since then the number of broadcast media platforms and the range and variety of programmes exploring religion, belief, ethics or spirituality have expanded. In response, the Awards have grown and adapted too. Now every year awards are given for the best content in Radio/Audio, TV/Video, Young Audience and Journalism categories. Entries exploring the many facets of belief are received from a wide range of genres – news, current affairs, arts, drama, music, comedy, documentaries as well as ‘traditional’ religious broadcasting – across television, radio, internet media and online streaming.
The annual Trustees’ Award recognises the overall contribution made through broadcasting to raising religious literacy or an awareness of the role religion plays in world events. And, since 2006, Radio Times readers have voted in their thousands for their own favourite programme from a list chosen by their critics and published at Easter.
You can find out more about all our winners since 2006 by using the tabs below, or see the full list of all winners since 1978 by downloading our spreadsheets for Radio and TV.
Photography from the Sandford St. Martins Awards 2017 held at Lambeth Palace.
Sandford St Martin 2023 Award Winners
TV/Video Award: CHILDREN OF UKRAINE
Renegade Pictures for ITV1
Journalism Award: BEYOND BELIEF: PUTIN’S RELIGIOUS WAR
BBC Religion and Ethics for BBC Radio 4
Radio/Audio Award: FAITH, SEX AND ME
Loftus Media for Hits Radio Pride
Young Audience Award: AUTISM, HINDUISM & ME
CTVC Ltd for TrueTube.co.uk
Radio Times Readers’ Award: GOOD GRIEF WITH REV RICHARD COLES
Bowled Over Media Ltd for Channel 4
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2023 Runners Up
TV/Video: EXPOSED: DAVID BADDIEL: JEWS DON’T COUNT
Mindhouse Productions for Channel 4
Journalism: WITNESS: UNREPORTED WORLD – ANTI-VAXX PREACHERS AND THE RACE TO VACCINATE SOUTH SUDAN
ITN Channel 4 News for Channel 4
Radio/Audio: THE CHURCH OF SOCIAL JUSTICE
BBC Radio 4
Young Audience: FAITH, SEX AND ME: ESE
Loftus Media for Hits Radio Pride
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To watch the overture to the 2023 Awards ceremony click here.
For more details of this year’s winners click here.
Click here to find out more about all the 2023 Award finalists or here to meet our 2023 Judges.
TV/Video Award Winner
BROTHERHOOD: THE INNER LIFE OF MONKS
Intrepid Media Ltd for BBC Four
Radio/Audio Award Winner
CTVC for’Things Unseen’ podcast
Young Audience Award Winner
ClockWork Films for BBC iPlayer/BBC Three
Broadcast Journalism Award Winner
PANORAMA: IS THE CHURCH RACIST?
BBC Panorama for BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Radio Times Readers’ Award Winner
BBC Studios for BBC One
________________________________________________
TV/Video Runner Up
The Forge for Channel 4
Radio/Audio Runner Up
BBC Audio for BBC Radio 4/BBC Sounds
Young Audience Runner Up
Gold Wala for CBeebies
Broadcast Journalism Joint Runners Up
POPE FRANCIS IN IRAQ: THE HISTORIC PILGRIMAGE
BBC Audio: Heart and Should for BBC World Service/BBC Sounds
WITNESS: THE WOMEN OF STANDING ROCK
Red Queen Media and Playart Productions for Al Jazeera English
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OUR 2022 AWARD WINNERS AND RUNNERS UP CLICK HERE.
Watch the overture to our 2022 Awards ceremony.
Meet our 2022 judging panels.
TV/Video Award Winner
Rees Films for ‘Witness’, Al Jazeera English
Radio/Audio Award Winner
Falling Tree Productions for BBC World Service
Children’s Award Winner
Paper Owl Films for TG4, SG4 and BBC Alba
Broadcast Journalism Award Winner
BBC Religion and Ethics for BBC Radio 4
Radio Times Readers’ Award Winner
Red Production Company for Channel 4 and HBO
________________________________________________
TV/Video Runner Up
Exposed: The Church’s Darkest Secrets
Top Hat Productions for BBC Two
Ra dio Joint Runner Up
The Deadly Saris
Documentary on One for RTÉ Radio 1
Radio Joint Runner Up
The Punch
Just Radio Ltd for BBC Radio 4
Children’s Runner Up
My Best Friend Married A Warrior
Broadcast Journalism Runner Up
A Momento Film and Thinking String Media for Al Jazeera English
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OUR 2021 AWARD WINNERS AND RUNNERS UP CLICK HERE.
TV/Video Award Winner
For Sama
Channel 4 News and ITN Productions for Channel 4 and Frontline PBS
Radio/Audio Award Winner
The Wind Phone
Falling Tree Productions for Heart & Soul, BBC World Service
Children’s Award Winner
Now I Can Breathe
Broadcast Journalism Award Winner
The Feeling of Being Watched: Surveillance in a US-Arab Community
Al Jazeera English – Witness for Al Jazeera English
Trustees’ Award
Radio Times Readers’ Award Winner
Good Omens
BBC Studios, Blank Corporation, Narrative and Amazon Studios for Amazon
TV Runner Up
The Last Survivors
Radio Runner Up
This Is My Story: Allen Langham
United Christian Broadcasters for UCB Player App/Podcast Platforms
Children’s Runner Up
Finding My Family: Holocaust – A Newsround Specia
BBC Children’s In-House Productions for CBBC/iPlayer
Broadcast Journalism Runner Up
The Hour of Lynching
Watch our 2020 Awards ceremony.
Read more about all the 2020 winning programmes.
Meet our 2020 Judges.
See all the programmes shortlisted for an award in 2019.
TV/Video Award Winner
Dragon Film & Television for BBC One
Radio/Audio Award Winner
BBC Radio Current Affairs for BBC Radio 4
Children’s Award Winner
Sugar Films for CBBC
Broadcast Journalism Award Winner
BBC Radio Current Affairs for Radio 4
Trustees’ Award
The Most Rev Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church
Radio Times Readers’ Award Winner
BBC Studios, Pacific Quay Productions for BBC Two
TV Runner Up
Louis Theroux’s Altered States: Choosing Death
BBC Studios: The Documentary Unit for BBC Two
Radio Runner Up
The Silence of the Lamb (Lent Talk)
BBC Religion for BBC Radio 4
Children’s Runner Up
My Life: Mumbai Street Strikers
Drummer TV for CBBC
Broadcast Journalism Runner Up
Crossing Continents: Chile – Sexual Abuse, Secrets and Lies
BBC Radio Current Affairs for BBC Radio 4
Read more about all the 2019 winning programmes.
Meet our 2019 Judges.
See all the programmes shortlisted for an award in 2019.
TV and Radio Times Readers’ Award Winner
LA Productions Ltd for BBC One
Radio Award Winner
5 Live with Emma Barnett: Stanbrook Abbey
5 live Daily production team for BBC Radio 5 live
Children’s Award Winner
TrueTube/CTVC for TrueTube.co.uk
Interview of the Year Winner
Heart and Soul: Good Without God
BBC Radio Production North for BBC World Service
Trustees’ Award
Sandford St Martin Special 40th Anniversary Award
TV Runner Up
Blakeway Productions for Channel 4
Radio Runner Up
Hardeep’s Sunday Lunch: Inverness
BBC Radio Religion and Ethics for BBC Radio 4
Children’s Runner Up
Drummer TV for CBBC
Interview of the Year Runner Up
Ramadan: In Conversation with Babar Ahmad
CTVC for www.thingsunseen.co.uk
Read more about all the 2018 winning programmes.
Meet our 2018 Judges.
See all the programmes shortlisted for an award in 2018.
TV and Radio Times Readers’ Award Winner
A World Without Down’s Syndrome?
Dragonfly Film and Television for BBC 2
Radio Award Winner
All Thing Considered: Aberfan 50 Year Anniversary
Religious Programmes Department for the BBC Radio Wales
Children’s Award Winner
CTVC for TrueTube.co.uk
Interview of the Year Winner
Dominic Casciani, Home Affairs Correspondent for BBC News/BBC News Online
Trustees’ Award
BBC Radio 4
TV Runner Up
Life and Death the Pentecostal Way
BBC Studios Pacific Quay Productions for BBC 2
Radio Runner Up
BBC Radio Productions North for BBC World Service
Children’s Runner Up
duck rabbit for YouTube/Facebook/extremedialogue.org
Interview of the Year Runner Up
BBC Radio Production North for BBC World Service
Meet our 2017 Judges.
See all the programmes shortlisted for an award in 2016.
TV Award Winner
True Vision Productions for Channel 4
Radio Award Winner
Objections at the Wedding (Heart and Soul)
Whistledown Productions for the BBC World Service
Children’s Award Winner
The Boy on the Bicycle (My Life)
Drummer Television for CBBC
Interview of the Year Winner
A Mother’s Good Friday: Diane Foley
CTVC for www.thingsunseen.co.uk
Radio Times Readers’ Award Winner
Neal Street Productions for BBC One
Trustees’ Award
Author, journalist and broadcaster
TV Runner Up
Brown Bread Films for RTÉ2
Radio Runner Up
BBC Radio Scotland for Radio 4
Children’s Runner Up
Tigerlily Productions for CBBC
Interview of the Year Runner Up
Traveller’s Tales: Hannah Scott-Joynt talks to Stu Hallam
TBI Media for Premier Radio
Meet our 2016 Judges.
See all the programmes shortlisted for an award in 2016.
TV Award Winner
Radio Award Winner
Children’s Broadcasting Award Winner
Radio Times Readers Award Winner
Trustee’s Award
TV Runner Up
Radio Runner Up
Children’s Broadcasting Runner Up
Children of Kabul: An Uncertain Future (Newsround special)
For a full list of 2015’s judges go here.
The full list of programmes shortlisted for an award in 2015 is here.
Television and Radio Times double award winner
The Story of the Jews
Oxford Film and Television for BBC2
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0392pzx
Runners up
A Very British Ramadan
Watershed Productions for Channel 4
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/4ramadan/episode-guide
Hillsborough – Never Forgotten
BBC Religion and Ethics for BBC2
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rrlqd
Radio
I Have a Dream
BBC Scotland Features for BBC Radio 4
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0395qvq
Runner up
Married For a Minute
BBC Asian Network
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p018rv2l
Local, community and online winner
Sounds Jewish: The Jewish Revival in Poland
JW3: Jewish Community Center for London
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/audio/2013/jun/05/sounds-jewish-podcast-poland
Personal Award
Melvyn Bragg
Trustees’ Award
Sir John Tavener
TELEVISION
PREMIER AWARD
David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Paul
Presenter: David Suchet
CTVC/Jerusalem Productions for BBC One
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pq9h5/episodes/guide
RUNNER-UP
Goodbye to Canterbury
Presenter: Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury
BBC Factual Arts for BBC Two
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pm9z6
MERIT
Islam: The Untold Story
Maya Vision International for Channel 4
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/islam-the-untold-story
RADIO TIMES READERS’ AWARD
David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Paul
CTVC/Jerusalem Productions for BBC One
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pq9h5/episodes/guide
RADIO
PREMIER AWARD
Hearing Ragas
BBC Radio 4
Producer Rosie Boulton
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01mf7nd
RUNNER-UP
Blasphemy & the Governor of the Punjab
BBC Radio 4
Producer: Owen Bennett-Jones
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00zhrdx
MERIT
The Pulse Passion
Whistling Frog Productions
HCJB Global for The Pulse
https://www.facebook.com/whistlingfrogproductions/posts/405069382855317
TRUSTEES’ SPECIAL AWARD
Olympic Opening Ceremony 2012
BBC One
Danny Boyle / Frank Cottrell Boyce
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01l4ldk
SANDFORD ST MARTIN PERSONAL AWARD
Jonathan, Lord Sacks
Former Chief Rabbi
2013 Judges (Television)
Brian Sewell (Chair)
Award-winning art critic of the London Evening Standard, winner of the 2003 Orwell Prize for journalism, respected broadcaster, and previous winner of a Sandford St Martin Trust Premier Award for The Naked Pilgrim.
Phil Critchlow
Founding director at TBI Media which produced Faith and 9/11, winner of a Sandford St Martin Trust award in 2012. Chair of The Independents Group representing independent Audio Producers in the UK.
Dave Friswell
Former missionary in Malawi, and long-time employee of Anglican Mission Agencies, now leading the World Church Relationships team of the Methodist Church.
Leah Gordon
Artist and curator, holding a Senior Lectureship in Photography and Video Art at the University of Bedfordshire.
2013 Judges (Radio)
The Rev Cindy Kent (Chair)
Church of England priest who broadcasts for Premier Christian Radio. Previously lead singer with the The Settlers pop-folk group, and radio broadcaster for the BBC, LBC, Capital Radio and local radio stations.
Peter Stanford
Former editor of the Catholic Herald, and an author – most recently of ‘How to Read a Graveyard’. He writes regularly for the Daily Telegraph.
Joanna Moriarty
Publishing director at SPCK, the oldest Anglican mission agency, dedicated to helping people worldwide to understand Christianity, especially through education and literature.
Vishvapani Blomfield
Writer, editor, and teacher of Buddhism, mindfulness and meditation. He is a member of the Triratna Buddhist Order, and a Thought for the Day contributor.
TELEVISION
PREMIER AWARD
Life of Muhammad
Crescent Films / Rageh Omaar for BBC Two
Presenter: Rageh Omaar
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012mkg5
RUNNER-UP
The King James Bible: The Book that Changed the World
BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC Two
Presenter: Melvyn Bragg
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zmc6f
MERIT
Ian Hislop: When Bankers Were Good
Wingspan Productions for BBC Two
Presenter: Ian Hislop
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b017nf4k
MERIT
Wonderland: A Hasidic Guide to Love, Marriage and Finding a Bride
BBC Factual for BBC Two
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011crqs
RADIO TIMES READERS’ AWARD
Songs of Praise 50th Anniversary
BBC One / BBC Religion & Ethics
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b015tw8c
RADIO
PREMIER AWARD
Resurrection Stories
BBC Radio Scotland
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010fk44
RUNNER-UP
Faith and 9/11
BBC Radio 2 TBI Media
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0147v1y
MERIT
Something Understood: Abraham
BBC Radio 4
Unique Productions
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00f5w10
MERIT
Good Friday Reflection
Central FM
PREMIER
The Nativity
Red Planet Pictures / BBC Wales for BBC One
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00x15ny
RUNNER-UP
Our World: God’s Beggar Children
BBC News Channel / BBC World News
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tyklv
MERIT
Benedict: Trials of a Pope
BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC Two
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ttj16
MERIT
Rev
Big Talk Productions for BBC Two
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0178fhq
RADIO TIMES READERS’AWARD
The Nativity
Red Planet Pictures / BBC Wales for BBC One
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00x15ny
RADIO
PREMIER AWARD
King James Bible: Readings
BBC Radio 4
BBC Religion & Ethics
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00xh4s3
RUNNER-UP
The Pope’s British Divisions
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio Current Affairs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tmtxn
MERIT
Good Friday Special
National Prison Radio
Prison Radio Association
http://www.prisonradioassociation.org/national-prison-radio/
MERIT
Jesus Meek and Mild
The Pulse, West Yorkshire
MERIT
All Things Considered: Sarah Joseph
BBC Radio Wales
Producer: Lisa Hawkins
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/radiowales/sites/allthingsconsidered/updates/20100801.shtml
TELEVISION
PREMIER AWARD
The Bible: A History, Episode 1: Creation
Pioneer Productions for Channel 4
Presenter: Howard Jacobson
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-bible-a-history
RUNNER-UP
A History of Christianity, Episode 1
BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC Four
Presenter: Prof Diarmaid MacCulloch
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00nrtr8
MERIT
1984: A Sikh Story
BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC One
Presenter: Sonia Deol
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00pzc69
MERIT
Did Darwin Kill God?
BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC Two
Presenter: Conor Cunningham
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00jhfwt
RADIO TIMES READERS’ AWARD
A History of Christianity, Episode 1
BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC Four
Presenter: Prof Diarmaid MacCulloch
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00nrtr8
RADIO
PREMIER AWARD
Twin sisters: Two faiths
BBC Radio 4
Ladbroke Productions
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00jsw51
RUNNER-UP
The Understanding
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio Drama
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lpcgw
MERIT
All Things Considered: Treasures out of Darkness
BBC Radio Wales
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/radiowales/sites/allthingsconsidered/updates/20100606.shtml
MERIT
Dear God
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
Susie Rack
MERIT
Something Understood: Hospitality
BBC Radio 4
Loftus Audio
TELEVISION
PREMIER AWARD
Miracle on the Estate
BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC One
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b009kj7d
RUNNER-UP
The Passion, Episode 3
BBC Drama / Deep Indigo / HBO for BBC One
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b009kftc
RUNNER-UP
The Qu’ran
Juniper / Antony Thomas for Channel Four
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-quran
MERIT
Dispatches: Saving Africa’s Witch Children
Red Rebel / Oxford Scientific Films for Channel Four
http://www.veoh.com/watch/v196340339cSNnb35?h1=Saving+Africa%27s+Witch+Children
RADIO TIMES READERS’ AWARD
Around the World in 80 Faiths, Programme 1
BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC Two
Presenter: Peter Owen Jones
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ggfcn
RADIO
PREMIER AWARD
Witness, Episode 4: Tested
BBC Radio 4
BBC Religion & Ethics/BBC Drama
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008hpc9
RUNNER-UP
Christmas Awakening
BBC Scotland
Producer: Mo McCullough
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00g66mx
MERIT
Let us Pod: Bereavement
Clifton Diocese Website and BCfm Community Radio for Bristol
Producer: Mary Colwell
http://archive.cliftondiocese.com/2627
MERIT
Heart and Soul: Fatwas
BBC World Service
Producer: Katy Hickman
TELEVISION
PREMIER AWARD
The Boys from Baghdad High
Renegade Pictures/ StoryLab TV for BBC Two
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/this_world/7170477.stm
RUNNER-UP
Once Upon A Time in Iran
Maya Vision International for Channel 4
http://mayavisionint.com/project/once-upon-a-time-in-iran/
MERIT
The Retreat, Programme 3
Tiger Aspect for BBC Two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVo0BlAnT44
MERIT
Songs of Praise, Orkney
Tern Television for BBC One
Presenter: Sally Magnusson
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008pt31
RADIO TIMES READERS’ AWARD
Extreme Pilgrim, Programme 3
BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC Two
Presenter: Peter Owen Jones
PREMIER AWARD
Greater Love Hath No Man
BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC One
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007r6yd
RUNNER-UP
Arts & Soul, Programme 3: Beyond Belief
BBC Scotland TV Factual for BBC Two Scotland
Presenter: Richard Holloway
MERIT
The Convent, Programme 3
Tiger Aspect for BBC Two
http://www.tvrage.com/the-convent
MERIT
Every Parent’s Nightmare
BBC Religion & Ethics for BBC One
Presenter: The Rev’d Julie Nicholson
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/05_may/22/nightmare.shtml
RADIO TIMES READERS’ AWARD
The Convent
Tiger Aspect for BBC Two
PREMIER AWARD
7/7: A Test of Faith, with Rageh Omaar
Granada Factual North for ITV1
Presenter: Rageh Omaar
http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b8babb6ea
RUNNER-UP
Priest Idol
Diverse (Bristol) / Jerusalem Productions for Channel 4
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1471896/TV-hunt-for-parish-priest.html
http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2005/nov/06/features.review87
MERIT
Tsunami: Where Was God?
3BM Television for Channel 4
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/tsunami-where-was-god
MERIT
The Monastery
Tiger Aspect / Jerusalem Productions for BBC Two
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00cklrq
RADIO TIMES READERS’ AWARD
Tsunami: Where Was God?
3BM Television for Channel 4