John Tydeman receives a Lifetime achievement award at The Radio Production Awards 2010
John Tydeman played a key role in BBC radio drama for nearly four decades,as producer, Assistant Head and then Head of Radio Drama from 1986 until 1994 and thereafter a freelance director of plays for the BBC and for commercial audio CD’s and cassettes.
During his time at the BBC he worked with most of Britain’s great actors and writers and gave early encouragement to writers Joe Orton, Tom Stoppard and Sue Townsend amongst others He directed most of the major plays in the classical repertory, from Greek drama to Shakespeare, Chekhov and Shaw. He was also active in contemporary
theater, directing works by John Osborne, Stoppard, Albee, Pinter and many others. Directing for television and the stage has been a regular feature throughout his busy career.
Amongst other Awards he has won the Prix Italia, the Prix Futura (twice), several Sony’s, the Broadcasting Press Guild Award for the most outstanding programme on radio in 1983. In 1994 he was given the Sony Special
Award for his work and in 2004 was made an OBE by the Queen for his services to Sound Drama.