Rock Hudson radio drama wins BBC award
A radio production about gay actor Rock Hudson was named Best Online Drama at the BBC’s first Audio Drama Awards at the weekend.
Hudson died in 1985 from an AIDS-related illness after starring in nearly 70 films.
Production company Made in Manchester was presented with the award for the drama based on his life by former Dr Who star David Tennant, who also took home a Best Actor award.
ROCK was written and directed by Tim Fountain and starred Michael Xavier as Rock Hudson and Bette Bourne as legendary agent Henry Willson.
It was one of a number of pieces produced by Made in Manchester released via The Independent online.
Hudson, who was married to Willson’s secretary for three years in the 1950s, reportedly once seduced James Dean to win a bet against Elizabeth Taylor.
Dean starred in the movie Giant with Taylor and Hudson, but he died before the film was released.
Noreen Nash claimed: “Elizabeth and Rock took bets on who could get James Dean into bed first.
“I had an idea Rock would win but Elizabeth wasn’t so sure. James was troubled but gorgeous.”
MIM’s Creative Director Ashley Byrne says: “We are delighted to have been recognised for this piece by the BBC. Special thanks must go to writer and director Tim Fountain, the actors, to producer Iain Mackness who pulled this production off in extra quick time and of course to The Independent online for giving us a platform.”
Byrne called on the BBC to expand its online space for audio drama.
He said: “Writers, actors, producers all love making audio drama but they rarely get the chance to do so. The BBC has it in their power to give this unique genre more space and to introduce it new audiences.”
ROCK can still be heard at the Independent.
