BBC local radio presenters awarded for “game-changing” Liz Truss interviews

Liz Truss

8 local radio presenters have been awarded for “holding Lizz Truss to account” after the then Prime Minister’s disastrous interviews in September last year.

The Broadcasting Press Guild award will be shared by:

Rima Ahmed, from BBC Radio Leeds

James Hanson, from BBC Radio Bristol

Graham Liver, from BBC Radio Lancashire

Anna Cookson, from BBC Radio Kent

John Acres from BBC Radio Stoke

Chris Goreham, from BBC Radio Norfolk

Sarah Julian, from BBC Radio Nottingham

Amy Oakden, from BBC Radio Tees

“As an organisation of journalists, the BPG is always among the first to see the value of great interviewing – and these BBC radio interviews were game-changing for Liz Truss and her doomed government,” stated Grant Tucker, Chair of the Broadcasting Press Guild.

“There is no doubt that the PM’s feet were held to the fire in these eight radio sessions in a way that stood out among so much drama that was happening in British politics last summer.”

Truss, who had remained silent following Chancellor Kwasi Kwateng’s “mini-budget” which sent the markets into overdrive, decided her first media interviews should be on BBC local radio.

That led Rima Ahmed to open questioning on Radio Leeds with “Where’ve yer bin?” and it didn’t get much better for the Prime Minister after that.

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The recognition comes as the BBC is implementing wide ranging cuts across its radio operation. Earlier this month staff held strike action over the decision.

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