The award winning radio production company has been working with the Women’s Library, London Metropolitan University to put together a special programme presented by historian and broadcaster Dan Snow.

The hour long show – The Lost World of the Suffragettes – is this Saturday night’s Archive on 4 on BBC Radio 4 and centres around interviews conducted by Oxford historian Sir Brian Harrison over a 7 year period from 1974-1981.

Many of the women were in their 80s and 90s when they were interviewed but all gave sharp testimony of their time in the movement including graphic details of being force fed and drugged whilst on hunger strike in prison.

The programme also lifts the lid on the splits in the cause and questions whether it was the militant suffragettes like Manchester woman Emeline Pankhurst or the much more moderate suffragists who eventually won the vote for women.

Meanwhile we hear about leading suffragettes’ attitude to men and how some of the women found themselves at stark logger heads with the women’s lib movement of the 1970s.

Dan Snow’s great, great grandfather was the Liberal Prime Minister David Lloyd George who eventually granted the first votes to women at the end of the First World War in 1918.

The idea for the programme came from MIM Creative Director Ashley Byrne and suffrage historian Elizabeth Crawford and has taken four years to get off the ground.

Ashley says: “This archive is amazing as all these women lived quite extraordinary lives.  It’s a credit to Sir Brian Harrison that he was able to glean so much from them.”

He adds: “Who better to present this programme than Dan Snow. Having such a connection to the period through his great, great grandfather makes his contribution particularly special.”

As well as the archive, the programme also includes analysis from Baroness Brenda Dean and Director of Liberty Shami Chakrabarti as well as suffrage historian Elizabeth Crawford and the man behind the tapes, Sir Brian Harrison.

Archive on 4 – The Lost World of the Suffragettes – airs from 8pm until 9pm on BBC Radio 4 this Saturday, 11th February 2012

More details about the entire archive are available at http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/thewomenslibrary/

The series which casts former Coronation Street and Emmerdale star Vicky Binns in the lead role will play out for 15 weeks on RTE’s dedicated children’s station RTEjr from February 18th with a slot at 11am each Saturday morning. 

The 10 minute episodes which revolve around Suzie and her colour-changing monster friend Smert already air on the UK’s only children’s station, Fun Kids Radio in the South East but this is the first time a national broadcaster has taken the series. 

MIM Creative Director Ashley Byrne says: “We are delighted to be able to bring Suzie Pugh and her adventures to Irish audiences. We have long been admirers of RTE and its commitment to children’s programming. Getting youngsters to use their imaginations in this increasingly visualized world can only be a good thing and we salute RTEjr for bringing exciting and engaging audio to a new generation.” 

Martina McGlynn, Head of RTEjr Radio says: “We are delighted to be broadcasting this children’s series and we are thrilled that the voice of such a well known and experienced actor will now be heard on RTEjr Radio on Saturday mornings.” 

She adds: “At RTEjr Radio we want to encourage parents to sit with their children for just 30 minutes a week and to listen to radio. Suzie Pugh and a Monster Too is an engaging and fun series for kids aged 3-8 and would be perfect for parent-child together listening.” 

News that Suzie Pugh and Monster Too is to TX in Ireland comes just days after Made in Manchester won the Best Online Drama Award at the BBC’s New Audio Drama Awards.  The company took the gong for ROCK – Tim Fountain’s piece about Hollywood legend Rock Hudson. Rock was aired as part of a series of dramas produced by MIM for The Independent online. 

Suzie Pugh and Monster Too is written and created by MIM’s Phil Collinge and stars Vicky Binns as Suzie Pugh and Steve Murphy (Shameless, The Street, Life on Mars) as Smert. It is produced by Iain Mackness and Executive Produced by Ashley Byrne. www.suziepugh.com  http://www.rte.ie/digitalradio/rtejr/ or www.funkidslive.com

In a star-studded ceremony presented by former Dr Who actor David Tennant, MIM was recognised for its piece about Hollywood legend Rock Hudson.

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 as part of a pioneering experiment to introduce audio drama to new audiences via The Independent newspaper online. ROCK can still be heard at www.independent.co.uk/drama

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.”

 And Ashley is now calling on the powers that be inside the BBC to seriously think about opening up their online space to audio drama. 

He says: “Writers, actors, producers all love making audio drama but they rarely get the chance to do so. The BBC has it in its power to give this unique genre more space and to introduce it to new audiences.”

 Ashley, who made 5Live’s first-ever drama last summer, would also like to see audio drama introduced to BBC stations beyond Radio 3 and Radio 4.  Ha adds: “If we can do it on 5Live and online via the Independent, just think what could be done on say, Radio 2. Biopics about popular figures like Rock Hudson would be perfect there.”

 Rock starred Bette Bourne as Henry Willson, Michael Xavier as Rock Hudson, Paul Kendrick as the publicist, Iain Mackness as Phyllis and Matthew Ganley as the newsreader. Original music was composed by Matthew Ganley.  It was written and directed by Tim Fountain, produced by Iain Mackness and the Executive Producer was Ashley Byrne.

 The BBC’s Audio Drama Awards were held in the Radio Theatre at BBC Broadcasting House. They were hosted by David Tennant with special guests including Richard Wilson, June Whitfield, Rising Damp actor Don Warrington, Johnny Vegas and Eastenders’ and Goodness Gracious Me star Nina Wadia. 

Made in Manchester’s 5Live drama was called Don’t Cry For Me, Maradona and starred Tim Healy as legendary England football manager Bobby Robson and his wife (and Big Brother winner) Denise Welch as Elsie Robson. 

As well as adult audio drama, MIM is currently making children’s audio drama and comedy with the company’s series Suzie Pugh and a Monster Too (starring Coronation Street’s Vicky Binns) being aired on Fun Kids Radio, the digital station for children in the South East of England.

One of Made in Manchester’s ground-breaking audio dramas for the Independent online is up for a top new award.

Rock, the company’s production about legendary Hollywood movie star Rock Hudson has been nominated for Best Online Drama in the BBC’s Inaugural Audio Drama Awards which will be hosted by former Dr Who star David Tennant later this month.

Tim Fountain’s critically acclaimed drama examines how the Rock Hudson name and image was manufactured by 1950’s Hollywood.  Veteran character actor Bette Bourne stars as agent Henry Willson with Rock Hudson played by West End leading man Michael Xavier.

Made in Manchester’s Creative Director Ashley Byrne says: “We’re delighted to be shortlisted for this award.

“When we set out on this project we were determined to introduce radio drama to fresh new audiences and we’ve certainly succeeded in that.
Thousands of people have been listening to our productions from all around the world.

Ashley adds: “Radio drama is a brilliant way to break new writing and new talent and we’ve been delighted to have the support of such big names too.
Rock is brilliantly written and directed by Tim Fountain, the actors are excellent and producer Iain Mackness has done a fantastic job. It’s a quality piece.”

You can still listen to Rock online at www.independent.co.uk/drama

Among the actors who have starred in MIM’s dramas for The Independent on line – Simon Callow, the History Boys’ and Desperate Romantics’ Samuel Barnett – and Coronation Street and Emmerdale star Vicky Binns.

The dramas have included As We Forgive Them (about death row in the United States), Dreaming of Foxes (about Ted Hughes), Turing’s Test (about enigma code breaker Alan Turing) and Death In Genoa (about the latter days of Oscar Wilde’s life).

The projects have also been supported by theatre director Joyce Branagh, poet Ian McMillan and Reggie Perrin creator David Nobbs.

The BBC’s Inaugural Audio Drama Awards’ winners will be announced on Sunday 29th January during a ceremony hosted by David Tennant at the BBC Radio Theatre at Broadcasting House in London.

Fun Kids Radio, which currently carries Suzie Pugh and a Monster Too at 12 noon each weekday has ordered Suzie Pugh and Christmas Too for Boxing Day.

The series, which centres around ‘an ordinary girl from an ordinary street in the North of England and her colour changing alien friend Smert’ has been proving very popular with kids who listen to the digital and online radio station.

Writer and creator Phil Collinge says of the Christmas episode: “It’s Christmas and Suzie Pugh has to leave Smert alone while she goes to visit her Granny. But Smert’s not alone for long – the evil Arthur Halfbottom is looking for him. Can Smert escape and reach Suzie Pugh before his nemesis catches up with him and who is that old bloke in the red coat?”

Made in Manchester Creative Director Ashley Byrne adds: “We’re delighted to be doing a Christmas Special for Fun Kids. Suzie Pugh is proving a real hit with children who listen to the station right across the UK. Vicky and the rest of the cast really enjoy making these adventures and we are hoping we’ll have even more good news for Suzie fans in the New Year too.”

Suzie Pugh and a Monster Too can be heard at 12 noon each weekday on Fun Kids – on DAB in London and the South East and online at www.funkidslive.com The Christmas Special will go out 12 noon on Friday, 23rd December and will be repeated at 1pm on Boxing Day.

For a sneak preview of Suzie Pugh go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z54Rk4fonGg or go to the Suzie Pugh website www.suziepugh.com

Made in Manchester’s Creative Director Ashley Byrne says: “It’s important we write about and promote what we really know and understand and Andy has been at the forefront of one our core passions for many years.” 

Andy was reporter/producer for MUTV between 1999 and 2007 before becoming Head of Sport at Channel M. He continues to work on a consultancy basis for MUTV and writes extensively for the Football League website – roles he will carry on with as he leads Made in Manchester’s PR and Marketing department into an exciting new era. 

Ashley adds: “You can always tell when a PR team doesn’t really understand what it is they’re promoting. You’ve got to really believe in what you are marketing to do it well and that’s why we want Andy to follow his passion and those of the rest of the company.”

Sport has long been a passion for MIM which was co-founded by Olympic swimmer James Hickman. Clients have included the FINA World Swimming Championships 2008, WNBA, Sports Aid and The World Lacrosse Championships. 

And now the company wants its PR arm to build on its arts, culture and media connections as well. 

“Our production department makes dozens of award-winning programmes across all genres every year for the BBC and other networks – from investigative docs to children’s programmes – but so much of what we and the rest of the independent production sector is doing in TV, radio and online goes unnoticed and unreported.

 “With the arrival of Media CityUK, it’s time to change that and Andy will be looking to put some of those businesses who are doing tremendous things in TV and radio production, in film, in animation, in post production well and truly on the map. 

Past clients in the arts have included the 24:7 Theatre Festival and Feelgood Productions. 

Andy Dickman says of his new role: “Of course we will be casting our net much wider than the North West but Manchester is the home of world class sport, world class media and world class arts – and what could be more appropriate than a company called Made in Manchester to help promote it. It’s a no brainer really!” 

Part of the new focus adopted by the MIM PR department will be about developing affordable PR and Marketing packages for small and medium sized arts, culture, media and sports businesses. 

Andy adds: “We recognise the financial climate we are in and we’ll be looking to formulate realistic and cost-effective quality campaigns for media, arts, culture and sporting organisations.” 

For further information about MIM’s PR and Marketing services contact Andy Dickman or Ashley Byrne at andy@madeinmanchester.tv or ashley@madeinmanchester.tv

Its adventure series based around a character called Suzie Pugh, played by former Emmerdale and Coronation Street actress Vicky Binns, is to make its broadcast debut on Britain’s only dedicated children’s radio station.

Fun Kids, which broadcasts in London and the South East on DAB Digital Radio and across the UK online, has initially commissioned 10 episodes of Suzie Pugh and a Monster Too from Made in Manchester.

The adventure series, which will debut at the start of autumn half term on October 24th, revolves around a little girl and her alien friend (a purple monster from outer space) who lives in her garden shed.

Speaking about her new role Vicky Binns says: “Playing Suzie Pugh is a joy. We have as much fun doing it as children do listening to it.”

Writer, creator and Made in Manchester producer Phil Collinge says: “This is radio for young kids – and they love it! They like using their imaginations and the silly stories and daft noises never fail to amuse them.

Phil adds: “Suzie Pugh is an ordinary little girl from an ordinary street in the North of England but she’s never short of exciting adventures.”

Suzie’s monster friend is called Smert and is played by character actor Steve Murphy who has starred in Shameless, Life on Mars and The Street.

“Smert can change colour but generally he’s purple and he has lots of friends, most of them called Dave or Brian but mainly Dave. And then there’s Beryl the watering can!” explains Phil.

Suzie Pugh and a Monster Too will be in good company. Fun Kids – the children’s radio station – also hosts radio shows around Thomas and Friends, Angelina Ballerina, Horrid Henry and Dennis and Gnasher.
Suzie Pugh tops a strong year for Made in Manchester. The company produced 5Live’s first-ever drama – Don’t Cry For Me, Maradona (starring Tim Healy as Sir Bobby Robson and Denise Welch as Lady Elsie) and had success with Barbara Windsor’s Funny Girls series for BBC Radio 2 with documentaries about Hattie Jacques and Hylda Baker.

Fun Kids won the 2011 Sony Radio Academy Award for ‘Best Digital Station’ and was the Arqiva Commercial Digital Station of the Year 2010 – described by judges as ‘unique in targeting parents who want their children to listen to radio for fun, games and learning.’

Matt Deegan, Station Manager of Fun Kids says: “Whether it’s One Direction’s new single, information about the latest toy or listening in on Horrid Henry’s latest adventure, at Fun Kids we’re focused on content that enhances our little listeners’ lives. We’re therefore delighted to welcome Suzie Pugh to the station and are sure it will become a new favourite.”

For the Suzie Pugh website go to www.suziepugh.com

For further information about Fun Kids go to www.funkidslive.com

The comments come as the BBC reveals plans to syndicate some off peak output across BBC local stations.

 In the past year, Made in Manchester’s productions have included a 10 part history series ‘John Stapleton’s History of Greater Manchester’ which ran over 10 days and was later repeated over 10 Saturdays on BBC Radio Manchester.

 MIM’s drama for 5Live ‘Don’t Cry For Me, Maradona’ (starring Tim Healy as Sir Bobby Robson) was also broadcast to great fanfare on BBC Radio Newcastle. 

Creative Director of Made in Manchester Ashley Byrne says: “To be frank in the indie sector we are very used to delivering quality with small teams and on very small budgets. As a sector we’ve been providing quality cost-effective programming for national BBC networks for years, why shouldn’t we be able to bid to do the same for BBC Local? 

“Just because it’s not been the norm in the past doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be tried. I’ll be writing today to Peter Salmon, the Head of BBC North and David Holdsworth who heads up BBC English Regions to encourage them to start a dialogue around this area. 

Ashley adds: “This isn’t just about getting more work for our sector, though of course that would be nice, but i really do think we can help the BBC think creatively about how it serves the regions and continues to do so distinctively.

 “Perhaps we can think beyond the traditional news and sport output and deliver the icing on the cake programmes like the history series. There is more to broadcasting than news and sport – and contrary to popular belief it doesn’t need to be ultra expensive either. 

“The 5Live Northern kicker fund has seen new companies even spring up as a result and we’re talking about very small amounts of money there. Just think what could be done to help the wider media economy if the indie sector was able to bid regularly to make BBC Local content?!” 

Ashley, who is also a director of the indie sector national trade body The Radio Independents Group, says he’s speaking independently of RIG but will also be suggesting RIG lobbies on the issue too. 

Made in Manchester is one of the few independent radio production companies which makes programmes right across all the BBC National Radio Networks. This year’s successes have included programmes in Barbara Windsor’s Funny Girls series for Radio 2, 5Live’s first drama and a ground-breaking programme on bisexuality for BBC Radio 4