The Listening Books Award for the Spoken Word 2005, goes to Rory Bremner.

 
Rory Bremner is presented with The Listening Books Award for the Spoken Word 2005,
before an audience of over 1000 people at The Guardian Hay Festival, 28th May 2005,
by Listening Books patron, Stephen Fry.

Nominations for this award included all sorts of people from politicians and clergymen to TV presenters and pop stars.  The task of the judges could have been impossible, but in the end it was easy, because one of the nominees can very convincingly represent all the others. 

And Rory Bremner is far more than just an impressionist.  Without doubt he is one of our greatest entertainers, but there is a political edge to his work that has turned his television programme into required viewing for everyone interested in current events.  As broadcasters have been cutting back on serious news programmes, Rory has used comedy to make a wider audience think about world events.  It has even been said that at a time when the Government had a huge majority in Parliament, Rory and his colleagues on ‘Bremner Bird and Fortune' were the most effective opposition around.  But the other parties didn't get off lightly.  No one has been spared his relentless debunking of pomposity and incompetence.

This is an award for the Spoken Word.  It is hard to think of anyone who has used his voice more skilfully in the past year.

Listen to James Naughtie talk about our charity and The Listening Books Award for the Spoken Word.