MAUREEN LIPMAN WINS THE LISTENING BOOKS AWARD FOR THE SPOKEN WORD

The charity is proud to announce that the winner of this year's Listening Books Award for the Spoken Word is the actor and writer Maureen Lipman.

The award is presented to someone who has used their voice to make a difference or give pleasure – and Maureen Lipman does both. Over nearly 40 years her acting career has taken in everything from Shakespeare to Doctor Who, via the National Theatre production of Oklahoma! and the part of Dim Sum opposite Ian McKellan's Widow Twankey in the celebrated Old Vic pantomime, Aladdin. She has appeared in plays by her late husband, the Great Jack Rosenthal, and of course she was Beattie in the classic British Telecom adverts. Last year she took up the challenge of reading out the phone book to a live audience – and was not only a sensation, but raised £165 for charity by auctioning the book afterwards. She has a special place in the hearts of Listening Books' members, who queue up to borrow her recordings. Among the most popular are her renditions of Joyce Grenfell's work on Choice Grenfell, and her readings of her autobiographical books including How Was it For You? and Something to Fall Back On.

The two previous winners of the Listening Books Award for the Spoken Word were Rory Bremner and Melvyn Bragg. Nominations come from the members, staff and supporters of Listening Books, and the winner is chosen by a panel of four judges: Stephen Fry -- Patron of Listening Books, Joanna Lumley -- actor, Bill Dee -- Director of Listening Books, and Peter Florence -- Director of the Guardian Hay Festival.

Maureen Lipman received her award from James Naughtie, presenter of the BBC Radio 4 'Today' programme at the Hay Festival on Bank Holiday Monday, 28 May.