Controversial Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles has been nominated for a prestigious award, just three days after his show was rapped by the broadcasting watchdog for the second time in just two weeks.
Controversial Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles has been nominated for a prestigious award, just three days after his show was rapped by the broadcasting watchdog for the second time in just two weeks.
Moyles's programme is up for the breakfast show gong at the Sony Radio Academy Awards, the radio industry's Oscars.
The announcement comes after Ofcom said Moyles's show breached its code last October by allowing Russell Brand to make a lewd joke about Andrew Sachs's granddaughter on air in the wake of the obscene phone calls scandal.
Another Ofcom ruling on March 23 found that Moyles had breached the code again in January by mocking the singer Will Young in a high-pitched, effeminate voice.
Ofcom said listeners could reasonably have thought the piece was "promoting and condoning certain negative stereotypes based on sexual orientation" as Young is gay.
Moyles's show won the gold award in the category last year, and will defend it against fellow nominees Nicky Campbell and Shelagh Fogarty for Radio 5 Live Breakfast, Radio Clyde's Bowie @ Breakfast, Shaun Keaveny on BBC 6 Music and Kiss 100's Breakfast with Rickie, Melvin and Charlie. Absolute Radio - which used to be called Virgin - earned seven nominations, including three in the entertainment category.
Classical and pop music go head to head for the coveted UK station of the year award, with Radio 1 nominated alongside Radio 3 and Classic FM.
First-time nominees include talkSPORT's Ian Wright, Classic FM's Alex James and Radio 4's Evan Davis.
The awards will be presented at a ceremony hosted by Chris Evans in London's Grosvenor House Hotel on May 11.
Top nominations
Breakfast Show
5 Live Breakfast,Radio 5; Bowie @ Breakfast, Radio Clyde; Kiss 100 Breakfast with Rickie, Melvin and Charlie; Shaun Keaveny; BBC 6 Music; Chris Moyles, below, Radio 1;
Music Broadcaster of Year
Alex James, Classic FM; David Rodigan, Kiss Network; Mark Radcliffe, Radio 2; Steve Lamacq, 6 Music, Radio 2 and Radio 1; Stuart Maconie, Radio 2 and 6 Music.
Speech Broadcaster of Year
Edi Stark, Radio Scotland; Evan Davis, BBC News for Radio 4; John Humphrys, BBC News for Radio 4; Nick Ferrari, LBC 97.3; Simon Mayo, BBC News for 5 live.
