Hall in the hall

Birmingham Town Hall was festooned with BBC executives last night, for the handing out of Gillard Awards to BBC local radio - Lord Hall, James Harding, and long-time radio animal Alan Yentob were all there.

Sadly, this year's judges weren't entirely on message with Lord Hall's drive for more female presentation at breakfast. That award went to Radio Nottingham's Andy Whittaker. Indeed, Radio Nottingham's online station tag is "the home of Andy Whittaker, Mark Dennison and Alan Clifford". Mind you, Andy was given this morning off - and Sarah Julian took over, so maybe she'll feature next year.

Some other big prizes went to blokes. Perry Spiller, of Radio Stoke, won best mid-morning show, and Nick Southall of Radio Shropshire was journalist of the year. Balancing things up, Trish Adudu of BBC Coventry and Warwickshire was judged best programme presenter, and Pam Caulfield picked up the original journalism prize for an investigation into abuse at an approved school in Worcestershire. Robert Elms of BBC London 94.9 got a statuette for outstanding contribution.

BBC Radio Newcastle won station of the year - their breakfast show has featured Charlie Charlton (she's a woman) alongside Alfie Joey since 2009. And in the latest listening figures, Newcastle topped the charts of English BBC stations outside London....