2008 Judges

The 2008 Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction judging panel is chaired by journalist and broadcaster Kirsty Lang.

She is joined by Lisa Allardice who edits the Guardian Review, novelist Philippa Gregory and novelist, journalist and children’s author Bel Mooney.

‘I was extremely honoured to be asked to chair this year’s Orange Broadband Prize if not a little daunted by the task. However I do have a very strong line-up of judges which should make for some lively debates,’ said Kirsty Lang.

‘I’m excited by the international aspect of this prize. One of the best books I read last year was Half of a Yellow Sun and I would probably not have read it had it not won the Orange. I also think that in an increasingly crowded book market, the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction is more important than ever in getting women writers the exposure they need.’

The 2008 Orange Broadband Award for New Writers panel is chaired by Shami Chakrabarti, the director of Liberty, who is joined by writer Clare Allan, whose novel Poppy Shakespeare was shortlisted for last year’s award and Suzi Feay, literary editor of the Independent on Sunday.

Shami Chakrabarti said ‘There is no greater privilege than to be in the room at the birth of new literary talent. I am hugely excited to be part of the Orange Broadband Award for New Writers this year.’

New Writers' Award judge Clare Allan has been shortlisted for the MInd Champion of the Year Award. You can vote for her at

http://www.mind.org.uk
(the link will open in a new window)