Orange Prize for Fiction and Award for New Writers judging panels announced

London, 17 December 2008: The Orange Prize for Fiction 2009 judges will be chaired by broadcaster Fi Glover, who will be joined by writer, novelist and broadcaster Bidisha, journalist and academic Sarah Churchwell, journalist and novelist Kira Cochrane and entrepreneur Martha Lane Fox.

Fi Glover commented: 'I am delighted to be asked to chair this year's Orange Prize. I can’t think of a better way to combat the vagaries and uncertainties of the world around us, than to lose myself in the wisdom and wonder of women's fiction.'

Meanwhile, the Orange Award for New Writers will be chaired by BBC World News presenter Mishal Husain, who will be joined by Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent for the Evening Standard and author Diana Evans, whose novel 26a won the inaugural Orange Award for New Writers.

Mishal Husain said: 'I'm delighted to be chairing this year's Orange Award for New Writers – it’s a chance to see the range of new talent among women writers from across the world and I look forward to a voyage of discovery in finding this year's winner.'