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´óÏó´«Ã½ Cymru Wales will double the amount of network radio drama it produces in the next two years, confirming its growing status as a centre of excellence for drama.

Building on the strength of its radio and TV drama reputation, which includes plans for a drama village due to open in 2011, the boost for Wales is part of a wider strategic move by the ´óÏó´«Ã½ to increase production outside of London.

Welcoming the news, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales Head of English Language Programmes Clare Hudson said: "Drama is a key genre for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4 and also for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 3. It requires exceptional talent and very specialist skills and I'm really proud of the track record we have in our Wales drama team.

"It's a major tribute to their hard work over the past few years that we're getting this boost to our radio drama slate."

As part of the radio drama move, the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s Head of Radio Drama Alison Hindell will return from London to ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales where she was formerly a senior producer.

As Head of Audio Drama, she will lead all in-house audio drama production across the UK from her new Wales base.

"Alison Hindell comes back to Wales to lead a very strong team which includes major production talent in Kate McAll," said Clare Hudson.

"Alison is herself an exceptional talent and will play a major role in the development of the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s radio drama strategy across the UK in the years to come.

"We are really thrilled to be welcoming her back to ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales."

Notes to Editors

´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales currently produces a range of radio drama for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4 and ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 3. Productions include a number of Radio 4 Afternoon Play dramas – among them the Torchwood series Asylum, Golden Age, Lost Souls and The Dead Line.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales has also produced award-winning writers such as Stef Penney, whose Classic Serial adaptation of The Worst Journey In The World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard included music specially composed by Goldfrapp, played by the National Orchestra of Wales.

Others include Mark Gatiss's Saturday play Murder Every Monday; Oscar-winner Julian Fellowes, who adapted his own novel Snobs for a ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales Woman's Hour production; plus Gillian Clarke, Catrin Clarke, Gwyneth Lewis and Lynne Truss are among those who have written several original plays produced by ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales radio drama.

Alison Hindell is a Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (FRWCMD), an honour she was awarded in 2006 for services to drama in Wales.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales' new drama centre at Roath Basin, Cardiff Bay will be central to a growing stable of network TV drama produced in Wales – recent productions have included the award-winning Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

KSD