Moyles hogs the limelight Just when it seemed last night's Sony Radio Academy Awards could not go on any longer - they traditionally outlast those other "academy" gongs, the Oscars - up strode Chris Moyles to the stage. Whilst every other winner was encouraged to shuffle off as quickly as possible, it rapidly turned into a Moyles tribute night, with organisers even inviting his parents along to hand him the prize for best breakfast show. "Let's be honest, I'm not going to come back, so I may as well make the most of it," the Radio 1 DJ told the audience. "You've been here five hours so what's another one?" Not one for the convention that you should be as gracious in victory as you are in defeat, Moyles said of his fellow nominees, Trent FM's Jo and Twiggy breakfast show: "I said if Jo and Twiggy won I was going to put a gun in my mouth and blow my head off." Moyles then took the opportunity to introduce each member of his team, individually, from the stage. "It feels like a lifetime achievement award," he said. No, Chris. Just a lifetime.
Lights Out, Boris The annual awards bash at London's Grosvenor House Hotel was honoured with an appearance by a floppy-haired chap who divides his audience and whose mass appeal, to some of us, is something of a mystery. No, not Jonathan Ross - although he was there too - but newly elected London mayor Boris Johnson, on hand to present the community award. But was there something oddly prescient about the winning entry? Capital Radio's Lights Out London. "Spooky," said Bo Jo.
Gambaccini gets excited The spectre of Global Radio, which in two fell swoops became the country's biggest commercial radio player with its buy-ups of Chrysalis Radio and then GCap Media, hung heavy over the awards. But Monkey spotted neither chief executive Ashley Tabor nor chairman Charles Allen at last night's do. Awards host Paul Gambaccini tackled the heavyweight issue of media ownership in his introductory speech - that's why he's such good value - but who on earth could he have been talking about? "Nearly half the commercial stations have been bought by a young man who is very well endowed. I look forward to licking his firm buttocks at the earliest opportunity." Answers on a postcard, please. Or possibly not.
Toolan has his hands full Spare a thought - although not a very big one - for Key 103 DJ Mike Toolan, part of the team that won a Sony gold award last night for best competition. Except Mike was, er, otherwise engaged when their win was announced. "On behalf of Mike Toolan, he is currently having a piss," announced his colleague Chelsea Norris on stage. "It will be the worst piss he has ever had." Fortunately Toolan made it to the stage in time for the photo. Let's hope he remembered to wash his hands.
In a hurry? Listen to O'Connell Monkey hesitates to be ungrateful, but the calibre of celebrity presenters last night failed to live up to previous years, which have included the likes of Sir Elton John. Still, at least pub landlord Al Murray, presenting the comedy gong, made us laugh. "And to think I missed the Sex and the City premiere for this." Murray was not entirely flattering about his one-time colleague, Virgin Radio breakfast host Christian O'Connell. "If I have to get up and leave the house quickly then I listen to Christian O'Connell. If I want a lie-in, Wogan does the job... he's not here is he?"
Lowe point It wasn't such a great night for Zane Lowe. The BBC Radio 1 DJ, who has won plenty of these gongs in the past, was up for a hat-trick of awards but failed to take gold in any of them. The disappointment from the Radio 1 section of the room - a mixture of "oohs", "ahs" and, increasingly, "arghs!" each time he missed out was palpable. Lowe lost in the music programme award to his BBC colleague, Radio 2's Dermot O'Leary. "Bloody hell," said the former Big Brother man. Funny. That's what Monkey was thinking.
Jesus wept Paul Whitehouse on picking up the comedy prize for BBC Radio 4's Down The Line: "I would like to thank Jesus and [co-writer and performer] Charlie Higson who is slightly better than Jesus."
Digital fanclub Last night's awards were not the occasion to suggest that digital audio broadcasting, or DAB radio, might not be the future. Oh no. Anyone and everyone was bigging up the new medium, from Sony UK managing director Steve Dowdle and his "DAB" rising star award to outgoing BBC radio boss Jenny Abramsky. DAB, said Dowdle, was a bit like CDs and digital TV. "It provides the same opportunity by delivering quality and enjoyment to millions of radio listeners but just like any new innovation it requires all the interested parties to work in co-operation to deliver the platform." And who knows, one day it might even make money - he didn't add.
Ross's old suit Does Jonathan Ross get paid enough? Monkey only asks after he revealed he was wearing a suit and a shirt both made in 1988. "The last time I wore it I was booed off stage at a Morrissey gig." Don't ask. It's a long story.
John Peel: a hard act to follow BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live was not always entirely appreciated by listeners when it first filled the slot left by the mighty John Peel's Home Truths. "After all those letters in green ink they came round," said the show's executive producer Maria Williams after winning the best speech programme award. There's hope for George Lamb yet.
