Gemma Cairney
Broadcaster and author
Judge , 2017

Gemma Cairney is a BBC broadcaster, magpie and life enthusiast who has won Sony Awards for making documentaries on subjects such as young people in violent relationships. She presents the show ‘The Surgery’ on BBC Radio 1 and also co-produced and presented the internet entertainment show ‘The Fox Problem’.
Gemma has presented programmes and one-offs for BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, 2, 3, 4, 4 Extra, 6Music and the BBC World Service. She is also the founder of the boutique production company Boom Shakalaka Productions. She likes to write, explore the planet, trek mountains and DJ garage classics. Her debut book, ‘Open: A toolkit for how magic and messed up life can be’, is due out in March 2017.
Other Book Prize Judges
-
Simon Baron-Cohen
Academic and author
-
Val McDermid
Author
-
Tim Lewens
Academic and author
-
Di Speirs
Radio editor and producer