BBC Asian Network up for top Sony Radio Academy award

Raj Dhanda and Pablo Sat-Bhambra are among the Asian Network's regular presenters

BBC Asian Network has been nominated for a leading radio award, three years after being threatened with closure as part of a corporation shake-up.

It is one of three stations shortlisted for the UK station of the year prize at the 2013 Sony Radio Academy awards.

Classic FM and Radio 5 live are also up for what will be the top honour when the awards are handed out on 13 May.

Asian Network was previously nominated in 2007, 2008 and 2009 for the digital station of the year award.

There are 10 nominations in all for 5 live, whose citations include nods for Danny Baker, Nicky Campbell and Victoria Derbyshire in the speech radio broadcaster category.

Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, who will present the awards at London's Grosvenor House Hotel next month, is among the nominees for the breakfast show of the year prize.

But there was no nomination in this category for Radio 1's Nick Grimshaw, whose first and only consideration comes for best use of multiplatform.

Absolute Radio's Christian O'Connell is up for three prizes - more than any other presenter - including music radio personality of the year.

To win the accolade, though, he will have to vanquish Radio 1Xtra's Charlie Sloth, Classic FM's John Suchet, Radio 2 veteran Ken Bruce and 6 Music's Lauren Laverne.

Other big names up for prizes include Rolling Stones member Ronnie Wood, X Factor host Dermot O'Leary, musician Jamie Cullum and Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker.

John Myers, chairman of the organising committee, said he was "particularly delighted to see many new faces appearing amongst the nominations".

Last year's awards saw BBC 6 Music, another digital station that faced the axe in 2010, named UK station of the year.

This year sees the introduction of the Sony Golden Headphones Award, the recipient of which will be entirely decided by radio listeners.