Cerys Matthews wins Sony music radio broadcaster award

'Engaging, funny, passionate and knowledgeable,' said the judges

Former chart star turned DJ Cerys Matthews has been named top music radio broadcaster for her show on BBC 6 Music.

The former Catatonia singer won the annual Sony Award for her Sunday morning show.

She dedicated her win to the BBC, saying: "Despite all the backlash and the criticisms... without them, we'd be all the poorer."

The judges described Matthews as a "totally unique listen".

Posting a message on Twitter yesterday, Matthews said: "I'm like a child on pop at moment. I may burst."

'Totally unique'

And on Facebook later she sent a "big thank you to everyone for their well wishes".

As well as the radio show Cerys on 6, Cardiff-born Matthews can also been on TV assisting friend Sir Tom Jones in nurturing aspiring singers in his role as a judge on BBC programme The Voice UK.

She rose to fame in the Welsh indie band Catatonia in the 1990s.

She still writes music and performs gigs and is due to appear in Swansea at the end of the month.

The Sony judges described her as a "totally unique listen".

"This broadcaster has grown in to an engaging, funny, passionate and knowledgeable host with a truly individual style," they said.

"The show leaves you wanting to find out more about the wild range of glorious treats it plays."

Today programme presenter John Humphrys won the Sony award for radio journalism of the year for his interview with George Entwistle which led to his resignation as the BBC's director general.

Judges described Cardiff-born Humphrys as a "giant among radio news journalists".