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The competition searching for new Playwrights has now closed.

We've been asking for submissions of 15 minute fictional radio plays with a connection to Hampshire, Dorset or the Isle of Wight. Our expert judging panel chose the best three plays which were recorded by a company of professional actors at a live performance at Thornden Hall in Chandler’s Ford in April 2018. Here are the details of the winning plays along with information about the authors.

The spring of 1976 is a time of great joy for Southampton couple Rod and Sandra. They're expecting their first child, and if things couldn't get better than this, Saints have reached the FA Cup Final! The problem is, the baby is due on 1 May, the same day that Lawrie McMenemy will lead his team out at Wembley against Manchester United. This leaves Rod with a decision to make... does he go to the football with his best friend Albie or stay at home and support his heavily pregnant wife?

Ben was born in Fair Oak, grew up in Southampton and now lives in Bristol with his wife and two young children. A graduate of the Cardiff University Journalism school, he works as a freelance television producer, so writes every day as part of his job - albeit in factual TV rather than drama! Ben is keen to push on with his creative writing, and has a few other half-finished scripts and novels that he's determined to revisit following his success in the Radio Solent New Scriptwriters competition.

This is a story about two friends. One of them has been having a few setbacks and is feeling rather lost. So they go to the Isle of Wight to cheer her up, have some fun and possibly see a rather elusive animal.

Gillian and Georgina have been friends since meeting at work several years ago, but have only recently started writing together. They were delighted to be chosen as one of the winners of this competition and are looking forward to hearing their play performed. Both would like to thank Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio Solent for running the competition and the support given during this process. Currently they are working on a long term project which they hope will be just as successful. When not writing, they are both members of book groups, keen theatre goers and belong to the same quiz team.

Lucy takes her boyfriend, the recently ordained Reverend Jonathan, for a birthday trip in her hot-air balloon. But when the wind drops they end up marooned above Dorset's most embarrassing landmark, the Cerne Abbas Giant. Can the straight-laced Jonathan cope with the potential embarrassment and is their mutual affection strong enough to survive their differences?

Stephen was born in Canada, but grew up in Scotland and the Republic of South Africa. He has published a number of short stories and his plays have been performed in Bath, Brighton, Bristol, London and Salisbury. In 2015 he graduated with an MA in Scriptwriting at Bath Spa University. Off The Rock Productions will record his radio play 'The Destiny of Shoes' in 2018.

The judges:

James Barry, Dorset-based freelance Writer and Director Sarah Sullivan, Writer from Thornden Hall in Hampshire Paul Marchbank, Director of the School of Media Arts and Technology at Southampton Solent University.

Congratulations also to our runners-up:

• Development by Ben Sears
• Fossils by Angie Johnson
• Grey Watch by Dan Hobson & Jon Bridle
• My Hero by Susan Byron
• Planning by Julie Ferry
• Saints by Terry Buss
• The Cardinal Buoy by Philip Merivale