Demo Factor

Christian Sayers – Winner 2022

Christian Sayers, 2022 Winner comes to meet the judges.

After two years of virtual events from the Judges kitchens, Demo Factor 2022 returned LIVE and in person to SRACon’s first evening at Northern Stage, Newcastle University with host station NSR. It was also a second appearance in Newcastle for Demo Factor after we rolled up in 2014.

2008 first time Demo Factor winner and now Absolute Radio presenter, Ben Burrell, returned for his fifth time to host the stage and keep the judges in check. That panel was made up of Julie Cullen (BBC 5Live), Pandora (Heart), Aled Haydn-Jones (BBC Radio 1), Paul Sylvester (Absolute Radio) and returning head judge, Chris North (North Media Talent).

Being back in one space, listening to the demos in front of each other and to hear live and in person feedback was exhilarating for all. Most of the delegates had never seen the show live but they came and uploaded their demos. It’s fair to say the room was a mixture of nerves and anticipation, and that was just from the Judges!

(L-R) Paul Sylvester, Pandora, Ben Burrell (Host), Chris North, Julie Cullen, Aled Haydn-Jones

2022 introduced the Demo Factor 1-2-1, a demo clinic to conference. This was the first-time delegates got to play their demo to a guest industry judge earlier that afternoon and get feedback on what they could work on to improve. With a queue down the corridor, it proved so popular that it’s become a regular fixture!

Five Golden Buzzers were handed out to a fantastic set of students:

Martha Owen, Scratch Radio (Paul),

Imogen Brewer, Fly Live (Aled),

Christian Sayers, Insanity Radio (Pandora),

Astrid MacQuillin, LSR, Leeds Student Radio (Julie)

William King, URY, University Radio York (Chris, who controversially retro-buzzed)

It was Christian Sayers from Insanity Radio (Royal Holloway) who however was chosen by the judges as the best demo of the night and winner of the 2022 Demo Factor.