Stories shortlisted for the National Short Story Award
Radio 4,·26 episodes
Burning Bush by Merryn Glover
The first contender for this year’s BBC National Short Story Award by Merryn Glover.
14 Sep 2026,·28 mins
Little Lands by Lucy Caldwell
Little Lands by Lucy Caldwell is the second story up for this prestigious award.
15 Sep 2026,·28 mins
Ditto by Cherise Saywell
Cherise Saywell’s ‘Ditto’ is up for the prestigious 2026 BBC National Short Story Award.
16 Sep 2026,·28 mins
A Second Opinion by Caoilinn Hughes
Caoilinn Hughes’ moving, humane story is up for the 21st BBC National Short Story Award.
17 Sep 2026,·28 mins
Two Minutes to Midnight by Laura Beatty
Two Minutes to Midnight by Laura Beatty is up for this award for the short story.
18 Sep 2026,·28 mins
The 2026 BBC Young Writers’ Award with Cambridge University, presented by Lauren Layfield
13 Sep 2026,·59 mins,·
You Cannot Thread a Moving Needle by Colwill Brown
Colwill Brown's powerful story is a contender for the BBC National Short Story Award.
19 Sep 2025,·28 mins,·
Little Green Man by Edward Hogan
Edward Hogan's tender story is in the running for the 20th BBC National Short Story Award.
18 Sep 2025,·28 mins
Two Hands by Caoilinn Hughes
Caoilinn Hughes' story is under consideration for the BBC National Short Story Award 2025.
17 Sep 2025,·28 mins
Yair by Emily Abdeni-Holman
Emily Abdeni-Holman's lyrical story is up for this year's BBC National Short Story Award.
16 Sep 2025,·28 mins
Rain: a history by Andrew Miller
Andrew Miller is the first wrier in contention for the 20th BBC National Short Story Award
15 Sep 2025,·28 mins
Ghost Kitchen by Ross Raisin
Ross Raisin's short story about a journey into the gig economy's dark underbelly.
20 Sep 2024,·28 mins
The Barber of Erice by Will Boast
The second of five stories in contention for this year's BBC National Short Story Award.
17 Sep 2024,·28 mins
Pieces by Manish Chauhan
The third of the five shortlisted stories for this year's BBC National Short Story Award.
18 Sep 2024,·28 mins
Nice Dog by Vee Walker
The fourth of the five shortlisted stories for this year's BBC National Short Story Award.
19 Sep 2024,·28 mins
Hamlet, a love story by Lucy Caldwell
The first of the five shortlisted stories for this year's BBC National Short Story Award.
16 Sep 2024,·28 mins
Comorbidities by Naomi Wood
Naomi Wood's winning story about a couple keen to spice up their sex life.
11 Sep 2023,·28 mins
Guests by Cherise Saywell
The second in this year's BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University.
12 Sep 2023,·28 mins
It's Me by K Patrick
The third in this year's BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University.
13 Sep 2023,·28 mins
The Storm by Nick Mulgrew
The fourth in this year's BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University.
14 Sep 2023,·28 mins
Churail by Kamila Shamsie
The fifth story in this year's BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University.
15 Sep 2023,·19 mins
And the moon descends on the temple that was by Kerry Andrew
The second in this year's BBC National Short Story Award. Read by Matthew Needham.
19 Sep 2022,·28 mins
Blue 4Eva by Saba Sams
Saba Sams' winning story about a family holiday abroad interrupted by an arrival.
20 Sep 2022,·28 mins
Flat 19 by Jenn Ashworth
The third in this year's BBC National Short Story Award. Read by Maxine Peake.
21 Sep 2022,·28 mins
Green Afternoon by Vanessa Onwuemezi
The fourth in this year's BBC National Short Story Award. Read by Nicholas Pinnock.
22 Sep 2022,·28 mins
Long Way to Come for a Sip of Water
The fifth in this year's BBC National Short Story Award. Read by Joseph Balderrama.
23 Sep 2022,·28 mins
