Brand new stories, from today’s best writers written exclusively for Radio 4 – the home of the Short Story
Radio 4 is the world’s leading commissioner of new short stories. Expect excellent writing from the hottest names offering compelling snapshots of the way we live now, produced by the experts behind the BBC National Short Story Award and other in-house readings teams.
Lauren Layfield presents this year's special showcase of the five shortlisted stories for the 2025 BBC Young Writers' Award.
Alongside the 20th anniversary of the National Short Story Award, this year's BBC Young Writers’ Award with Cambridge University is open to all writers between the ages of 14 –18 and was created to discover and inspire the next generation of writers. It is a cross-network collaboration between BBC Radio 4 and Radio 1. The winner receives a personalised mentoring session with an author to enhance their writing skills.
Listen now to the whole 2025 BBC Young Writers’ Award shortlist.
Podcast produced by Ellie Marsh and Bethany Woodhead
Have you got a story tell? Submissions will open again in the new year for the 2026 Award - keep a look out!
20 Sept 2024
NSSA 2024 - Ghost Kitchen by Ross Raisin
Ashley Margolis reads Ghost Kitchen by Ross Raisin, the fifth story shortlisted for the 2024 BBC National Short Story Award, followed by an interview with the author on BBC Radio 4's Front Row
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
20 Sept 2024
NSSA 2024 - Nice Dog by Vee Walker
Paterson Joseph reads Nice Dog by Vee Walker, the fourth story shortlisted for the 2024 BBC National Short Story Award, followed by an interview with the author on BBC Radio 4's Front Row
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
18 Sept 2024
NSSA 2024 - Pieces by Manish Chauhan
Rebekah Staton and Hasan Dixon read Pieces by Manish Chauhan, the third story shortlisted for the 2024 BBC National Short Story Award, followed by an interview with the author on BBC Radio 4's Front Row
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
17 Sept 2024
NSSA 2024 - The Barber of Erice by Will Boast
Mark Strong reads The Barber of Erice by Will Boast, the second shortlisted story for the 2024 BBC National Short Story Award, followed by an interview with the author on BBC Radio 4's Front Row
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
17 Sept 2024
NSSA 2024 - Hamlet, a Love Story by Lucy Caldwell
Lisa Dwyer Hogg reads Hamlet, a Love Story by Lucy Caldwell, the first shortlisted story for the 2024 BBC National Short Story Award, followed by an interview with the author on BBC Radio 4's Front Row
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
15 Sept 2024
BBC Young Writers' Award Showcase with Katie Thistleton
Katie Thistleton presents a showcase of the five shortlisted stories for this year's BBC Young Writers' Award.
Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, the BBC Young Writers’ Award with Cambridge University is open to all writers between the ages of 14 –18 and was created to discover and inspire the next generation of writers. It is a cross-network collaboration between BBC Radio 4 and Radio 1. The winner receives a personalised mentoring session with an author to enhance their writing skills.
The 2024 BBC Young Writers’ Award shortlist with Cambridge University is:
‘A Human, a Robot and a Gosling Walk into a Post-Apocalyptic Bar’ by Basmala Alkhalaf
‘The Quiet’ by Amaan Foyez
‘Special’ by Lulu Frisson
‘Confession’ by Vivienne Hall
‘Nathalie’s Flatmate’ by Aidan Vogelzang
Podcast produced by Rick Woska
21 May 2024
An Affliction by Lottie Mills
A specially commissioned short story for BBC Radio 4 by the award-winning Lottie Mills. In this fantastical tale, a strange illness takes hold of those living at the Saint Francis Invalid Colony...
Lottie Mills won the BBC Young Writers Award in 2020, and her debut collection, Monstrum is published in 2024. In her stories, Lottie delights in the uncanny, the unusual and the unique power of outsiders.
Reader: Hayley Atwell
Producer: Justine Willett
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
25 Apr 2024
When Love Sucks by Naomi Wood
A new short story for Radio 4 by the award-winning writer, Naomi Wood.
Nursing a broken heart, a woman turns to an AI dating coach for help - with unexpected results.
Writer: Naomi Wood is the winner of the 2023 BBC National Short Story Award, and author of three novels, including the award-winning Mrs Hemingway, and a new collection of stories, This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things.
Reader: Rose Robinson
Producer: Justine Willett
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
8 Feb 2024
Minor Disturbances by Cherise Saywell
A specially commissioned story from BBC NSSA 2023 shortlistee, Cherise Saywell.
Reader: Katie Leung
Producer: Elizabeth Allard
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
20 Oct 2023
Hearing Aids by Roddy Doyle
A newly commissioned story from Roddy Doyle, author of The Commitments and the 1993 Booker Prize winner, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha.
Read by Liam Carney
Produced by Nicola Holloway
Podcast presented by Rick Woska
17 Sept 2023
2023 BBC Young Writers' Award Showcase with Katie Thistleton
Listen to the five shortlisted stories from the 2023 BBC Young Writers' Award. Presented by Katie Thistleton and produced by Rick Woska.
Creation
Written by Daisy Kaye
Read by Ruth Everett
Produced by Ben Hollands
Fridays
Written by Evie Alam
Read by Laila Zaidi
Produced by Ben Hollands
Jessie's God
Written by Elissa Jones
Read by Kate O'Flynn
Produced by Lisa Kinga Wahinya
Skipper
Written by Iona McNeish
Read by Abbie Andrews
Produced by Rick Woska
The Wordsmith
Written by Atlas Weyland Eden
Read by Luke Treadaway
Produced by Rick Woska
15 Sept 2023
BBC National Short Story Award 2023 - Churail by Kamila Shamsie
Title: Churail
Author: Kamila Shamsie
Reader: Zoha Rahman
Producer: Ciaran Bermingham
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
14 Sept 2023
BBC National Short Story Award 2023 - The Storm by Nick Mulgrew
Title: The Storm
Author: Nick Mulgrew
Reader: Cokey Falkow
Producer: Ciaran Bermingham
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
13 Sept 2023
BBC National Short Story Award 2023 - It's Me by K Patrick
Title: It's Me
Author: K Patrick
Reader: Ell Potter
Producer: Tracey Neale
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
12 Sept 2023
BBC National Short Story Award 2023 - Guests by Cherise Saywell
The second story shortlisted for the 2023 BBC National Short Story Award.
Title: Guests
Author: Cherise Saywell
Reader: Nahel Tzagei
Producer: Ciaran Bermingham
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
11 Sept 2023
BBC National Short Story Award 2023 - Comorbidities by Naomi Wood
The first story shortlisted for the 2023 BBC National Short Story Award.
Title: Comorbidities
Author: Naomi Wood
Reader: Charlotte Ritchie
Producer: Justine Willett
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
2.7 / 5
68 ratings
Spotify
4.4 / 5
5 ratings
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