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List of BBC National Short Story Award winners

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BBC National Short Story Award
Awarded forBest short story by a UK national or resident
Sponsored byBBC Radio 4 with Cambridge University
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byBBC (formerly National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts)
Formerly calledNational Short Story Award (2006–2007)
First awarded2006
Currently held byComorbidities, Naomi Wood (2023)
WebsiteBBC National Short Story Award
Television/radio coverage
NetworkBBC Radio 4

The BBC National Short Story Award (known as the National Short Story Award in 2006 and 2007) is an annual short story contest in the United Kingdom which is open to UK residents and nationals.[1][2] It has been described as "one of the most prestigious [awards] for a single short story"[3] and the richest prize in the world for a single short story.[4] The award aims to increase interest in the short story genre, particularly British short stories.[2] As of 2017, the winner receives £15,000 and four shortlisted writers receive £600 each.[5][6]

It was founded in 2005 and announced at the Edinburgh International Book Festival the same year.[7] The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) were the main sponsor with support from BBC Radio 4 and Prospect magazine.[1] Originally, winners received £15,000 while runners up received £3,000 and shortlisted writers £500 each.[4][7] In 2008, the BBC became the main sponsor and the award was renamed from the 'National Short Story Award' to the 'BBC National Short Story Award'.[1]

In 2009, only women were featured on the shortlist.[8] This happened for the second time in 2013 and the fifth time in 2018.[9][10] In 2018, prize judge Di Speirs noted that the BBC National Short Story Award has never had an all-male shortlist.[11] Short stories written by women typically account for between 50 and 70% of all submissions.[12]

At 26 years old, Canadian writer D. W. Wilson became the youngest ever recipient of the award in 2011.[13][14] In 2020, Sarah Hall, who won the award in 2013 and 2020, became the first writer to have won the award twice.[15] In 2012, in honour of the 2012 Summer Olympics hosted in London, the competition was open to a global audience for one year only.[16] Ten stories were shortlisted, instead of five, and Bulgarian writer Miroslav Penkov won.[17]

Winners and shortlisted writers

[edit]

2000s

[edit]
BBC National Short Story Award winners and finalists, 2006–2009
Year Author Title Result Ref.
2006 James Lasdun An Anxious Man Winner [2]
Michel Faber The Safehouse Runner up [2]
Rose Tremain The Ebony Hand Shortlist [2]
William Trevor Men of Ireland Shortlist [2]
Rana Dasgupta The Flyover Shortlist [2]
2007 Julian Gough The Orphan and the Mob Winner [1]
David Almond Slog's Dad Runner up [1]
Jonathan Falla The Morena Shortlist [1]
Jackie Kay How to Get Away with Suicide Shortlist [1]
Hanif Kureishi Weddings and Beheadings Shortlist [1]
2008 Clare Wigfall The Numbers Winner [1][4]
Jane Gardam The People on Priviledge Hill Runner up [1]
Adam Thorpe The Names Shortlist [1]
Erin Soros Surge Shortlist [1]
Richard Beard Guidelines for Measures to Cope with Disgraceful and Other Events Shortlist [1]
2009 Kate Clanchy The Not-Dead and the Saved Winner [18]
Sara Maitland Moss Witch Runner up [18]
Jane Rogers Hitting Trees with Sticks Shortlist [18]
Lionel Shriver Exchange Rates Shortlist [18]
Naomi Alderman Other People's Gods Shortlist [18]

2010s

[edit]
BBC National Short Story Award winners and finalists, 2010–2019
Year Author Title Result Ref.
2010 David Constantine Tea at the Midland Winner [1][19]
Jon McGregor If It Keeps on Raining Runner up [1][19]
Helen Oyeyemi My Daughter the Racist Shortlist [1]
Sarah Hall Butcher's Perfume Shortlist [1]
Aminatta Forna Haywards Heath Shortlist [1]
2011 D.W. Wilson[a] The Dead Roads Winner [20][21]
Jon McGregor Wires Runner up [21]
K.J. Orr The Human Circadian Pacemaker Shortlist [21]
M. J. Hyland Rag Love Shortlist [21]
Alison MacLeod The Heart of Denis Noble Shortlist [21]
2012 Miroslav Penkov East of the West Winner [22][23]
Henrietta Rose-Innes Sanctuary Runner up [22][23]
Julian Gough The iHole Shortlist [23]
Carrie Tiffany Before He Left the Family Shortlist [23]
Chris Womersley In the Basement Shortlist [23]
Adam Ross A Lovely and Terrible Thing Shortlist [23]
Deborah Levy Black Vodka Shortlist [23]
M. J. Hyland Even Pretty Eyes Commit Crimes Shortlist [23]
Lucy Caldwell The Goose Father Shortlist [23]
Krys Lee Escape Routes Shortlist [23]
2013 Sarah Hall Mrs Fox Winner [24][25]
Lucy Wood Notes from the House Spirits Runner up [24][25]
Lavinia Greenlaw We Are Watching Something Terrible Happening Shortlist [26]
Lionel Shriver Prepositions Shortlist [26]
Lisa Blower Barmouth Shortlist [26]
2014 Lionel Shriver Kilifi Creek Winner [27][28]
Zadie Smith Miss Adele Amidst the Corsets Runner up [27][28]
Francesca Rhydderch The Taxidermist's Daughter Shortlist [28]
Rose Tremain The American Lover Shortlist [28]
Tessa Hadley Bad Dreams Shortlist [28]
2015 Jonathan Buckley Briar Road Winner [1][29]
Mark Haddon Bunny Runner up [1][30]
Hilary Mantel The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher Shortlist [30]
Jeremy Page Do It Now, Jump the Table Shortlist [30]
Frances Leviston Broderie Anglaise Shortlist [30]
2016 K.J. Orr Disappearances Winner [31][32]
Claire-Louise Bennett Morning, Noon & Night Runner up [31][32]
Lavinia Greenlaw The Darkest Place in England Shortlist [32]
Tahmima Anam Garments Shortlist [32]
Hilary Mantel In a Right State Shortlist [32]
2017 Cynan Jones The Edge of the Shoal Winner [33][5]
Jenni Fagan The Waken Shortlist [5]
Will Eaves Murmur Shortlist [5]
Helen Oyeyemi If a Book Is Locked There's Probably a Good Reason for That, Don't You Think? Shortlist [5]
Benjamin Markovits The Collector Shortlist [5]
2018 Ingrid Persaud The Sweet Sop Winner [11][34]
Nell Stevens The Minutes Shortlist [11]
Kiare Ladner Van Rensburg's Card Shortlist [11]
Sarah Hall Sudden Traveller Shortlist [11]
Kerry Andrew To Belong To Shortlist [11]
2019 Jo Lloyd The Invisible Winner [35]
Lynda Clark Ghillie's Mum Shortlist [35]
Tamsin Grey My Beautiful Millennial Shortlist [35]
Lucy Caldwell The Children Shortlist [35]
Jacqueline Crooks Silver Fish in the Midnight Sea Shortlist [35]

2020s

[edit]
BBC National Short Story Award winners and finalists, 2020–2024
Year Author Title Result Ref.
2020 Sarah Hall[b] The Grotesques Winner [36][37]
Eley Williams Scrimshaw Shortlist [37]
Jack Houston Come Down Heavy Shortlist [37]
Jan Carson In the Car With the Rain Coming Down Shortlist [37]
Caleb Azumah Nelson Pray Shortlist [37]
2021 Lucy Caldwell All the People Were Mean and Bad Winner [38][39]
Danny Rhodes Toadstone Shortlist [39]
Rory Gleeson The Body Audit Shortlist [39]
Georgina Harding Night Train Shortlist [39]
Richard Smyth Maykopsky District, Adyghe Oblast Shortlist [39]
2022 Saba Sams Blue 4eva Winner [40]
Kerry Andrew And the Moon Descends on the Temple That Was Shortlist [40]
Jenn Ashworth Flat 19 Shortlist [40]
Vanessa Onwuemezi Green Afternoon Shortlist [40]
Anna Bailey Long Way to Come for a Sip of Water Shortlist [40]
2023 Naomi Wood Comorbidities Winner [41]
Cherise Saywell Guests Shortlist [41]
K Patrick It's Me Shortlist [41]
Nick Mulgrew The Storm Shortlist [41]
Kamila Shamsie Churail Shortlist [41]
2024 Ross Raisin Ghost Kitchen Winner [42][43]
Will Boast The Barber of Erice Shortlist [42]
Lucy Caldwell Hamlet, a love story Shortlist [42]
Manish Chauhan Pieces Shortlist [42]
Vee Walker Nice Dog Shortlist [42]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ D. W. Wilson became the youngest ever recipient of the award in 2011.[13]
  2. ^ Sarah Hall is the only writer to have won the award twice.[15]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "BBC Radio 4 – BBC National Short Story Award – The 2016 Award". BBC. ISSN 2421-3667. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Ezard, John (4 April 2006). "Richest short story competition draws huge entry". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  3. ^ "London Met alum shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award - London Metropolitan University". London Metropolitan University. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Lea, Richard (4 July 2008). "Field narrows in race for richest story award". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "The BBC National Short Story Award Shortlist". Granta. 15 September 2017. ISSN 0017-3231. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Lucy Caldwell wins 16th BBC National Short Story Award". BBC. ISSN 2421-3667. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  7. ^ a b Edemariam, Aida (24 August 2005). "Keep it brief". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  8. ^ Flood, Alison (27 November 2009). "All-female shortlist for BBC National Short Story award". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  9. ^ Bury, Liz (20 September 2013). "All-woman shortlist for BBC short story award 2013". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  10. ^ Flood, Alison (14 September 2018). "BBC short story prize selects all-female shortlist for fifth time". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Flood, Alison (14 September 2018). "BBC short story prize selects all-female shortlist for fifth time". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  12. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - BBC National Short Story Award - What I've learned from 15 years of the BBC National Short Story Award". BBC. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  13. ^ a b "DW Wilson is youngest winner of BBC Short Story prize". BBC. 26 September 2011. ISSN 2421-3667. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  14. ^ Macdonald, Fleur (28 September 2011). "Youngest-ever winner of the National BBC Short Story Award". The Spectator. ISSN 0038-6952. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  15. ^ a b Flood, Alison (6 October 2020). "'Master' of short story Sarah Hall becomes first to win BBC prize twice". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  16. ^ Alison Flood (14 September 2012). "Deborah Levy joins shortlist for BBC international short story award". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  17. ^ "BBC short story prize to go global for Olympic year". BBC. 9 December 2011. ISSN 2421-3667. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  18. ^ a b c d e Flood, Alison (27 November 2009). "All-female shortlist for BBC National Short Story award". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  19. ^ a b Page, Benedicte (29 November 2010). "National Short Story award goes to David Constantine". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  20. ^ Westwood, Rosemary (6 September 2012). "D.W. Wilson: The Canadian who grabbed the Brit lit prize". The Globe and Mail. ISSN 0319-0714. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  21. ^ a b c d e Flood, Alison (9 September 2011). "BBC National Short Story award pits award-winning writers against students". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  22. ^ a b Alison Flood (3 October 2012). "Miroslav Penkov wins BBC international short story award". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Flood, Alison (14 September 2012). "Deborah Levy joins shortlist for BBC international short story award". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  24. ^ a b Liz Bury (8 October 2013). "Sarah Hall's tale of woman who turns into a fox wins BBC short story award". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  25. ^ a b "Sarah Hall wins the BBC National Short Story Award". BBC. 8 October 2013. ISSN 2421-3667. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  26. ^ a b c "All female shortlist for the BBC National Short Story Award 2013". The Telegraph. 20 September 2013. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  27. ^ a b "Lionel Shriver wins BBC National Short Story Award". BBC. 30 September 2014. ISSN 2421-3667.
  28. ^ a b c d e "BBC Radio 4 – BBC National Short Story Award – The BBC National Short Story Award Shortlist 2014". BBC. ISSN 2421-3667. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  29. ^ "Jonathan Buckley wins BBC National Short Story Award". BBC. 6 October 2015. ISSN 2421-3667.
  30. ^ a b c d Flood, Alison (16 September 2015). "Hilary Mantel's The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher makes shortlist for BBC short story award". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  31. ^ a b "Debut writer KJ Orr beats Hilary Mantel to short story prize". BBC. 4 October 2016. ISSN 2421-3667. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  32. ^ a b c d e Flood, Alison (16 September 2016). "Debut authors make BBC national short story award shortlist". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  33. ^ Flood, Alison (3 October 2017). "BBC national short story award goes to Cynan Jones". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  34. ^ "Ingrid Persaud wins BBC short story award". BBC. 2 October 2018. ISSN 2421-3667. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  35. ^ a b c d e "Welsh writer Jo Lloyd wins BBC Short Story prize". BBC. 1 October 2019. ISSN 2421-3667. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  36. ^ "Sarah Hall becomes first writer to win BBC National Short Story Award twice". BBC. 21 October 2020. ISSN 2421-3667. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  37. ^ a b c d e "Fifteenth BBC National Short Story Award shortlist revealed". BBC. ISSN 2421-3667. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  38. ^ Flood, Alison (19 October 2021). "Lucy Caldwell wins BBC national short story award for 'masterful' tale". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  39. ^ a b c d e "BBC National Short Story Award 2021 shortlist revealed". Belfast Telegraph. 10 September 2021. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  40. ^ a b c d e Shaffi, Sarah (4 October 2022). "Saba Sams wins BBC national short story award for 'transportive' tale". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  41. ^ a b c d e Creamer, Ella; Wood, Naomi (26 September 2023). "Bestselling author Naomi Wood wins 2023 BBC national short story award". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 October 2023. Includes full text of story
  42. ^ a b c d e "Lucy Caldwell up for BBC short story award". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  43. ^ Times, Yorkshire. "Ross Raisin Wins 19th BBC National Short Story Award". yorkshiretimes.co.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
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