List of BBC National Short Story Award winners

Last updated
BBC National Short Story Award
Awarded forBest short story by a UK national or resident
Sponsored by BBC 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)
Website BBC National Short Story Award
Television/radio coverage
Network BBC 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 'the most prestigious [award] 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] Each year, the winner receives £ 15,000 and four shortlisted writers receive £ 600 each. [3]

Contents

It was founded in 2005 and announced at the Edinburgh International Book Festival the same year. [5] 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. [5] [4] 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]

The BBC National Short Story Award has never had an all-male shortlist. [6] In 2009, only women were featured on the shortlist. [7] This happened for the second time in 2013 and the fifth time in 2018. [8] [9] Canadian writer D. W. Wilson became the youngest ever recipient of the award in 2011. [10] [11] Sarah Hall, who won the award in 2013 and 2020, is the only writer to have won the award twice. [12]

In 2012, in honour of the 2012 Summer Olympics hosted in London, the competition was open to a global audience for one year only. [13] Ten stories were shortlisted, instead of five, and Bulgarian writer Miroslav Penkov won. [14]

Winners and shortlisted writers

2000s

BBC National Short Story Award winners and finalists, 2006–2009
YearAuthorTitleResultRef.
2006 James Lasdun An Anxious ManWinner [2]
Michel Faber The SafehouseRunner up [2]
Rose Tremain The Ebony HandShortlist [2]
William Trevor Men of IrelandShortlist [2]
Rana Dasgupta The FlyoverShortlist [2]
2007 Julian Gough The Orphan and the MobWinner [1]
David Almond Slog's DadRunner up [1]
Jonathan Falla The MorenaShortlist [1]
Jackie Kay How to Get Away with SuicideShortlist [1]
Hanif Kureishi Weddings and BeheadingsShortlist [1]
2008 Clare Wigfall The NumbersWinner [4] [1]
Jane Gardam The People on Priviledge HillRunner up [1]
Adam Thorpe The NamesShortlist [1]
Erin Soros SurgeShortlist [1]
Richard Beard Guidelines for Measures to Cope with Disgraceful and Other EventsShortlist [1]
2009 Kate Clanchy The Not-Dead and the SavedWinner [15]
Sara Maitland Moss WitchRunner up [15]
Jane Rogers Hitting Trees With SticksShortlist [15]
Lionel Shriver Exchange RatesShortlist [15]
Naomi Alderman Other People's GodsShortlist [15]

2010s

BBC National Short Story Award winners and finalists, 2010–2019
YearAuthorTitleResultRef.
2010 David Constantine Tea at the MidlandWinner [16] [1]
Jon McGregor If it Keeps on RainingRunner up [16] [1]
Helen Oyeyemi My Daughter the RacistShortlist [1]
Sarah Hall Butcher's PerfumeShortlist [1]
Aminatta Forna Haywards HeathShortlist [1]
2011 D.W. Wilson [lower-alpha 1] The Dead RoadsWinner [17] [18]
Jon McGregor WiresRunner up [18]
K.J. Orr The Human Circadian PacemakerShortlist [18]
M.J. Hyland Rag LoveShortlist [18]
Alison MacLeod The Heart of Denis NobleShortlist [18]
2012 Miroslav Penkov East of the WestWinner [19] [20]
Henrietta Rose-Innes SanctuaryRunner up [19] [20]
Julian Gough The iHoleShortlist [20]
Carrie Tiffany Before He Left the FamilyShortlist [20]
Chris Womersley In the BasementShortlist [20]
Adam Ross A Lovely and Terrible ThingShortlist [20]
Deborah Levy Black VodkaShortlist [20]
M.J. Hyland Even Pretty Eyes Commit CrimesShortlist [20]
Lucy Caldwell The Goose FatherShortlist [20]
Krys Lee Escape RoutesShortlist [20]
2013 Sarah Hall Mrs FoxWinner [21] [22]
Lucy Wood Notes from the House SpiritsRunner up [21] [22]
Lavinia Greenlaw We Are Watching Something Terrible HappeningShortlist [23]
Lionel Shriver PrepositionsShortlist [23]
Lisa Blower BarmouthShortlist [23]
2014 Lionel Shriver Kilifi CreekWinner [24] [25]
Zadie Smith Miss Adele Amidst the CorsetsRunner up [24] [25]
Francesca Rhydderch The Taxidermist's DaughterShortlist [25]
Rose Tremain The American LoverShortlist [25]
Tessa Hadley Bad DreamsShortlist [25]
2015 Jonathan Buckley Briar RoadWinner [26] [1]
Mark Haddon BunnyRunner up [1] [27]
Hilary Mantel The Assassination of Margaret ThatcherShortlist [27]
Jeremy Page Do It Now, Jump the TableShortlist [27]
Frances Leviston Broderie AnglaiseShortlist [27]
2016 K.J. Orr DisappearancesWinner [28] [29]
Claire-Louise Bennett Morning, Noon & NightRunner up [28] [29]
Lavinia Greenlaw The Darkest Place in EnglandShortlist [29]
Tahmima Anam GarmentsShortlist [29]
Hilary Mantel In a Right StateShortlist [29]
2017 Cynan Jones The Edge of the ShoalWinner [30] [31]
Jenni Fagan The WakenShortlist [31]
Will Eaves MurmurShortlist [31]
Helen Oyeyemi If a book is locked there's probably a good reason for that, don't you think?Shortlist [31]
Benjamin Markovits The CollectorShortlist [31]
2018 Ingrid Persaud The Sweet SopWinner [32] [6]
Nell Stevens The MinutesShortlist [6]
Kiare Ladner Van Rensburg's CardShortlist [6]
Sarah Hall Sudden TravellerShortlist [6]
Kerry Andrew To Belong ToShortlist [6]
2019 Jo Lloyd The InvisibleWinner [33]
Lynda Clark Ghillie's MumShortlist [33]
Tamsin Grey My Beautiful MillennialShortlist [33]
Lucy Caldwell The ChildrenShortlist [33]
Jacqueline Crooks Silver Fish in the Midnight SeaShortlist [33]

2020s

BBC National Short Story Award winners and finalists, 2020–2029
YearAuthorTitleResultRef.
2020 Sarah Hall [lower-alpha 2] The GrotesquesWinner [34] [35]
Eley Williams ScrimshawShortlist [35]
Jack Houston Come Down HeavyShortlist [35]
Jan Carson In the Car With the Rain Coming DownShortlist [35]
Caleb Azumah Nelson PrayShortlist [35]
2021 Lucy Caldwell All the People Were Mean and BadWinner [36] [37]
Danny Rhodes ToadstoneShortlist [37]
Rory Gleeson The Body AuditShortlist [37]
Georgina Harding Night TrainShortlist [37]
Richard Smyth Maykopsky District, Adyghe OblastShortlist [37]
2022 Saba Sams Blue 4evaWinner [38]
Kerry Andrew And the moon descends on the temple that wasShortlist [38]
Jenn Ashworth Flat 19Shortlist [38]
Vanessa Onwuemezi Green AfternoonShortlist [38]
Anna Bailey Long Way to Come for a Sip of WaterShortlist [38]
2023 Naomi Wood ComorbiditiesWinner [39]
Cherise Saywell GuestsShortlist [39]
K Patrick It's MeShortlist [39]
Nick Mulgrew The StormShortlist [39]
Kamila Shamsie ChurailShortlist [39]
2024 To be announced 12 September 2024 [40] Shortlist

Notes

  1. ↑ D. W. Wilson became the youngest ever recipient of the award in 2011.
  2. ↑ Sarah Hall is the only writer to have won the award twice.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "BBC Radio 4 - BBC National Short Story Award - The 2016 Award". BBC. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ezard, John (4 April 2006). "Richest short story competition draws huge entry". The Guardian . Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Lucy Caldwell wins 16th BBC National Short Story Award". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  4. 1 2 3 Richard Lea (4 July 2008). "Field narrows in race for richest story award". The Guardian . Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  5. 1 2 Edemariam, Aida (2005-08-24). "Keep it brief". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Flood, Alison (2018-09-14). "BBC short story prize selects all-female shortlist for fifth time". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  7. ↑ Flood, Alison (2009-11-27). "All-female shortlist for BBC National Short Story award". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  8. ↑ Bury, Liz (2013-09-20). "All-woman shortlist for BBC short story award 2013". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  9. ↑ Flood, Alison (2018-09-14). "BBC short story prize selects all-female shortlist for fifth time". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  10. ↑ "DW Wilson is youngest winner of BBC Short Story prize". BBC News. 2011-09-26. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  11. ↑ Macdonald, Fleur (2011-09-28). "Youngest-ever winner of the National BBC Short Story Award". The Spectator. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  12. ↑ Flood, Alison (2020-10-06). "'Master' of short story Sarah Hall becomes first to win BBC prize twice". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  13. ↑ Alison Flood (September 14, 2012). "Deborah Levy joins shortlist for BBC international short story award". The Guardian. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  14. ↑ "BBC short story prize to go global for Olympic year". BBC News. 2011-12-09. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Flood, Alison (2009-11-27). "All-female shortlist for BBC National Short Story award". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  16. 1 2 Page, Benedicte (2010-11-29). "National Short Story award goes to David Constantine". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  17. ↑ Rosemary Westwood (2012-09-06). "D.W. Wilson: The Canadian who grabbed the Brit lit prize". Toronto: The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 Flood, Alison (2011-09-09). "BBC National Short Story award pits award-winning writers against students". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  19. 1 2 Alison Flood (3 October 2012). "Miroslav Penkov wins BBC international short story award". The Guardian . Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Flood, Alison (2012-09-14). "Deborah Levy joins shortlist for BBC international short story award". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  21. 1 2 Liz Bury (8 October 2013). "Sarah Hall's tale of woman who turns into a fox wins BBC short story award". The Guardian. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
  22. 1 2 "Sarah Hall wins the BBC National Short Story Award". BBC. 8 October 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
  23. 1 2 3 "All female shortlist for the BBC National Short Story Award 2013". The Telegraph. 2013-09-20. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  24. 1 2 "Lionel Shriver wins BBC National Short Story Award". BBC News . September 30, 2014.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 "BBC Radio 4 - BBC National Short Story Award - The BBC National Short Story Award Shortlist 2014". BBC. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  26. ↑ "Jonathan Buckley wins BBC National Short Story Award". BBC . October 6, 2015.
  27. 1 2 3 4 Flood, Alison (2015-09-16). "Hilary Mantel's The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher makes shortlist for BBC short story award". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  28. 1 2 "Debut writer KJ Orr beats Hilary Mantel to short story prize". BBC News. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 Flood, Alison (2016-09-16). "Debut authors make BBC national short story award shortlist". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  30. ↑ Flood, Alison (3 October 2017). "BBC national short story award goes to Cynan Jones". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 "The BBC National Short Story Award Shortlist". Granta. 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  32. ↑ "Ingrid Persaud wins BBC short story award". BBC News. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 "Welsh writer Jo Lloyd wins BBC Short Story prize". BBC. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  34. ↑ "Sarah Hall becomes first writer to win BBC National Short Story Award twice". BBC National Short Story Award. October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 "Fifteenth BBC National Short Story Award shortlist revealed". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  36. ↑ Flood, Alison (19 October 2021). "Lucy Caldwell wins BBC national short story award for 'masterful' tale". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 "BBC National Short Story Award 2021 shortlist revealed". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2021-09-10. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 Shaffi, Sarah (4 October 2022). "Saba Sams wins BBC national short story award for 'transportive' tale". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  39. 1 2 3 4 5 Creamer, Ella; Wood, Naomi (26 September 2023). "Bestselling author Naomi Wood wins 2023 BBC national short story award". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 October 2023.Includes full text of story
  40. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 - BBC National Short Story Award - 2024 BBC Short Story Awards open". BBC. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
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