Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Rag Love, By M J Hyland | 20110912 | Rag Love by MJ Hyland is the first of the shortlisted stories in contention for this year's BBC National Short Story Award. Set in 1960s Sydney, the presence of a luxurious liner offers Trudy and her husband, James, a tantalising opportunity to fulfil their dreams. For a free podcast of the story go to the Radio 4 website, where you can also join the debate about the shortlist. The shortlist for this year's BBC National Short Story Award is an exciting mix of short fiction by established and newer writers ranging from the contemporary, the intriguing, to the poignant. Now in its sixth year the BBC National Short Story Award is an exciting annual award that celebrates the best of the contemporary British short story. The winning entry will be announced on Front Row on Monday, 26th September, live from the awards ceremony in central London, and the winning author will receive £15,000. This year's judging panel comprises, Sue MacGregor, BBC Radio 4 broadcaster (Chair), Joe Dunthorne, poet and author of Submarine, author and journalist Geoff Dyer, Tessa Hadley, whose most recent novel is The London Train, and Di Speirs, Editor Readings, BBC Radio. The BBC National Short Story Award is funded by the BBC, and is administered in partnership with Booktrust. As well as being broadcast, the stories will appear in a published anthology and, in their audio form, will also be available from AudioGo later in the year. Read by Mike Sengelow. Produced by Elizabeth Allard. MJ Hyland's story about hopes and dreams is the first contender for this major award. Stories shortlisted for the National Short Story Award |
| 02 | The Heart Of Denis Noble | 20110913 | The Heart of Denis Noble by Alison MacLeod is the imagined recreation of the pioneering biologist's eureka moment, the point at which he came to understand the machinations of the human heart. It is the next of five stories shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award 2011. This year's shortlist is an exciting mix of short fiction by established and newer writers ranging from the contemporary, the intriguing, to the poignant. Now in its sixth year the BBC National Short Story Award is an exciting annual award that celebrates the best of the contemporary British short story. The winner will be announced on the evening of Monday, 26th September, live from the award ceremony, on Radio 4's flagship arts programme, Front Row. Read by Tim Pigott-Smith Abridged by Viv Beeby Produced by Elizabeth Allard. By Alison MacLeod. The imagined life of a pioneering biologist facing his eureka moment. Stories shortlisted for the National Short Story Award |
| 03 | Wires | 20110914 | The third story in contention for this major award is by Jon McGregor. A young woman marvels at the way in which her mind responds to the near-death experience of a sugar beet smashing through the windscreen of her car. Reader: Lydia Wilson Abridged and produced by Gemma Jenkins. Established and newer writers bring an exciting mix of short fiction to Radio 4. Now in its sixth year the BBC National Short Story Award is an annual award that celebrates the best of the contemporary British short story. The five stories shortlisted for the award will be announced on the evening of Friday, 9th September, on Radio 4's flagship arts programme Front Row, and the winning entry on Monday, 26th September live from the awards ceremony in central London. By Jon McGregor. A young woman marvels at how her mind responds to a near-death experience Stories shortlisted for the National Short Story Award |
| 04 | The Human Circadian Pacemaker, By K J Orr | 20110915 | The Human Circadian Pacemaker is by KJ Orr. Following a lengthy mission to space, a newly returned astronaut readjusts to daily life, and his wife struggles to negotiate his changed and shifting rhythms. The fourth of the five shortlisted stories in contention for the BBC National Short Story Award 2011. This year's shortlist brings an exciting mix of stories ranging from the contemporary, the intriguing to the poignant by established and newer writers. Now in its sixth year the BBC National Short Story Award is an exciting annual award that celebrates the best of the contemporary British short story. The five stories shortlisted for the award will be announced on the evening of Friday, 9th September, on Radio 4's flagship arts programme Front Row, and the winning entry live at the awards ceremony in central London on Monday, 26th September. Read by Indira Varma. Abridged by Sally Marmion Produced by Elizabeth Allard. KJ Orr's story about return and readjustment is the next contender for this major award. Stories shortlisted for the National Short Story Award |
| 05 | The Dead Roads | 20110916 | The fifth story in contention for this major award is by DW Wilson. Violence threatens to break out as three friends road trip across Canada. Reader: Trevor White Abridger: Alison Joseph Producer: Gemma Jenkins Established and newer writers bring an exciting mix of short fiction to Radio 4. Now in its sixth year the BBC National Short Story Award is an exciting annual award that celebrates the best of the contemporary British short story. The five stories shortlisted for the award will be announced on the evening of Friday, 9th September, on Radio 4's flagship arts programme Front Row, and the winning entry live from the award ceremony on Monday, 26th September. By DW Wilson. Violence threatens to break out as three friends road-trip across Canada. Stories shortlisted for the National Short Story Award |