Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Mrs Fox | 20130923 | Andrea Riseborough reads this earthy, sensual fable by Sarah Hall. A husband is shocked out of his complacency when his wife undergoes a remarkable transformation. Written by Sarah Hall Abridged by Julian Wilkinson Produced by Gemma Jenkins The BBC National Short Story Award is one of the most prestigious and established awards for a single short story. The 2013 shortlist reveals the strength and depth of the current short story scene, with five very different but equally beguiling stories vying for the top position and the £15,000 Award. From the pens of writers both hugely acclaimed and very new, come tales that range from the magical to the all too real. Surprising twists, quiet grief and vivid imagination are hallmarks of this year's bumper crop. The readers include Hattie Morahan, Andrea Riseborough and Claire Skinner. Running across the week (and with the authors interviewed on Front Row the previous evening) listeners can enjoy a literary treat at 15.30 each afternoon from Monday, 23rd September and maybe choose their own favourites. The winner and the runner-up will be announced live on Front Row on Tuesday, 8th October. The stories will be available as a free download following broadcast, and in an anthology published by Comma Press. By Sarah Hall. A husband is shocked when his wife undergoes a remarkable transformation. Stories shortlisted for the National Short Story Award |
| 02 | Barmouth | 20130924 | The annual family holiday to the Welsh coast conjures childhood memories of a car packed full of children, parents, grandparents, picnics and arguments. In trips taken years later tensions old and new remain ever present. Written by Lisa Blower By Lisa Blower. The annual holiday conjures memories of children, picnics and arguments. Stories shortlisted for the National Short Story Award |
| 03 | Prepositions | 20130925 | By Lionel Shriver. Resentments finally surface years after the World Trade Center attacks. Stories shortlisted for the National Short Story Award |
| 04 | Notes From the House Spirits | 20130926 | Hattie Morahan reads the next story up for this prestigious award, a chronicle of the happenings and lives of the neglectful inhabitants of a particular house. Written by Lucy Wood On Tuesday, 8th October the announcement of the winning short story and the runner up will be broadcast live from the Radio Theatre at BBC Broadcasting House on Front Row. By Lucy Wood. The lives and happenings of the neglectful inhabitants of a particular house Stories shortlisted for the National Short Story Award |
| 05 | We Are Watching Something Terrible Happening | 20130927 | By Lavinia Greenlaw. Haunting story about the chaos of a disintegrating relationship. Stories shortlisted for the National Short Story Award |