Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | All the People Were Mean and Bad by Lucy Caldwell | 20210920 | The first in this year's BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University. In this story about love and lust, and the kindness of strangers, a woman makes a heart-breaking decision on a flight back to London.
Now in its sixteenth year, the BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University is one of the most prestigious for a single short story. Following the announcement of the shortlist on Radio 4's Front Row, on Friday 10th September, the five stories in contention for the 2021 award will be broadcast each weekday afternoon on Radio 4 at half past three from Monday, 20th September. Each of the shortlisted writers will be interviewed the evening preceding the broadcast of their story on Front Row, and the winner will be announced live on the programme Tuesday 19th October. All the stories will be available on BBC Sounds after broadcast, and there will be a special edition of the Short Story podcast for each to download.
For links and the most up to date information go to bbc.co.uk/nssa
Read by Laura Pyper
Abridged and produced by Justine Willett
The first in this year's BBC National Short Story Award. Read by Laura Pyper. Stories shortlisted for the National Short Story Award |
| 02 | The Body Audit by Rory Gleeson | 20210921 | The second in this year's BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University. In this story, a group of teenagers carry out a revealing ritual, with surprising results.
Now in its sixteenth year, the BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University is one of the most prestigious for a single short story. Following the announcement of the shortlist on Radio 4's Front Row, on Friday 10th September, the five stories in contention for the 2021 award will be broadcast each weekday afternoon on Radio 4 at half past three from Monday, 20th September. Each of the shortlisted writers will be interviewed the evening preceding the broadcast of their story on Front Row, and the winner will be announced live on the programme Tuesday 19th October. All the stories will be available on BBC Sounds after broadcast, and there will be a special edition of the Short Story podcast for each to download.
For links and the most up to date information go to bbc.co.uk/nssa
Read by Emmet Kirwan
Abridged and produced by Anne Isger
The second in this year's BBC National Short Story Award. Read by Emmet Kirwan. Stories shortlisted for the National Short Story Award |
| 03 | Night Train by Georgina Harding | 20210922 | The third story on the shortlist for this year's BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University. Two strangers take the night train from Lvov to Kiev in Ukraine and strike up a conversation.
Now in its sixteenth year, the BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University is one of the most prestigious for a single short story. Following the announcement of the shortlist on Radio 4's Front Row, on Friday 10th September, the five stories in contention for the 2021 award will be broadcast each weekday afternoon on Radio 4 at half past three from Monday, 20th September. Each of the shortlisted writers will be interviewed the evening preceding the broadcast of their story on Front Row, and the winner will be announced live on the programme Tuesday 19th October. All the stories will be available on BBC Sounds after broadcast, and there will be a special edition of the Short Story podcast for each to download.
For links and the most up to date information go to bbc.co.uk/nssa.
Read by Sian Thomas
Abridged and produced by Julian Wilkinson.
The third in this year's BBC National Short Story Award. Read by Sian Thomas. Stories shortlisted for the National Short Story Award |
| 04 | Toadstone, By Danny Rhodes | 20210923 | The fourth in this year's BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University. In this story, a man returns to his childhood village, and is haunted by his future. Now in its sixteenth year, the BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University is one of the most prestigious for a single short story. Following the announcement of the shortlist on Radio 4's Front Row, on Friday 10th September, the five stories in contention for the 2021 award will be broadcast each weekday afternoon on Radio 4 at half past three from Monday, 20th September. Each of the shortlisted writers will be interviewed the evening preceding the broadcast of their story on Front Row, and the winner will be announced live on the programme Tuesday 19th October. All the stories will be available on BBC Sounds after broadcast, and there will be a special edition of the Short Story podcast for each to download. For links and the most up to date information go to bbc.co.uk/nssa Read by Shaun Dooley Abridged and produced by Anne Isger The fourth in this year's BBC National Short Story Award. Read by Shaun Dooley. Stories shortlisted for the National Short Story Award |
| 05 | Maykopsky District, Adyghe Oblast by Richard Smyth | 20210924 | The final story in this year's BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University - a Cold War tale of secrets and lies out on the Russian steppe.
Now in its sixteenth year, the BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University is one of the most prestigious for a single short story. Following the announcement of the shortlist on Radio 4's Front Row, on Friday 10th September, the five stories in contention for the 2021 award will be broadcast each weekday afternoon on Radio 4 at half past three from Monday, 20th September. Each of the shortlisted writers will be interviewed the evening preceding the broadcast of their story on Front Row, and the winner will be announced live on the programme Tuesday 19th October. All the stories will be available on BBC Sounds after broadcast, and there will be a special edition of the Short Story podcast for each to download.
For links and the most up to date information go to bbc.co.uk/nssa
Read by Blake Ritson
Producer: Justine Willett
The final story in this year's BBC National Short Story Award. Read by Blake Ritson. Stories shortlisted for the National Short Story Award |