- 15 Minutes
Opening Lines 
Opening Lines
At the cutting edge of contemporary writing, five unpublished short stories read by voices new to radio.
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 01 | The Significance Of Hair | 20000207 | 20000327 | written and read by Olivia Williams. An intriguing story about the fine line between love and obsession. |
| 01 | 02 | Still Life | 20000208 | by Kevin Ramshaw, read by Robin Taylor. A businessman knocks down a pedestrian, who refuses to be taken to hospital. An unsettling and atmospheric story about guilt and obligation. | |
| 01 | 03 | A Day At The Cemetery | 20000209 | by Steve Tilley, read by Tom George. The local cemetery is thrown into chaos when a grave digger is stung by a wasp during a funeral. A humorous look at life, death and the universe. | |
| 01 | 04 | Dad, His Shed And Elvis | 20000210 | 20000326 | by Alexandra Johnson, read by Fiona Clarke. The tall stories a father tells his young daughter prove to have a lasting effect. |
| 01 | 05 LAST | Gunned Down | 20000211 | by Antony Mann, read by Ian Porter. A young boy witnesses his father's brutal murder. Fascinated, he follows the metamorphosis of the murderer through prison and parole to celebrity status as a talk show host. | |
| 02 | 01 | The Ascension Of Mary | 20000829 | by Catherine Smith, read by Grace Mitchell. While waiting in the queue at the Co-op cheese counter, Mary, a grey-haired, middle-aged woman, discovers that she can fly. | |
| 02 | 02 | Pound Of Flesh | 20000830 | by James Wood, read by Helen Ayres. Desperate to lose weight, a woman enrols at a slimming club, but she soon discovers that its methods are far from orthodox. | |
| 02 | 03 | Nobody's Perfect | 20000831 | by Stephenie Anderson, read by Sarah Beauvoisin. Matty Higginbotton foils a robbery with her ability to lip-read. | |
| 02 | 04 LAST | Never Any Better Sisters | 20000901 | by Jo Carrington, read by Amy Shindler. Sisterly rivalry leads to a bizarre case of harassment. | |
| 03 | 01 | The Girl With Green Lips | 20020204 | by Ruth Henderson. A teenage girl desperately tries to become part of the in crowd. | |
| 03 | 02 | Grip City | 20020205 | by Malcolm Wallis. The owner of a seaside amusement arcade refuses to pay a young man for services rendered. | |
| 03 | 03 | Blue | 20020206 | by Colette Snowden. A young couple enter a pact to permanently mark every significant date of their relationship. | |
| 03 | 04 | The Shallow End | 20020207 | by Chris Powell. Life at a down-at-heel hotel is seen through the eyes of an elderly woman, as she takes her daily swim. | |
| 03 | 05 LAST | Think Big | 20020208 | by Susan Davis. Effie decides to answer a personal ad from someone seeking a big woman. Read by Tracy Wiles | |
| 04 | 01 | Cliff | 20020729 | by Patrick Williams. In 1962, a young lad in Belfast prepares for his first date, but things do not run to plan. | |
| 04 | 02 | Red Sari | 20020730 | by Amanthi Harris. A Sri Lankan woman engaged to an Englishman is in conflict with her mother over what to wear for the ceremony. | |
| 04 | 03 | How Matteo Came To Change His Name | 20020731 | by Betty Weiner. Venetian schoolboy Matteo Pollo changes his name to Polo. | |
| 04 | 04 | Beaumaris | 20020801 | by Pavel Nevulski. A lecturer takes a female student on a research trip, but his intentions are rather less than honourable. | |
| 04 | 05 LAST | Beach Postcard | 20020802 | by Leslie Wilson. A teenager on a beach holiday with her parents is embarrassed when her mother insists on bathing topless. | |
| 05 | 01 | A Gesture Of Support | 20030331 | Written and read by Dariush Alavi. Mr Singh believes that by ignoring racial tensions, and moving house every time trouble arises, are the best ways to protect his family. | |
| 05 | 02 | Guatemala Moon | 20030401 | By Clare Bayley and read by Bruno Lastra. A beautifully crafted tale about the struggle to realise your dreams. Oswaldo longs to go to the moon. Orphaned by Guatemalan rebels while still a child, he has to learn to fend for himself and his dreams go forgotten. Starting out as a shoeshine boy he soon progresses to being a bus conductor and then a satellite dish engineer. He reluctantly takes responsibility for a six year old orphan, Juanita, who he befriends on the buses. However, what seems like an added burden soon becomes the key to Oswaldo fulfilling his dreams. | |
| 05 | 03 | The Other Side | 20030402 | By David Lloyd Gently comic story about moving on. After the death of her husband, Shirley has tried in vain to get back into the swing of things by joining various local groups, all with little or no success. Out of curiosity, she decides to visit a Psychic who is appearing at the community hall. This clairvoyant claims to have a message from Shirley's husband and it is during a private session at his home that Shirley realises what it is she wants from life. | |
| 05 | 04 | Some Kind Of Accident | 20030403 | By Molly Rogers Henry Parker visits his favourite park for the first time since his father was killed a year ago. Along with his mother, who is finding it difficult to cope, this short journey becomes one of discovery as both find a way to move out of their troubled past. | |
| 05 | 05 LAST | A Headache | 20030404 | By Thomas Pitts. A young law student temping at a bottle factory befriends a female co-worker when he needs an aspirin, and he gains a new perspective on life. | |
| 06 | 01 | City Of Victory | 20040705 | by Anita Saran John A magical tale set in Medieval India. Jehaan lives a life of luxury as the Queen's favourite but longs for the freedom of her nomadic childhood. Will she have the courage to follow her heart? Read by Badria Timimi Produced by Gemma Jenkins | |
| 06 | 02 | Dali's Wife | 20040706 | By Kefi Chadwick Inspiration strikes from an unexpected source when a young artist sets out on a romantic quest to find his muse. Read by Richard Firth | |
| 06 | 03 | Trusting Ginger | 20040707 | By Roger Jones. Ginger has won respect from the officers whilst serving a life sentence, but, given the chance, would he make a run for it? Read by Andy Hockley. | |
| 06 | 04 | The Monkey's Wedding | 20040708 | By Barry Stewart Hunter. Contemporary writing. Set on a hillside just outside Brighton, the story makes use of an imagined dialect. | |
| 06 | 05 LAST | Some Other Life | 20040709 | By Tim Pertwee. Dreams clash with reality when the lives of a Western tourist and a young boy collide briefly on an Indian railroad. | |
| 07 | 01 | Classic Recipes For Cauldron Cookery | 20050926 | 20070819 | By Sheila Burns, read by Frances Jeater. There's nothing like fillet of fenny snake garnished with toe of frog to get the taste buds flowing. Shakespeare's weird sisters take a break from interfering in Scottish history and turn their talents to sharing their recipes with an eager television audience. |
| 07 | 02 | Two Good Feet | 20050927 | 20070826 | By Richard Hollins. Ten year-old Marcus is facing the familiar prejudice that greets him in every new situation. On his first day at his sixth school, his ears tune in to the Yorkshire vowels of his new classmates and teachers, as he bides his time. But Marcus has more than one surprise up his sleeve - he has two outstandingly good feet. Read by Paul Simpson |
| 07 | 03 | Lady Play | 20050928 | 20070902 | By Sharon Raizada, read by Nikki Amuka-Bird. Sonia wants to get back with her ex, but a smooth-talking card sharp sounds a note of caution. |
| 07 | 04 | The Train | 20050929 | 20070909 | By Zoran Zivkovic, read by Roger Allam. A bank manager is travelling to an important meeting when he encounters God. He is told that he can have the answer to a single question. |
| 07 | 05 LAST | Tango | 20050930 | 20070916 | By Caroline Sutton Serial hobbyist Gerry takes up tango lessons in his retirement, setting his sights on Buenos Aries, leaving his wife Sheila wondering what he actually does with his evenings. What she discovers surprises her. Read by Susan Jameson |
| 08 | 01 | The Italian Is Not My Songbird | 20060710 | 20080323 | By Tara Bergin, read by Marina Blake. Set in present-day St Petersburg, the narrator wakes up each morning to the sound of her Italian lodger who can imitate the different calls of songbirds. his tunes set up longing in her heart. She works in a ticket booth in the metro, watching and commenting on the passengers who walk by her every day. she is offered a chance to play out her dreams when an artist approaches her and asks if he can paint her portrait. |
| 08 | 02 | Tierra Del Fuego | 20060711 | 20080330 | By Ian Dudley, read by Robert Glenister. A family holiday turns into a living hell for the narrator, cooped up in an apartment on the Costa del Sol. He wants peace and quiet, but his wife and daughter have other ideas. He imagines himself as King David, surveying the masses, aloof on his balcony. But when his wife persuades him to go to an ex-pat barbecue and karaoke night, his worst fears are realised. All the guests have to perform a party piece and to his horror, he finds himself in the spotlight. |
| 08 | 03 | How Michael Stays Young | 20060712 | 20080406 | By Elizabeth Sarkany, read by Amanda Root. Carolyn is unhappy in her marriage and watches Michael from across the road with his perfect family. When Michael's marriage falls apart, she indulges in a fantasy that she will be the one to renew his faith in love. She goes out of her way to attract his attention and watches his every move, neglecting her life at home. Convinced her fantasy is about to become reality, she is devastated when Michael starts seeing someone new. She expects things to fall back into the same old routine, but then her husband comes out with a surprising admission that gives them both hope for the future. |
| 08 | 04 | The Man In The Wilderness | 20060713 | 20080413 | By Michael Martin. Unhappy memories threaten to overwhelm the story's narrator when an unnerving encounter with his next-door neighbour means that he can no longer take solace in tending his much-loved garden. Read by Clive SwiftBy Michael Martin, read by Clive Swift. The story's narrator is immensely proud of his garden. He watches in disapproval as his young neighbours allow their garden to run wild. He makes judgements about them, criticising their slovenly and dissolute ways. But who is losing a grip on reality? |
| 08 | 05 LAST | Upside Down | 20060714 | 20080420 | By Donna Daley-Clarke, read by Adjoa Andoh. Katrina is mesmerised by her beautiful daughter performing cartwheels and trapeze stunts at a half-term circus class. The handsome French instructor suggests she might like to try it, too. Maybe she will. |
| 09 | 01 | The Scientific Approach | 20070723 | by Aidan Courtenay. When a young man confesses to being in love with his best friend Angela, he suddenly becomes invisible. Read by Jonathan Forbes. | |
| 09 | 02 | The Perfect Fit | 20070724 | 20090125 | by Julie-Ann Rowell. The purchase of an exquisite pair of dance shoes offers hope to a troubled young couple. Read by Emily ChennerySeries showcasing cutting-edge contemporary writing. By Julie-Ann Rowell, read by Emily Chennery. The purchase of a pair of dance shoes offers hope to a young couple. |
| 09 | 03 | The Police Is Your Friend | 20070725 | by Kachi A Ozumba. Pastor Ayo Olusola waits for his paperwork at a Nigerian police station. Read by Anthony Adesida and Kachi A Ozumba. | |
| 09 | 04 | Creating Harmony | 20070726 | By Jake Elliot, read by Andrew Lincoln. A new reality TV show hosted by a mysterious lifestyle guru promises its contestants the key to happiness. | |
| 09 | 05 LAST | Rising Laughter | 20070727 | 20090118 | By Dave Pescod, read by Susan Brown. After she overhears the couple next door sharing a joke, a woman becomes determined to reintroduce laughter to her own home. Series showcasing cutting-edge contemporary writing. By Dave Pescod. A woman becomes determined to reintroduce laughter to her own home. |
| 10 | 01 | The Deep | 20080825 | 20080825 (BBC7) 20130410 (R4+) 20130411 (R4+) | By Veronica Birch. Miranda and Andy's idyllic holiday exposes rifts in their relationship. By Veronica Birch. 4 Extra Debut. Miranda and Andy are on holiday, but what should be an idyllic experience ends up exposing rifts in their relationship. Read by Helen Longworth. By Veronica Birch. Miranda and Andy are on holiday in the tropics. What should be an idyllic experience ends up exposing rifts in their relationship. Read by Helen Longworth |
| 10 | 02 | Teeth | 20080826 | By Drew Gummerson. Plagued by his lack of teeth, Rodney hatches an extraordinary plan to obtain the ultimate set, and with it his son's respect. Read by Nick Ball. | |
| 10 | 03 | Put The Radiator On, Get The Coffee Going | 20080827 | 20080827 (BBC7) 20130411 (R4+) 20130412 (R4+) | By Anna Britten. A decorator's encounter with a divorcee gives him unexpected inspiration. Series showcasing cutting-edge contemporary writing. In Anna Britten's story, a young decorator's encounter with a middle-aged divorcee and a dragonfly give him unexpected inspiration for a colour scheme. Read by Mike Bailey. By Anna Britten. A young decorator's encounter with a middle-aged divorcee and a dragonfly give him unexpected inspiration for a colour scheme. |
| 10 | 04 | Pink Or Blue | 20080828 | 20080828 (BBC7) 20130412 (R4+) 20130413 (R4+) | By Elizabeth Wells, read by Maggie Blake. Gender stereotyping and dysfunctional families are seen through a teenager's eyes in small-town Canada. By Elizabeth Wells. Gender stereotyping and dysfunctional families through a teen's eyes. Series showcasing cutting-edge contemporary writing. In Elizabeth Wells's story, gender stereotyping and dysfunctional families are seen through a teenager's eyes in small-town Canada. Read by Maggie Blake. |
| 10 | 05 LAST | After Oxford | 20080829 | By Phil Robinson, read by Tom Goodman-Hill. A man revisits the city where he fell in love with his wife. Alone now, he searches for traces of her in every aspect of the place. | |
| 11 | 01 | Day Tripper | 20090331 | 20121123 (R4+) | A day trip to the seaside offers the chance of new beginnings for a mother and son. A day trip to the seaside offers the chance of new beginnings for a mother and son. Read by Claire Rushbrook. By Susan Elliot-Wright, read by Claire Rushbrook |
| 11 | 02 | The World | 20090401 | 20121126 (R4+) 20121127 (R4+) | A man wakes up to find that he can see and hear everything that is happening in the world. A man wakes up to discover that he can see and hear everything that is happening in the world. Read by Karl Davies. A man wakes up one day to discover that he can see and hear everything that is happening in the world. Will he find a way of managing his new condition? By Frank Burton, read by Karl Davies. |
| 11 | 03 LAST | Atlantic Flats | 20090402 | 20121127 (R4+) 20121128 (R4+) | An old man wonders if he can ever recapture the relationship he had with his daughter. An old man wonders if he can ever recapture the relationship he had with his daughter as a child. Read by Malcolm Tierney. An elderly man sits alone in his flat by the sea, wondering if he can ever recapture the relationship he had with his daughter when she was a child. By Richard Knight, read by Malcolm Tierney |
| 12 | 01 | Horses | 20100817 | 20121128 (R4+) 20121129 (R4+) | A glimpse of four coal-black horses proves a life-affirming experience for an elderly lady A glimpse of four coal-black horses proves to be a life-affirming experience for an elderly lady. Read by Julia McKenzie. The series which gives first-time and emerging short story writers their radio debut. By Emma Greengrass The sight of four coal-black horses, glimpsed through the window of a London bus, encourages an elderly lady to believe her luck is changing. Julia Mckenzie reads this life-affirming story about making every second count. Produced by Gemma Jenkins. Seeing four coal-black horses proves life affirming for an an old lady |
| 12 | 02 | The Amazing Arnolfini And His Wife | 20100818 | 20121129 (R4+) 20121130 (R4+) | Travelling across America, daredevil husband and wife tightrope walkers promise a jaw-dropping finale. Read by Laurel Lefkow. Daredevil husband and wife tightrope walkers promise a jaw-dropping finale. The series which gives first-time and emerging short story writers their radio debut. By Jonathan Pinnock A husband and wife tightrope walking team travel across America wowing audiences with their daredevil acrobatics. A jaw-dropping finale is promised in this high wire thriller. Read by Laurel LefkowProduced by Gemma Jenkins. |
| 12 | 03 LAST | Kiss | 20100819 | 20121130 (R4+) 20121201 (R4+) | That all-important first kiss occupies a teenager's mind as she heads home from school. Thoughts of her all-important first kiss occupy a teenager's mind as she heads home on the school bus. Read by Morven Christie. By Heather Reid A quirky coming-of-age story in which thoughts of that all important first kiss occupy the mind of a teenager as she travels home from school on the bus. Read by Morven Christie Produced by Gemma Jenkins |
| 12 | 03 LAST | Kiss By Heather Reid | 20121130 (R4+) 20121201 (R4+) | That all-important first kiss occupies a teenager's mind as she heads home from school. Thoughts of her all-important first kiss occupy a teenager's mind as she heads home on the school bus. Read by Morven Christie. | |
| 13 | 01 | Writing In Chalk | 20110726 | A return of the series which gives first-time and emerging short story writers their radio debut. A young girl, struggling with her reading and writing in school, looks to her mother for support in this touching story by Helen Barton Read by Claire Skinner Produced by Robert Howells In 2009, Helen won the Orange Harper's Bazaar short story award and has written a novel and several short stories, as well as a series of literary quiz books. Helen Barton opens a series which gives emerging short story writers their radio debut. | |
| 13 | 02 | Ladies Of The Soil | 20110727 | A return of the series which gives first-time and emerging short story writers their radio debut. A meditative tale by Gill Blow about unspoken tensions between a husband and wife as they look to an uncertain future. Read by Philip Jackson Produced by Gemma Jenkins A graduate of the Sheffield Hallam creative writing course, Gill's one-act play was performed as part of the New Writers Drama Festival in Lincoln last year and her story, Pol Creek, was recently published in The New Writer Magazine. A meditative tale by Gill Blow about unspoken tensions between a husband and wife. | |
| 13 | 03 LAST | The Marzipan Husband | 20110728 | A return of the series which gives first-time and emerging short story writers their radio debut. A charming fable by Sarah Dunnakey about letting go in which a wife discovers that her husband appears to be turning into marzipan. Read by Melanie Kilburn Produced by Gemma Jenkins Sarah Dunnakey is a quiz question writer and verifier. Her TV and radio credits include Mastermind, University Challenge and Round Britain Quiz. As a short story writer she has been published in Leaf Fiction, bluechrome and Fish Publishing anthologies. Sarah Dunnakey continues the series for emerging short story writers with a radio debut. | |
| 14 | 01 | The Wild | 20120720 | A return of the series which gives first-time and emerging short story writers their radio debut. Unspoken tensions between a husband and wife escalate during a harsh Alaskan winter in this emotionally charged tale by Gerri Brightwell. Read by Trevor White Produced by Gemma Jenkins Gerri Brightwell received an M.A. in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. She has two published novels: Cold Country, and The Dark Lantern. She teaches as part of the Creative Writing program at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. | |
| 14 | 02 | Cynthia | 20120727 | Jay Barnett's quirky story about a dog you could set your watch to. A return of the series which gives first-time and emerging short story writers their radio debut. Jay Barnett's quirky story is about a dog you could set your watch to. Read by Alex Lanipekun. Produced by Robert Howells Jay Barnett writes and reads short stories for his spoken word blog theaftermathofmygreatidea.blogspot.com. His short story 'Boy' was published in Jawbreakers, the first National Flash Fiction Day anthology. He is an editor for Hackney based radio station NTS, and every other Monday hosts the 'Down Your Ward' show on Whipps Cross Hospital Radio. | |
| 14 | 03 LAST | The Cairn | 20120803 | By Sophie Hampton. The ascent of a mountain assumes heightened significance for a climber. A return of the series which gives first-time and emerging short story writers their radio debut. The ascent of a mountain assumes heightened significance for a climber in this poignant tale by Sophie Hampton. Read by Anthony Calf Produced by Gemma Jenkins Currently studying for an MA in Creative Writing at Sheffield Hallam University, Sophie Hampton's short stories have been published in the Eastern Daily Press, Scribble Magazine and the Best of MA Writing 2011. |
Updated: 4/27/2013