Opening Lines [Afternoon Reading]

Series showcasing first-time and emerging writers

Episodes

SeriesEpisodeTitleFirst
Broadcast
RepeatedComments
01Day Tripper20090331By Susan Elliot-Wright. A trip to the seaside offers new beginnings for a mother and son.
01Horses20100817The 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.

By Emma Greengrass. Seeing four coal-black horses proves life affirming for an an old lady

02The Amazing Arnolfini And His Wife20100818The 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 Lefkow

Produced by Gemma Jenkins.

By Jonathan Pinnock. A husband and wife tightrope walking team travel across America.

02The World20090401By Frank Burton. A man finds that he can see and hear everything happening in the world.
03Atlantic Flats20090402By Richard Knight. An elderly man thinks about his relationship with his daughter.
03Kiss20100819The series which gives first-time and emerging short story writers their radio debut.

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.

By Heather Reid. Thoughts of an all-important first kiss occupy the mind of a teenager.

0702Two Good Feet20070825Ten-year-old Marcus is facing the prejudice that greets him in every new situation.
0803How Michael Stays Young20080405By Elizabeth Sarkany. When Michael's marriage falls apart, Carolyn indulges in a fantasy.
0805Upside Down20080419By Donna Daley-Clarke. Katrina wonders how she can turn her own ordered life upside down.
0903The Police Is Your Friend20070725By Kachi A Ozumba. Pastor Ayo Olusola waits for his paperwork at a Nigerian police station
1002Teeth20080826By Drew Gummerson. Rodney hatches an extraordinary plan to regain the respect of his son.
1004Pink Or Blue2008082820130412 (BBC7)
20130413 (BBC7)
20160602 (BBC7)
By Elizabeth Wells. Gender stereotyping and dysfunctional families through a teen's eyes.
1102The World2009040120121126 (BBC7)
20121127 (BBC7)
20130709 (BBC7)
20130710 (BBC7)
By Frank Burton. A man wakes up to find that he can see and hear everything in the world.
1701Mussels, By Sue Healy2015080220190926 (BBC7)Recently arrived from Ireland, Triona takes as a job as a teacher in a Norfolk prison and finds herself at the sharp end of the refugee crisis.

She must balance her roles as sympathetic mentor and authority figure to the prison's population of migrant detainees, many of whom are traumatised by their experiences before coming to the UK.

But when a relationship with a Vietnamese inmate threatens her new life, she must decide which immigrant she will save: the prisoner or herself.

Sue Healy's short story selected from thousands of entries for the BBC Opening Lines 2015 initiative, our annual open submission window for writers new to radio.

Read by Dervla Kirwan

Producer: Simon Richardson

In a Norfolk prison an Irish teacher finds herself at the sharp end of the refugee crisis.

1702Flour Baby, By La Craig2015080920191003 (BBC7)When the couple across the street bring home their new baby, nosy neighbour Rosey is disturbed by its appearance.

But in telling her story - a story full of hardship and humour - Rosey gives away more than she perhaps intended, and finds herself coming face to face with her own buried trauma.

LA Craig's short story selected from thousands of entries for the BBC Opening Lines 2015 initiative, our annual open submission window for writers new to radio.

Read by Liz White

Producer: Simon Richardson

Rosey couldn't understand why her neighbour's new baby gives her the willies - until now.

1703Pieces Of Mars Have Fallen To Earth, By Cherise Saywell2015081620191010 (BBC7)
20170305 (R4)
The mother of an astronaut reflects on her place in the line of women forgotten by history