BBC National Short Story Award

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BBC National Short Story Award
Awarded forBest short story by a UK national or resident
Sponsored byBBC Radio 4 with Cambridge University
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byBBC (formerly National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts)
Formerly calledNational Short Story Award (2006–2007)
First awarded2006
Currently held byComorbidities, Naomi Wood (2023)
WebsiteBBC National Short Story Award
Television/radio coverage
NetworkBBC Radio 4

The BBC National Short Story Award (previously known as the National Short Story Award) is a national short story contest in the United Kingdom.[1] It was founded in 2005 by NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) with support from BBC Radio 4 and Prospect magazine.[2] The award was announced at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2005.[3] The winner receives £15,000 for a single short-story.[2][4] The award was originally known as the National Short Story Award and was renamed to include "BBC" in 2008 to reflect the current sponsor.[2]

The award has been called the richest prize in the world for a single short story.[4] However, the Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Short Story Award is greater at £30,000.[5]

Normally, the award is open to British authors only. In 2012, it was open to a global audience for one year only in honour of the 2012 Summer Olympics, which were hosted in London.[6]

Winners and shortlisted writers[edit]

Main article: List of BBC National Short Story Award winners

In 2012, in honour of the 2012 Summer Olympics hosted in London, the competition was open to a global audience for one year only.[6] In 2013, the BBC National Short Story Award had an all-woman shortlist.[7]

Controversies[edit]

In 2007, BBC Radio 4 chose not to broadcast the short story Weddings and Beheadings by Hanif Kureishi after a militant group claimed to have executed the BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston.[8] Kureishi argued that this was an act of censorship by the BBC.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ezard, John (4 April 2006). "Richest short story competition draws huge entry". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "BBC National Short Story Prize wepage". BBC. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  3. ^ Edemariam, Aida (24 August 2005). "Keep it brief". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b Richard Lea (4 July 2008). "Field narrows in race for richest story award". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  5. ^ Staff writer (19 February 2012). "OMG: Text speak short story in running for £30,000 prize". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  6. ^ a b Alison Flood (14 September 2012). "Deborah Levy joins shortlist for BBC international short story award". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  7. ^ Bury, Liz (20 September 2013). "All-woman shortlist for BBC short story award 2013". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  8. ^ a b Gibson, Owen; correspondent, media (17 April 2007). "BBC accused of censorship after cancelling short story broadcast". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 April 2024.

External links[edit]

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