HeyJaredBBC National Short Story Award
Stories shortlisted for the National Short Story Award
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 6
- Latest publication
- Sep 18, 2026
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- Earliest in this view
- Sep 13, 2026
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Two Minutes to Midnight by Laura Beatty (opens the original)
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‘Two Minutes to Midnight’ by Laura Beatty is the final story in contention for the 2026 BBC National Short Story Award with the University of Cambridge. Sian Thomas reads. A doctor grieves for her husband and tries to understand the damage being done to the natural world as human intervention continues to threaten catastrophe. Laura Beatty is the author of two biographies, two novels, two genre-defying books (a mix of travel, history, memoir and fiction) and, recently, two plays. Her first novel
A Second Opinion by Caoilinn Hughes (opens the original)
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A spectacular encounter in a wintry Galway Bay forces a woman to start imagining a new future for herself. Packed with humanity and humour, Caoilinn Hughes’ story is the fourth contender for this year’s BBC National Short Story Award with the University of Cambridge, and explores grief, female friendship, and things we do in the name of love. Cathy Belton reads ‘A Second Opinion’. Caoilinn Hughes is an award-winning Irish novelist and short story writer. Her novels include 'The Wild Laughter' (2
Ditto by Cherise Saywell (opens the original)
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Cherise Saywell’s story ‘Ditto’ transports us to a small town in 1990s rural Australia in the third of our shortlisted stories in contention of the 2026 BBC National Short Story Award with the University of Cambridge. In this delicately crafted story, we follow our young narrator as he faces indecision and uncertainty, building up the courage to make a very important phone call. Richard Goulding reads this dark tale which, ultimately, has hope and salvation at its heart. Cherise Saywell is a nov
Little Lands by Lucy Caldwell (opens the original)
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Read by Anne-Marie Duff, ‘Little Lands’ by Lucy Caldwell is the second story up for this year's BBC National Short Story Award with the University of Cambridge in its 21st year. This beautifully written story centres on a single scene from one of cinema's most iconic films. Reflecting on the famous dance scene in 'The Sound of Music', this story is a meditation on how the sharing of everyday pleasures can be transformed into precious memories to be recalled and passed on. Lucy Caldwell was born
Burning Bush by Merryn Glover (opens the original)
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Merryn Glover’s heart-rending story about sorrow, love and belonging set in the Australian bush is the first contender for this year’s BBC National Short Story Award with the University of Cambridge, which celebrates its 21st anniversary this year. When an unexpected letter arrives, an elderly man is forced to question his isolated life, surrounded only by animals, birds, and painful memories. Mike Sengelow reads ‘Burning Bush’. Merryn Glover was born in Nepal, educated in Australia. Her plays a
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