Short Story
Brand new stories from today's best writers, written exclusively for Radio 4 – the home of the Short Story. Radio 4 is the world's leading commissioner of new short stories, featuring excellent writing from the hottest names offering compelling snapshots of the way we live now. Produced by the experts behind the BBC National Short Story Award and other in-house readings teams.
Episodes
The 2025 Young Writers' Award Shortlist revealed!
Lauren Layfield presents this year's special showcase of the five shortlisted stories for the 2025 BBC Young Writers' Award.Alongside the 20th anniversary of the National Short Story Award, this year's BBC Young Writers’ Award with Cambridge University is open to all writers between the ages of 14 –18 and was created to discover and inspire the next generation of writers. It is a cross-network col
NSSA 2024 - Ghost Kitchen by Ross Raisin
Ashley Margolis reads Ghost Kitchen by Ross Raisin, the fifth story shortlisted for the 2024 BBC National Short Story Award, followed by an interview with the author on BBC Radio 4's Front RowPodcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
NSSA 2024 - Nice Dog by Vee Walker
Paterson Joseph reads Nice Dog by Vee Walker, the fourth story shortlisted for the 2024 BBC National Short Story Award, followed by an interview with the author on BBC Radio 4's Front RowPodcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
NSSA 2024 - Pieces by Manish Chauhan
Rebekah Staton and Hasan Dixon read Pieces by Manish Chauhan, the third story shortlisted for the 2024 BBC National Short Story Award, followed by an interview with the author on BBC Radio 4's Front RowPodcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
NSSA 2024 - The Barber of Erice by Will Boast
Mark Strong reads The Barber of Erice by Will Boast, the second shortlisted story for the 2024 BBC National Short Story Award, followed by an interview with the author on BBC Radio 4's Front RowPodcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
NSSA 2024 - Hamlet, a Love Story by Lucy Caldwell
Lisa Dwyer Hogg reads Hamlet, a Love Story by Lucy Caldwell, the first shortlisted story for the 2024 BBC National Short Story Award, followed by an interview with the author on BBC Radio 4's Front RowPodcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
2024 BBC Young Writers' Award Showcase with Katie Thistleton
Katie Thistleton presents a showcase of the five shortlisted stories for this year's BBC Young Writers' Award.Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, the BBC Young Writers’ Award with Cambridge University is open to all writers between the ages of 14 –18 and was created to discover and inspire the next generation of writers. It is a cross-network collaboration between BBC Radio 4 and Radio 1.
An Affliction by Lottie Mills
A specially commissioned short story for BBC Radio 4 by the award-winning Lottie Mills. In this fantastical tale, a strange illness takes hold of those living at the Saint Francis Invalid Colony...Lottie Mills won the BBC Young Writers Award in 2020, and her debut collection, Monstrum is published in 2024. In her stories, Lottie delights in the uncanny, the unusual and the unique power of outsider
When Love Sucks by Naomi Wood
A new short story for Radio 4 by the award-winning writer, Naomi Wood.Nursing a broken heart, a woman turns to an AI dating coach for help - with unexpected results.Writer: Naomi Wood is the winner of the 2023 BBC National Short Story Award, and author of three novels, including the award-winning Mrs Hemingway, and a new collection of stories, This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things.Reader: Rose Rob
Minor Disturbances by Cherise Saywell
A specially commissioned story from BBC NSSA 2023 shortlistee, Cherise Saywell.Reader: Katie Leung
Producer: Elizabeth AllardPodcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
Hearing Aids by Roddy Doyle
A newly commissioned story from Roddy Doyle, author of The Commitments and the 1993 Booker Prize winner, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha.Read by Liam Carney
Produced by Nicola HollowayPodcast presented by Rick Woska
