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]
| BBC National Short Story Award | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | Best short story by a UK national or resident |
| Sponsored by | BBC Radio 4 with Cambridge University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Presented by | BBC (formerly National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) |
| Formerly called | National Short Story Award (2006–2007) |
| First awarded | 2006 |
| Currently held by | Comorbidities, Naomi Wood (2023) |
| Website | BBC National Short Story Award |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | BBC Radio 4 |
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
The BBC National Short Story Award has never had an all-male shortlist.[7] In 2009, only women were featured on the shortlist.[8] This happened for the second time in 2013 and the fifth time in 2018.[9][10] Canadian writer D. W. Wilson became the youngest ever recipient of the award in 2011.[11][12] Sarah Hall, who won the award in 2013 and 2020, is the only writer to have won the award twice.[13]
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] Ten stories were shortlisted, instead of five, and Bulgarian writer Miroslav Penkov won.[14][15]
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.[16] Kureishi argued that this was an act of censorship by the BBC.[16]
References edit
- ^ Ezard, John (4 April 2006). "Richest short story competition draws huge entry". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "BBC National Short Story Prize wepage". BBC. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
- ^ Edemariam, Aida (24 August 2005). "Keep it brief". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ a b Richard Lea (4 July 2008). "Field narrows in race for richest story award". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
- ^ Staff writer (19 February 2012). "OMG: Text speak short story in running for £30,000 prize". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
- ^ a b Alison Flood (14 September 2012). "Deborah Levy joins shortlist for BBC international short story award". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
- ^ Flood, Alison (14 September 2018). "BBC short story prize selects all-female shortlist for fifth time". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Flood, Alison (27 November 2009). "All-female shortlist for BBC National Short Story award". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Bury, Liz (20 September 2013). "All-woman shortlist for BBC short story award 2013". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Flood, Alison (14 September 2018). "BBC short story prize selects all-female shortlist for fifth time". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "DW Wilson is youngest winner of BBC Short Story prize". BBC News. 26 September 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Macdonald, Fleur (28 September 2011). "Youngest-ever winner of the National BBC Short Story Award". The Spectator. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Flood, Alison (6 October 2020). "'Master' of short story Sarah Hall becomes first to win BBC prize twice". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "BBC short story prize to go global for Olympic year". BBC News. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Bulgarian writer wins BBC Short Story Award". BBC News. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ 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.