Short Story: Recent Episodes
BBC Radio 4
Your weekly fix of brand new stories written specially by today’s best writers. Brought to you by BBC Radio 4, home of the Modern Short Story.
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 outsiders.
Reader: Hayley AtwellProducer: Justine Willett
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
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 Robinson
Producer: Justine Willett
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
A specially commissioned story from BBC NSSA 2023 shortlistee, Cherise Saywell.
Reader: Katie LeungProducer: Elizabeth Allard
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
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 CarneyProduced by Nicola Holloway
Podcast presented by Rick Woska
Listen to the five shortlisted stories from the 2023 BBC Young Writers' Award. Presented by Katie Thistleton and produced by Rick Woska.
CreationWritten by Daisy KayeRead by Ruth EverettProduced by Ben Hollands
FridaysWritten by Evie AlamRead by Laila ZaidiProduced by Ben Hollands
Jessie's GodWritten by Elissa JonesRead by Kate O'FlynnProduced by Lisa Kinga Wahinya
SkipperWritten by Iona McNeishRead by Abbie AndrewsProduced by Rick Woska
The WordsmithWritten by Atlas Weyland EdenRead by Luke TreadawayProduced by Rick Woska
Title: ChurailAuthor: Kamila ShamsieReader: Zoha RahmanProducer: Ciaran Bermingham
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
Title: The StormAuthor: Nick MulgrewReader: Cokey FalkowProducer: Ciaran Bermingham
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
Title: It's MeAuthor: K PatrickReader: Ell PotterProducer: Tracey Neale
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
The second story shortlisted for the 2023 BBC National Short Story Award.
Title: GuestsAuthor: Cherise SaywellReader: Nahel TzageiProducer: Ciaran Bermingham
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
The first story shortlisted for the 2023 BBC National Short Story Award.
Title: ComorbiditiesAuthor: Naomi WoodReader: Charlotte RitchieProducer: Justine Willett
Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska
Art and a lifelong dream come together in a funny, poignant tale read by Teresa Gallagher
The late great John Sessions reads a story for radio by long time friend and collaborator
Maria Thomas puts a female black academic at the centre of her short story Trip and Fall.