We’re proud to continue our partnership with the BBC National Short Story Award, one of the UK’s most prestigious literary prizes dedicated to the art of the short story. As the award celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025, we honour not only the power of storytelling but also the vibrant community of writers, readers, and educators who make this genre thrive. This year, the Award was generously supported by the Faculties of English and Education, Downing and Robinson Colleges, the University Library, and the Fitzwilliam Museum.
Honouring Literary Excellence
First presented in 2006, the BBC National Short Story Award has become a cornerstone of British literary culture. It champions both emerging and established voices, with past winners including Sarah Hall, Cynan Jones, Ingrid Persaud, and Saba Sams. The shortlist has featured literary giants like Zadie Smith, Hilary Mantel, and Caleb Azumah Nelson.
This year’s winner is Doncaster novelist Edward Hogan, whose story Little Green Man captivated judges with its haunting exploration of masculinity, grief, and memory. Hogan receives the £15,000 prize for a story described as “a masterclass in tension and atmosphere.”
The BBC Young Writers’ Award, also announced this year, was won by Sheffield student Colwill Brown for You Cannot Thread a Moving Needle, a lyrical and emotionally resonant piece praised for its originality and poetic voice.
The stories in this year's shortlist were all very distinct in tone and theme. The winning entry harnessed the particular power of the short story form to deliver a devastating punch of narrative, where every detail matters. Told in the dialect of Colville's hometown of Doncaster, the story is immediately gripping and while it might only take 10 minutes to read or listen to, the narrator's voice will stay with you for a long time.
Both winning stories were selected from a shortlist that included:
- Yair by Emily Abdeni-Holman
- Two Hands by Caoilinn Hughes
- Rain, a History by Andrew Miller
All shortlisted stories were broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and published in an anthology by Comma Press.
A Partnership Rooted in Purpose
Led by Dr Bonnie Lander Johnson and Dr Elizabeth Rawlinson-Mills, Cambridge University’s partnership with the BBC National Short Story Award reflects a shared commitment to literary excellence and cultural engagement. Through initiatives like the BBC Partnership Shadowing Scheme, Cambridge MSt students gain hands-on experience in public communication and arts programming.
Our Academic Director of Creative Writing at Professional and Continuing Education, Yvonne Battle-Felton shares how: “For 20 years the BBC Short Story Awards has celebrated and inspired some of the best new short stories. We are honoured to continue our support of this magnificent award and look forward to inspiring more stories and empowering more writers to write them.”
Learn to Craft Your Own Stories
Inspired by the award-winning voices of today? Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your craft, we invite you to explore our short story writing courses:
- Introduction to Short Story Writing- A flexible online course designed to help you master the fundamentals of short fiction—from character development to narrative structure.
- 21st Century Stories: The Short Story Now- Join us in Cambridge for an immersive weekend exploring contemporary short fiction and the techniques that make it resonate.
Let the stories of others inspire your own. Whether you're listening, reading, or writing, there’s never been a better time to engage with the short story form.