National Short Story Awards History of the Award

In 2005, the National Short Story Prize was launched at the Edinburgh International Book Festival to re-establish the importance of the British story after many years of neglect. Funded by NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) and supported by BBC Radio 4 and Prospect magazine, the prize (£15,000 to the winner) became the largest award in the world for a single short story.

From 2008, the prize was renamed the BBC National Short Story Award to reflect the fact that the BBC is now the sponsor.

2010 BBC National Short Story Award

David Constantine won the 2010 BBC National Short Story Award, with Jon McGregor, the runner-up.

The three other authors on the short list were Aminatta Forna, Sarah Hall and Helen Oyeyemi.

The judges for the 2010 Award were James Naughtie (Chair), Kamila Shamsie, Owen Sheers, Shena Mackay, and Di Speirs.

2009 BBC National Short Story Award

Kate Clanchy won the 2009 BBC National Short Story Award, with Sara Maitland, the runner-up.

The three other authors on the short list were Naomi Alderman, Jane Rogers and Lionel Shriver.

The judges for the 2009 Award were Tom Sutcliffe (Chair), Margaret Drabble (CBE and DBE), Helen Dunmore, Will Young, and Di Speirs.

2008 BBC National Short Story Award

Clare Wigfall won the 2008 BBC National Short Story Award, with Jane Gardam, the runner-up.

The three other authors on the short list were Richard Beard, Erin Soros and Adam Thorpe.

The judges for the 2008 Award were Martha Kearney (Chair), Naomi Alderman, Alex Linklater, Penelope Lively, and Di Speirs.

2007 National Short Story Prize

Julian Gough won the 2007 National Short Story Prize, for The Orphan and the Mob with David Almond named as runner-up for his story Slog´s Dad.

The three remaining authors on the shortlist were Jonathan Falla, Jackie Kay and Hanif Kureishi.

The judges for the 2007 prize were Mark Lawson (Chair), Monica Ali, AS Byatt, Di Speirs and Alex Linklater.

2006 National Short Story Prize

James Lasdun won the 2006 National Short Story Prize for his short story An Anxious Man. The runner-up was Michel Faber for his short story, The Safehouse.

The other short listed writers were, Rana Dasgupta, Rose Tremain and William Trevor.

The judges for the inaugural Prize were William Boyd, Lavinia Greenlaw, Alex Linklater, Di Speirs and Francine Stock.