Edinburgh writer and Birmingham student win 21st BBC Short Story Awards with Cambridge University

The awards were announced on Tuesday 29 September at a ceremony at BBC Broadcasting House and broadcast live on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row. 

The National Short Story Award 2026

Cherise Saywell won the BBC National Short Story Award with the University of Cambridge for Ditto, a story about a child’s conflicting loyalties and moment of bravery when violence erupts in his house, which was described by judges as ‘assured’ and ‘beautifully crafted.’ 

Set in a small Australian town inspired by the place where Saywell grew up, the story explores masculinity, domestic abuse and its impact on children. Judges praised it for handling a child’s understanding of a complex adult world with ‘precision’ and ‘delicacy’.

Talking about her story, Saywell said: “I wanted to find a way to write about how children experience violence, when they have no words for the things they are experiencing….They feel love and fear and responsibility all at the same time, but have no name for what’s happening around them.”

Ditto is available to listen to on BBC Sounds, read by Richard Goulding.

Dr Yvonne Battle-Felton, Academic Director of Creative Writing at the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Professional and Continuing Education, said:

“Full of vivid descriptions, mounting tensions, and a compelling character, ‘Ditto’ is a moving reminder of how much life a short story can hold, and what’s simmering beneath the surface. It really is beautifully told." 

Saywell topped a shortlist that also included Caoilinn Hughes, Lucy Caldwell, Laura Beatty and Merryn Glover. The BBC National Short Story Award is one of the most prestigious for a single short story, with the winning author receiving £15,000, and shortlisted authors £600 each. Each of the five stories are available to listen to on BBC Sounds.

The Young Writers’ Award 2026

The winner of the BBC Young Writers’ Award with the University of Cambridge was announced alongside the NSSA. Eloise Barrett, a 17-year-old sixth former from Birmingham, received the award for Bloodshed in Rafah.

The story follows a young girl living in a refugee camp in Gaza as she grieves the loss of her mother and experiences her first period. Bloodshed in Rafah was described by the judges as ‘heartwrenching,’ ‘original’ and ‘nuanced’.

Eloise drew on research into the experiences of women in conflict who lack access to period products. She is studying English Literature, History and Sociology at A Level, with plans to study English at university. She is currently working on an anthology of feminist short stories as well as a horror novel.  

Dr Yvonne Battle-Felton said:

“A powerful example of how short stories can move the world. ‘Bloodshed in Rafah’ takes readers inside a geographical, psychological, emotional setting we may read about without seeing. It beautifully weaves love and loss with characters and scenes so gripping they will leave you breathless.” 

Barrett topped a shortlist that included Siddhi Garg, Solly Day-Stokoe, Tom Ixer and Nathan Karby. Her winning story is available to listen to via BBC National Short Story Award - BBC Young Writers' Award Showcase 2026, read by Imi Hasna.

About the awards

The BBC National Short Story Award with the University of Cambridge was established in 2006 and awards £15,000 to the winning author. The BBC Young Writers’ Award, now in its twelfth year, is open to 14 to 18-year-olds across the UK and was created to discover and inspire the next generation of writers. 

Cambridge’s partnership with the awards is supported by the Schools of Arts and Humanities and Humanities and Social Sciences, the Faculties of English and Education, Downing and Robinson Colleges, Cambridge University Library, the Fitzwilliam Museum and the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Professional and Continuing Education. 

Jessica Keating

Stats

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.