You are viewing your 1 free article this month. Login to read more articles.
The 2024 BBC Young Writers’ Award shortlist dominated by writers from the Midlands and North
Authors from the Midlands and the North have dominated the shortlist of the 10th BBC Young Writers’ Award, which is run with the University of Cambridge.
Two stories from Birmingham writers were among the five nominations: “A Human, a Robot and a Gosling Walk into a Post-Apocalyptic Bar” by Basmala Alkhalaf, and “Special” by Lulu Frisson, both aged 17.
Bolton writer Vivienne Hall, also 17, was recognised for “Confession”, alongside “Nathalie’s Flatmate” by 15-year-old Aidan Vogelzang from Elgin, Scotland, and “The Quiet” by Amaan Foyez, 18, from Essex.
Organisers said: “The stories – varied in setting, style and voice – explore contemporary anxieties about the use, and misuse, of power with hope, humour and originality.”
Katie Thistleton, chair of the 2024 BBC Young Writers’ Award judging panel, said: “Ranging in style from dark and sinister to hilariously funny and poignant, the shortlisted stories explore anxieties about our uncertain world with fearless and original writing. Each of these exceptionally talented writers has an exciting future ahead of them.”
Thistleton is joined on the judging panel by author, broadcaster and former teacher Jeffrey Boakye, bestselling and award-winning children and YA author Katherine Webber, novelist Nicola Dinan and award-winning children’s and YA author and journalist Benjamin Dean.
Di Speirs MBE, Editor of Books at BBC Audio, said: “Ten years ago we launched the BBC Young Writers Award hoping to discover new talent and encourage a new generation of short story writers. In our wildest dreams I don’t think we expected to find so rich a seam of talent, or such imagination, originality and invention. Nor did we dare to think that some of our winners and short-listees would be maturing into fully fledged, prize-winning and published authors with their own collections now. But that’s what’s happened.
“I’m immensely proud of the BBC Young Writers Award and of all the thousands of young people who have shared their words with us. I’m very grateful to the BBC and to the University of Cambridge for their continued support and championing of our writers and I look forward to seeing many more stories in the coming years.”
The BBC Young Writers’ Award with University of Cambridge 2024 is open to all writers between the ages of 14 and 18. It is a cross-network collaboration between BBC Radio 4 and Radio 1 and the shortlist was announced on Radio 1’s “Life Hacks” show. The winner will receive a personalised mentoring session with an author to enhance their writing skills.
The five shortlisted stories, each under 1,000 words, will be variously read by Tim McInnerny (“Blackadder”, “One Day”), Bharti Patel (known for “Eastenders” and “Doctors”), Phoebe Campbell (“The Importance of Being Earnest”, “Alma Mater”), Kymberley Cochrane (“The Strata”, “Card-En-Ciel") and Ian Dunnett Jr (“Belfast,” “Shetland”).
They will also be available to read on the BBC Radio 1 website. The winner will be announced live from the award ceremony at BBC Broadcasting House on Radio 4’s “Front Row” on 1st October.
