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 Atwell Producer: Justine WillettPodcast 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 RobinsonProducer: Justine WillettPodcast presented and produced by Rick Woska

A specially commissioned story from BBC NSSA 2023 shortlistee, Cherise Saywell.Reader: Katie Leung Producer: Elizabeth AllardPodcast 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 Carney Produced 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. Creation Written by Daisy Kaye Read by Ruth Everett Produced by Ben Hollands Fridays Written by Evie Alam Read by Laila Zaidi Produced by Ben Hollands Jessie's God Written by Elissa Jones Read by Kate O'Flynn Produced by Lisa Kinga Wahinya Skipper Written by Iona McNeish Read by Abbie Andrews Produced by Rick Woska The Wordsmith Written by Atlas Weyland Eden Read by Luke Treadaway Produced by Rick Woska

Title: Churail Author: Kamila Shamsie Reader: Zoha Rahman Producer: Ciaran Bermingham Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska

Title: The Storm Author: Nick Mulgrew Reader: Cokey Falkow Producer: Ciaran Bermingham Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska

Title: It's Me Author: K Patrick Reader: Ell Potter Producer: Tracey Neale Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska

The second story shortlisted for the 2023 BBC National Short Story Award. Title: Guests Author: Cherise Saywell Reader: Nahel Tzagei Producer: Ciaran Bermingham Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska

The first story shortlisted for the 2023 BBC National Short Story Award. Title: Comorbidities Author: Naomi Wood Reader: Charlotte Ritchie Producer: Justine Willett Podcast presented and produced by Rick Woska

Listen to the five shortlisted stories from this year's BBC Young Writers' Award