The characters assembled in this year’s shortlist are all looking for a new start, a chance to escape or change the way they are perceived. Now in its eleventh year, the BBC National Short Story Award with Book Trust continues to showcase a literary form in the very best of health. The stories this year were shortlisted by poet Kei Miller, Man Booker Award-winning novelist Pat Barker, Southbank Centre’s Literature Programmer Ted Hodgkinson, and BBC’s Books Editor Di Speirs. The judging panel was chaired by Woman’s Hour presenter Jenni Murray, who also introduces the collection.