James Runcie and Katie Thistleton to chair BBC Short Story Award judging panel Katie Thistleton is co-chairing the BBC Short Story Award judging panel (edpr) Novelist James Runcie and broadcaster Katie Thistleton are to chair the judging panel for the BBC Short Story Award. Submissions for the prize open at 9am on Thursday. Four shortlisted authors for the award will each receive £600, while the winner will take home £15,000. Novelist James Runcie is co-chairing the judging panel (Chris Close/PA) Runcie, chairman of the 2021 BBC National Short Story Award judging panel, said: “We need imaginative alternatives in these dark times: stories that question and surprise and open up new worlds.