Two Minutes to Midnight by Laura Beatty

‘Two Minutes to Midnight’ by Laura Beatty is the final story in contention for the 2026 BBC National Short Story Award with the University of Cambridge. Sian Thomas reads.

A doctor grieves for her husband and tries to understand the damage being done to the natural world as human intervention continues to threaten catastrophe.

Laura Beatty is the author of two biographies, two novels, two genre-defying books (a mix of travel, history, memoir and fiction) and, recently, two plays. Her first novel, ‘Pollard’ – which the Observer called a “fierce and wonderful” book – won the Authors’ Club First Novel Award as well as being shortlisted for the Ondaatje prize for books which evoke the spirit of place. Her most recent book, ‘Looking for A’, was shortlisted for the Runciman prize. She has also written various short stories, introductions, and reviews. Oxford educated, she began writing in her twenties, while working in the art world in London and New York. She worked for a long time in the voluntary sector, while bringing up children, and then trained to work as a Place2Be counsellor with children up to age 14. Now, she teaches writing both privately and, as a fellow of the Royal Literary Fund, in the NHS and recovery colleges nationwide.

The annual BBC National Short Story Award with the University of Cambridge celebrates its 21st anniversary in 2026 with a shortlist of five short stories by multi-award-winning writers and astonishing new talent from across the United Kingdom. Set in locations across the globe, from the Australian bush to Galway Bay, this year’s tender and vivid stories explore the value of human connection across generations and through friendship in a fractured world.
Marking the awards is Di Speirs, who has judged the BBC National Short Story Award since its launch. She will be joined on the judging panel by 2022 NSSA winner Saba Sams and two former NSSA shortlistees, Tahmima Anam (2016) and Will Eaves (2017), and Costa Best First Novel Award winner, Andrew Micheal Hurley.

The BBC National Short Story Award with the University of Cambridge was established to raise the profile of the short form and this year’s all-female shortlist join an impressive list of alumni.

From 14 to 18 September, all five of the shortlisted stories can be heard at 3.30pm each afternoon on Radio 4. The winner of the 21st BBC National Short Story Award with the University of Cambridge will be announced live on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row at 7.15pm on Tuesday 29th September 2026.

Reader: Sian Thomas
Writer: Laura Beatty
Abridged and produced by Elizabeth Allard