BBC National Short Story Award winner: DW Wilson

Ed's note: If you're quick you can still download this year's winner DW Wilson for free from the Radio 4 podcast page as it's due to expire tomorrow - PM.

The 2011 shortlist (l to r): DW Wilson (winner), Alison MacLeod, KJ Orr, MJ Hyland and Jon McGregor

I'm not how many of us judges were conscious of the age or the gender of our five finalists in the BBC National Short Story Award when we read their stories for the first time.

Three of the writers chose to disguise their sex through the use of initials. Only later did I discover that MJ Hyland's name is Maria, KJ Orr's is Katherine, and DW Wilson is David.

We winnowed them out - and also Jon McGregor and Alison MacLeod - from a long list of over forty, picking their stories as the most intriguing, impressive and memorable. And perhaps as the freshest too - two of the finalists are strictly speaking still students.

DW Wilson receiving the award from Sue MacGregor

I won't easily forget the look of joy on the face of David Wilson when he heard his name announced live on Front Row on Radio 4 on Monday evening in the Free Word Centre in Farringdon - or the burst of delighted approval from our young and enthusiastic audience.

It was a great evening out for all of us. As I think you may notice from the pictures.

Sue MacGregor is chair of judges, BBC National Short Story award

• Hear the announcement of the winner from the BBC National Short Story Award ceremony on Front Row. Details of next year's competition will be released in December.
• The awards are run in conjunction with Booktrust. You can download (PDFs) last year's shortlisted entries for free from the Booktrust website.
• The shortlist was announced on Front Row and you can hear interviews with the shortlisted writers on the Front Row website.
• More about the Award, the finalists and past winners on the Radio 4 website.
• Read BBC National Short Story award pits award-winning writers against students in The Guardian