BBC Northern Ireland has announced the finalists for the short story competition Two Minute Tales.

The competition launched in October and was open to children aged between five and 16 years of age. The theme for 2023 was ‘What Happened this Winter…'

The panel of judges were impressed by the quality of entries from young writers right across Northern Ireland and had a difficult task shortlisting nine English language stories and three Irish language stories from the hundreds of submissions received.

The judges for this year’s English language competition were Kelly McCaughrain - the Children's Writing Fellow for Northern Ireland 2019-21, award-winning writer Lucy Caldwell, illustrator Barry Falls and David Monahan, Editor for Education at BBC Northern Ireland.

David Monahan, Editor for BBC NI Learning says: “We have been blown away by the creativity and talent of all the young people who entered this year’s Two Minute Tales.

“Thank you to all the writers, parents, guardians, teachers and schools who got involved from right across Northern Ireland. Every story was read and enjoyed by our team, and it has truly kicked off the Christmas period.”

The nine shortlisted English language stories will be brought to life by actors and broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster on The Lynette Faye Show from Monday 18 December at 3pm. The overall winners will be announced during Lynette’s show on Thursday 21 December.

This year there was a special Irish language category judges were writers Máire Zepf and Caitríona Nic Sheáin and Roisin Kelleher, Editor for BBC Gaeilge and the three stories selected for this year’s finalists will be brought to life by actors and broadcast on Blas, Tuesday 19 December from 7.30pm on BBC Radio Ulster.

The winners will have their stories brought to life with a bespoke animation showcased on the Two Minute Tales - BBC website from Thursday 21 December. All shortlisted writers will also receive a specially commissioned illustrated storybook featuring their story.

A compilation programme featuring all of the shortlisted Two Minute Tales will be broadcast Christmas Day on BBC Radio Ulster at 12pm and on BBC Sounds.

Finalists

English language: 5-8 Age Category

Charles the Snow Pig, Sam Neill, 7
Ice-Cube-a-rex on the rocks, Robbie Scott, 8
Fox's Christmas Tale, Ciaran McDonnell, 6

English language: 9-12 Age Category
Showtime!, Grace Morrison, 10
Catching Mr Claus!, Caleb McFall, 9
Motherous, Noah Gibson, 9

English language: 13-16 Age Category
Winter’s Warmth, Charlotte Marron,15
Shelter?, Abigail Goudie, 13
The Frigid Bubble, Niamh McConaghy, 13

Irish Language
An Geimhreadh Te, Gráinne Murphy, 11
Cá bhfuil na duilleoga?, Clíodhna Sadlier, 10
Eachtra Mhór Snowy, Finn Rua Mac Lochlainn, 7