‘Full-circle moment': Candice Carty-Williams joins judging panel as 4thWrite prize opens for entries
A short story competition run by the Guardian and the publisher 4th Estate is now open to entries from unpublished writers of colour living in the UK and Ireland.
The 4thWrite prize, now in its ninth year, offers its winner £1,000, a publishing workshop at 4th Estate and publication of the winning story on the Guardian website.
This year's judging panel features Candice Carty-Williams, who founded the prize while working as a marketing executive at 4th Estate before going on to publish her bestselling novel Queenie.
'Returning to 4th Estate to judge the prize I started nearly a decade ago will most likely be the most meaningful full-circle moment of my career,' she said. 'I cannot wait to see and discuss with my fellow judges how writing and stories have changed in the last nine years to reflect the world we're in now. I am both honoured and excited to get into it.'
Joining Carty-Williams on the judging panel is the poet Caleb Femi, associate literary agent Monica MacSwan, athlete Jazmin Sawyers, 4th Estate publishing director Kishani Widyaratna and Guardian books commissioning editor Lucy Knight.
'It's always a joy to dive into work that challenges, moves and surprises you – and I can't wait to discover what this year's prize has in store,' said Femi.
Sign up to Bookmarks
Discover new books and learn more about your favourite authors with our expert reviews, interviews and news stories. Literary delights delivered direct to you
after newsletter promotion
MacSwan said: 'With the move away from Twitter and zines closing down, prizes are more necessary than ever for new writers of colour to make their voices heard.'
The prize 'has launched the careers of some of contemporary fiction's brightest talents', she added. Writers previously recognised through the award include Bolu Babalola, the author of Love in Colour and Honey & Spice, and Guy Gunaratne, who wrote In Our Mad and Furious City and Mister, Mister.
The prize 'offers a vital and important platform for emerging writers of colour across the UK and shines brilliant light on the wealth of talent out there', said Widyaratna.
The competition is open for story submissions of up to 6,000 words until 8 June. Writers aged 18 and over can submit entries via the 4th Estate website. A longlist will be announced by 10 August and the shortlist by 30 September, with the winner revealed in October at a London ceremony.
Last year's prize was won by Yan F Zhang for her story Fleeting Marrow, which is based on the real-life deportation of Chinese seafarers from the UK after the second world war.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Love Island's most outrageous conspiracy theory yet as fans claim one star is an 'AI bot' after string of 'glitchy' moments - but have YOU noticed them?
Love Island fans have shared what might be the most outrageous conspiracy theory in the show's history. Viewers of the ITV2 dating show have claimed that one of the Islanders is an ' AI bot' and was suffering a string of 'glitchy' moments while in the iconic villa. The sexy singleton in question is none other than Yasmin Pettet, 24. The commercial banking executive, who is currently coupled up with Shea Mannings, 25, entered the villa alongside Emily Moran, 24, and Malisha Jordan, 24, earlier this week and has certainly ruffled a few feathers amongst the cast. She has gone after 25-year-old Megan Moore's man Dejon Noel Williams, 26, and also laid it on thick with 29-year-old Helena Ford's beau Harry Cooksley, 30. But her perfect posture while chatting with her co-stars and standing by the firepit has raised a few eyebrows. One fan took to TikTok to share the bizarre theory with a selection of clips and the caption: 'Guys I'm scared... I think she's AI.' Meanwhile others have taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, to say the same thing. 'Yas is actually AI.' 'This Yas girl gotta be AI.' 'I saw someone say Yasmin is AI and bro she is literally not real.' 'Yasmin is the certified first Love island AI icon #Loveisland #loveislanduk.' 'Are we sure Yasmin isn't AI robot? #LoveIsland.' Another said on Instagram: 'AI Yasmin, we needed her.' Yasmin has been bringing the drama this season - and fans are loving it. The beauty left Dejon shocked when she asked if he'd consider a threesome with her and Toni Laites, 24. She's also not been afraid to get to know other guys - including Harry. The pair snogged during last night's episode, leaving his girl Helena fuming, as well as her man Shea. During a recent challenge Yasmin kissed two other boys during the course of the game. When she pulled Shea for a chat around the fire pit to check in, he told her: 'You made me look like a mug.' Yasmin replied: 'Yeah, that wasn't my intention, it was just a game that I felt everyone else was playing way too safe.' One wrote on Instagram: 'Yasmin speaks the truth tho and she is gorgeous.' 'I love Yasmin.' 'Ngl I actually loveee this girl!! Yasmin.' 'The Yasmin show... is exactly what she wanted and she's certainly got it!' Before entering the villa, Yasmin said: I'm looking for a guy who is fit, has a nice body and who is funny with a bit of banter.' When asked what her ick is, she revealed: 'A guy that's stingy.' Love Island airs on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX. NAME: Dejon Noel Williams AGE: 26 FROM: London OCCUPATION: Semi-pro footballer and personal trainer WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is beautiful on the inside and out, looks after themselves and is healthy CLAIM TO FAME? My dad being an ex-professional footballer. I've met all kinds of famous people through him. When I was younger it was weird because he was just my dad, but we'd go to a game and fans were asking for photos. I've met David Beckham, he was really nice. Megan Moore NAME: Megan Moore AGE: 25 FROM: Southampton OCCUPATION: Payroll specialist WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'd like to meet someone who is tall, with a nice tan, nice eyes and a nice smile. He needs to have a good fashion sense and a really good, funny personality that I can get on with HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Bankrupt, right now. But we're going to make sales and get on that corporate ladder and be booming. Profits, profits, profits! NAME: Tommy Bradley AGE: 22 FROM: Hertfordshire OCCUPATION: Landscape Gardener WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? A girl who is very ambitious, with a big personality, caring, but also someone that doesn't take themselves too seriously. I don't know if that's asking for too much, but I want a bit of everything. I haven't got a specific type in terms of looks, though. WHAT WOULD YOU BE CEO OF? Taking hours to do my hair NAME: Alima Gagio AGE: 23 FROM: Glasgow OCCUPATION: Wealth Management Client Services Executive WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? A tall man with a handsome face. You know when you just look at a guy and they have that Disney prince look to them? That's it WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? I think she'd hire me because I'm a good flirt. I always ask guys on a night out to guess which country I'm originally from. If they get it right, they can get my number. But they never guess correctly so it works really well if you don't want to give a guy your number. I'm originally from Guinea Bissau. If they're close and I really fancy them, I'll give them my number anyway. NAME: Ben Holbrough AGE: 23 FROM: Gloucester OCCUPATION: Private Hire Taxi driver WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone sexy, good looking, good chat, good vibes, nice teeth and good eye contact - they're all the traits I look for. Oh, and also a cute smile, I just look at you and know I can be around you all day, every day. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Bankrupt. I'd have been out of business a long time ago. That's exactly why I'm here. NAME: Helena Ford AGE: 29 FROM: London OCCUPATION: Cabin Crew WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Somebody funny or Northern. I feel like Northern people have much more banter than Southerners. If you look through my previous dating history, you'll see I clearly go for personality. You can pretty much laugh me into bed. WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? I would say hire but then quickly fire soon after. It would only be a temporary contract. NAME: Megan Forte Clarke AGE: 24 FROM: Dublin OCCUPATION: Musical theatre performer and energy broker WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who doesn't take themselves too seriously and has a sense of humour. If they're not bad looking, that's always a plus. I love a boy that's a bit pasty, like Timothée Chalamet. I don't mind scrawny, or a bit of a 'dad bod'. I'm 5ft1 so any height really. CLAIM TO FAME? Me and my friends made a Derry Girls TikTok for Halloween and it went a bit viral around Brighton. Sometimes I get stopped in the street about it. I've also done Panto. NAME: Shakira Khan AGE: 26 FROM: London OCCUPATION: Construction Project Manager WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is tall, charming, witty, with big arms, a good smile and just really funny. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Booming, but they're all frogs. It's a busy love life but I've not found 'the husband', I'm looking for 'the one'. I'm looking for the ring. NAME: Harry Cooksley AGE: 30 FROM: Guildford OCCUPATION: Gold trader, semi-professional footballer and model WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? The girl next door that makes me laugh and can hold eye contact with me. I don't think I'd go for the most obvious girl, I like a real sweet girl. CLAIM TO FAME? I'm the body double for Declan Rice. So when he does a shoot, any body close ups will actually be me. You'll never see my face, but you'll see my shoulder or chest, that kind of thing. NAME: Conor Phillips AGE: 23 FROM: Limerick OCCUPATION: Professional rugby player WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?Someone who is really sure of themselves, ambitious, a bit of a go-getter and good craic. I like dark eyes and I don't mind a dominant woman. WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? Definitely hire. I ask girls if they want to go halves on a baby. It doesn't work, but it gets them laughing. It's an ice-breaker, not a serious question of course! NAME: Toni Laites AGE: 24 FROM: Connecticut OCCUPATION: Las Vegas Pool Cabana Server WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'm looking for darker hair, definitely muscular but not too muscular. Super fit. Clean hair cut. Someone that can make me laugh - I'm super outgoing. And someone that's quite active. Maybe one day we could start our own family together. I WANT TO DATE A BRITISH GUY BECAUSE... I've lived in three different states and I'm still single. It's time to try something new! I have some British friends and they're pretty charming. I think all Americans love a good accent. British men are just more polite, with better manners. NAME: Shea Mannings AGE: 25 FROM: Bristol OCCUPATION: Scaffolder WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? She needs to be bubbly and we need to have that initial spark. She needs to have a nice personality - like I think I have - so that we match together. Also, I have a little boy, so I'll be taking him into consideration with who I couple up with, too. WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? Definitely hire. I'm confident to go up and introduce myself and say, 'You look beautiful', to get a conversation flowing. NAME: Remell Mullins AGE: 24 FROM: Essex OCCUPATION: Self Improvement Content Creator WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? A bubbly, confident, ambitious and fun girl. One feature that stands out to me is a nice smile, nice teeth and someone that can keep me on my toes. IF YOU WERE THE CEO OF ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I'm the CEO of flirting. Sometimes it's just unintentional. NAME: Yasmin Pettet AGE: 24 FROM: London OCCUPATION: Commercial Banking Executive WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'm looking for a guy who is fit, has a nice body and who is funny with a bit of banter. WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST ICK? A guy that's stingy. NAME: Emily Moran AGE: 24 FROM: Aberdare OCCUPATION: Insurance Development Executive WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone with emotional intelligence for one. Someone who is really confident but not cocky. They can hold a room, communicate… oh, and biceps! WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST ICK? Bad manners, being rude, not saying please and thank you. I'd rather someone be overly polite than not say it at all. NAME: Harrison AGE: 22 OCCUPATION: US college soccer player and student WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Personality is a big thing, so it depends who I vibe with in there. WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST ICK? I don't like it when girls have celebrity crushes. If I'm with a girl I want them to have eyes for me, not talking about another guy when we're watching a film, ha!
ITV News
5 hours ago
- ITV News
Artist to the stars: How one of Wales' finest painters is finally being honoured
With its contrast of light and darkness and its brooding religious theme, "The Devil's Daughter" could have been painted by Caravaggio. When the painting went on display at the Royal Academy in 1917 it caused a sensation and created worldwide headlines. In later years, it is claimed, it hung in the recording studio of rock band Black Sabbath. Now it is owned by a collector from Pontypridd. But the Welsh artist who painted it was scarcely remembered in her home land, until now. On Saturday (21 June), a headstone will be unveiled at the final resting place of Margaret Lindsay Williams - a spot which was previously marked by a simple plaque. Dr Jonathan Hicks, the historian who led the headstone campaign, said it is about time the artist was recognised. "It won't be a sad day, unlike most occasions that take place in cemeteries', he said. 'This is about a celebration of her life.' 'It's about recognising the talent she had. The impact she made nationally, not least on Welsh art.' Margaret Lindsay Williams was born in 1888 in Cardiff but her family soon moved to Barry, where they lived on Windsor Road. She studied at the Cardiff School of Art and later at London's Royal Academy, becoming the youngest student - and the first Welsh artist - to win the prestigious gold medal. An important early work was 'The Welsh National Service at Westminster Abbey'. It took Williams three years to paint and now hangs in Cardiff Crown Court. But some of Williams' early work was more introspective. 'The Devil's Daughter' was followed by two similar canvases: 'The Triumph' and 'The Imprisoned Soul". All depict themes of spiritual conflict and the tension between vice and virtue. Paul Buckland bought 'The Devil's Daughter' from a gallery in the US. 'Not being a religious person at all, I just like the idea of somebody saying 'no, I'm going to go and have fun. I'm not going to go to church', he said. 'But it's also what it represents - a strong feminist painting by a Welsh painter.' From the mid 1920s, Williams concentrated on portraits, becoming one of high society's most sought after artists. She painted King George V, Queen Mary, and - on five separate occasions - Queen Elizabeth II. She was also commissioned to produce childhood portraits of the current King - Charles III - and his sister, Princess Anne. Williams said this process inspired a love of art in the four-year-old Charles - he turned up to one sitting wearing overalls and with a set of brushes. The young Prince even presented her with his own paintings. Williams described them as being 'very modern school,' although she had to ask Charles what the pictures were of - 'a forest' and 'a house' apparently. Alongside her royal work, Williams was also asked to paint other famous faces of her day. Her subjects included Prime Minister David Lloyd George and Ivor Novello, the Welsh composer. She also crossed the Atlantic to paint automobile tycoon Henry Ford and even Warren Harding, the US President. It is reported that Harding sat for her on 18 separate occasions, although the sessions were often interrupted by state business. Williams later said the President had asked her if she had ever been in love, to which she replied: 'Oh, Mr President, I am wedded to my art.' In fact, Margaret never married. She died in 1960 at her home in St John's Wood, London. She was buried in Barry's Merthyr Dyfan cemetery but until now, there has been no permanent marker of her final resting place. 'I thought it really didn't seem fair that this woman was lying in an unmarked plot in Barry cemetery', said Dr Hicks. 'I went away and mused on it for a while and spent some time researching her life, found it to be absolutely fascinating, and then decided that I would launch a fundraising appeal.' The appeal raised more than £2,000 and saw a headstone created by CJ Ball memorial masons of Barry. It will be unveiled at a special ceremony on Saturday - in the week marking Williams' birthday. Barry's mayor will be among those present, together with six members of the artist's family, who have travelled over from Canada. It is a fitting tribute to one of Barry 's greatest daughters. A painter of monarchs and presidents who never forgot her roots.
South Wales Argus
5 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Popular EastEnders dog Terence has died, owners confirm
Terence, a Lhasa Apso dog, arrived in Albert Square back in October 2001 when Billy Mitchell gave the dog to Janine Butcher as a gift for her 18th birthday. The dog, which is classed as "non-binary" by fans due to it being referred to as both a he and a she while on EastEnders, was usually seen on-screen with Janine and was involved in several key scenes. Terence was part of the EastEnders cast for eight years, before making their last appearance in December 2009. The dog proved popular among fans, with users on Reddit group r/EastEnders recently describing Terrence as their "all-time favourite pet" from the BBC soap. One person commented: "Terence has had so many iconic storylines and side quests during their time on the show, they are just as much a main character as anybody else! Long live Theirence." Most popular soap operas in the UK Death of popular EastEnders dog confirmed by owner One fan, on X (formerly Twitter), contacted Terence's owner recently, asking what the dog had been up to since its time on EastEnders. Replying, the owners said: "Terence was retired by the writers/producers. "He worked on a lot of different productions and lived out his retirement as a much loved family pet." After months of waiting, we finally have news on the fate of Theirence! — andrew (radicalised by conrad clark era) (@floellaumbagabe) June 16, 2025 Terence's owner has now confirmed the popular pooch has in fact died since leaving EastEnders. Speaking to The Sun, they said: "My dog who played Terence last worked on the show in 2009, though another dog from a different company played the role for a few more episodes. "Afraid Terence and Wellard, who I also supplied, are unfortunately long gone now. They are never with us long enough.' Wellard, a Belgian Tervuren dog, was another popular dog on EastEnders. He was part of the BBC soap from October 1994 to August 2008, making him the longest-serving pet on EastEnders. EastEnders fans say "RIP to this soap legend" EastEnders fans have gone into mourning after learning about the passing of Terence. Posting on the EastEnders Reddit group, on person said: "Sleep well sweet prince, forever our queen." RECOMMENDED READING: Another fan added: "RIP to this soap legend." A third user posted: "So sad to hear. Doggy goes to heaven." While this person commented: "I'm so glad they lived such a full life full of love."
