Crime writer and radio pugilist PD James has won one of the most prestigious awards in British journalism - the Nick Clarke Interview Prize. She won it for her on-air punch-up with BBC Director General Mark Thompson, during her guest editorship of the Today Programme on Radio 4 last new year's eve.

Quoted in The Guardian, Evan Davis, full-time Today programme interviewer said: "She shouldn't be guest editing, she should be permanently presenting the programme..."

The shortlist for the award included a number of other heavyweight full-timers: Owen Bennett-Jones, from the World Service; Andrew Hosken, also from The Today Programme; Jeff Randall from Sky News and Mark Lawson courageously challenging Russell Crowe on his accent on Front Row.

The Press Gazette has the story (and the full shortlist), The Guardian covered PD James' Today stint and here's the running order from her excellent edition of the programme. Mark Damazer, Nick Clarke's friend, introduced the prize on the blog last year.

Steve Bowbrick is editor of the Radio 4 blog

Editor's note. Update: of course, the award has now been announced. Kate Clanchy is the winner. The Telegraph covered the announcement, as did The Guardian. Congratulations to Kate Clanchy! - SB

Not long now until our final meeting in a discreet London venue, to pick this year's winner. Which isn't going to be easy at all.

Meantime, not only are the stories going out on air each day at 1530 and available in the normal 'listen again' fashion - as are the five interviews with the authors on Front Row - but for the first time, and for two weeks only, we are able to offer the five stories as a podcast and as downloads for your MP3 player. It's very easy to do - just visit the series' podcast page where you'll find directions. Either subscribe to the podcast and get all five stories delivered to your MP3 player or right-click to download each story to your computer directly - to keep forever.

And the animated video clips, are all still available here. It's proved an interesting process finding visuals which reflect but don't distract from the audio - and my colleagues Rob and Hannah have done an excellent job I think. You can also check out Naomi Alderman's blog where she has written a lovely piece on her native Hendon.

And for those of you who prefer to read the stories in the old-fashioned way, Short Books have just published a beautiful anthology containing all five and an introduction from our Chair Tom Sutcliffe, which is available in all good book shops, and a perfect treat for Christmas.

As for me, I'm just going to re-read the stories one more time.

Di Speirs is Editor, Readings at BBC Radio 4

• In the press, chair of judges and Front Row presenter Tom Sutcliffe wrote a hymn of praise to the short story for The Independent. Alison Flood in The Guardian remarked on the all-female shortlist. Janice Turner in The Times notes that although she can't remember her cleaner's second name, shortlisted author Kate Clanchy can and has written a whole book about hers. The South Yorkshire Star notes with pride that shortlisted author Jane Rogers teaches at the region's Sheffield Hallam University and the Manchester University press office is pleased to point out that faculty member Dr Jennifer Rowntree helped Sara Maitland with her shortlisted story The Moss Witch as part of 'a unique collaboration between scientists and authors'.
• The winner will be announced live on next Monday's Front Row at 1915.
• Story is a campaign for shorter stories. It's run by Book Trust, co-organisers of the awards.

Update: details of how to enter an interview for the award and the competition rules are now here. The closing date for this year's award is 4 August.

Nick Clarke was a great Radio 4 broadcaster. He died far far too young in late 2006 and is remembered by many of us - and I am sure many of you - as a master of his art - on The World at One and Round Britain Quiz in particular. The man with the marvellous voice and intellect and unique interviewing style.

Radio 4 and BBC News launched an interview prize in his honour - for the best broadcast interview over a 12 month period. Last year - the inaugural year - the prize was won by the BBC's Carrie Gracie - though I am delighted to say that we had a pretty healthy number of entries from all over the industry. The prize was announced at the Cheltenham Literary Festival in early October and we are expecting to repeat the pattern for this year.

Entries have to be in by the end of July and we have a very able group of judges who listen in pairs before a final list is drawn up and listened to by a panel of three. Last year that final panel consisted of Gillian Reynolds (of The Daily Telegraph), Peter Hennessey (the renowned political historian from Queen Mary, University of London) and Nick's long time editor - Kevin Marsh (Editor of the BBC's College of Journalism).

• Mark Damazer wrote an obituary for Nick Clarke for The Guardian in November 2006. Of Clarke's return to radio after his first illness, he says: "His first Any Questions outing was at a school in Tring, Hertfordshire. The audience in the hall knew it was his first programme since the cancer. When Nick came on to the platform there was a Radio 4 version of pandemonium. The walls vibrated to the sound of the clapping and stamping. Many people stood."
• The Press Gazette on Carrie Gracie's 2008 win
• The picture shows Nick Clarke presenting The World at One in 2001. It's from the BBC's picture library.