Winners of the BBC’s 500 Words Competition Announced
The BBC’s 500 Words competition, hosted by Barney Walsh and Bradley Walsh, has concluded with over 46,500 entries from children aged 5-11. The winners were revealed during a Grand Final at Windsor Castle.
The competition, which invites young storytellers to submit original works of 500 words or fewer, has two age categories: 5-7 and 8-11. Each category awards gold, silver, and bronze medals to the top entries.
This year, the gold winner for the 5-7 age group is Zuren Zhang with the story “Life on Mars,” while Maya Ukwubiwe took the gold for the 8-11 group with her story “Strings of Midnight.”
The silver awards went to Muhammed-Da’oud Khan for “Love Doesn’t Have to be Loud” in the younger category and Ariadne Elena Livas for “The Truth of Pitlochry” in the older group. Bronze winners include Harry Hart for “The Comet and the Earth” and Annalise Ikeasomba for “The Jollof Code.”
Judges for the competition included notable figures such as Sir Lenny Henry, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, and Malorie Blackman, who praised the creativity displayed by the young authors.
Sara Cox remarked, “I just love that Stew and Pidd are so brave because they weren’t sure what they were getting themselves into, but they just went for it. I think we can all learn from that, so well done Zuren.”
Jodie Whittaker expressed her admiration for the stories, stating, “It was incredible. I think it’s one of those amazing stories that not only have you read it, I think everyone in this room feels like they’ve seen it. If it gets made into a film, I’d like to be in it!”
Cerys Griffiths, a representative from the BBC, noted, “Every year, BBC 500 Words reminds us just how extraordinary children’s imaginations are. This year’s winners have amazed us with their creativity, and we’re proud to celebrate their achievements.”
In a message of encouragement, Her Majesty The Queen stated, “Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who has supported the competition this year and to congratulate the brilliant finalists! I hope that you have enjoyed taking part in 500 Words and that doing so has helped you to discover a secret…that reading and writing are the best fun ever!”
The 2026 competition will mark the 100th anniversary of A. A. Milne’s beloved stories, adding a historical significance to future events.