Winners Announced at Windsor Castle
The BBC’s 500 Words competition, which invites children aged 5-11 to submit stories in 500 words or fewer, has revealed its winners after receiving more than 46,500 entries. The announcement took place during a Grand Final at Windsor Castle, a fitting venue for such a celebration of young literary talent.
The competition is divided into two age categories: 5-7 and 8-11. The Gold Winner for the 5-7 age group is Zuren Zhang, recognized for his imaginative story titled “Life on Mars.” Meanwhile, Maya Ukwubiwe took home the Gold for the 8-11 age group with her captivating tale “Strings of Midnight.”
In addition to the Gold winners, several other young writers were honored. The Silver Winner for the 5-7 age group is Muhammed-Da’oud Khan with his story “Love Doesn’t Have to be Loud,” while Harry Hart earned the Bronze for his entry “The Comet and the Earth.” For the 8-11 category, Annalise Ikeasomba won Bronze with “The Jollof Code.”
Gold winners are awarded the height of judge Sir Lenny Henry in books, along with 500 books for their schools. Silver winners receive the height of Her Majesty The Queen in books, and Bronze winners receive the average height of a 7-year-old or 11-year-old in books.
During the event, Sara Cox praised Zuren Zhang, stating, “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.” This sentiment reflects the courage and creativity displayed by all participants.
Actress Jodie Whittaker expressed her admiration for the stories, saying, “It was incredible… If it gets made into a film, I’d like to be in it!” Her comments highlight the engaging nature of the stories produced by the young authors.
Her Majesty The Queen also extended her congratulations, stating, “Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who has supported the competition this year and to congratulate the brilliant finalists!” Her words emphasize the importance of fostering creativity in children.
According to Cerys Griffiths, the competition serves as a reminder of the extraordinary imaginations of children, adding, “This year’s winners have amazed us with their creativity, and we’re proud to celebrate their achievements.”
The 500 Words competition is supported by BBC Bitesize, encouraging young writers to explore their creativity through storytelling. Details remain unconfirmed regarding future plans for the competition.
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