BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show and Chris Evans’ 500 Words reaches its last final after a decade of wonderful stories

Zoe Ball launched this year’s 500 Words at Four Oaks Primary in Liverpool, where children from the school joined her on air for a live outside broadcast of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show. In tomorrow’s final, the winning stories will be revealed and read by celebrities David Walliams, Dua Lipa, Joanna Lumley, Alfred Enoch, Jodie Whittaker and Mwaka Mudenda.

500 Words, the children’s story writing competition, was created and launched by Chris Evans in 2011 when he was presenter of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show. When Chris decided to leave the BBC to join Virgin Radio, he agreed for 500 Words to be produced and broadcast by Radio 2 for two further years, which has allowed the initiative to complete a full decade.

Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2 Content Commissioning, says: “Radio 2 is so proud of the success of 500 Words and tomorrow we’ll take a moment to celebrate the past ten years on air as well as of course crown our winners.

"We thank Chris for allowing us to continue to run the initiative for the last two years so that we’ve been able to celebrate a full decade of children’s short stories. We’d also like to thank Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall for her support, our partners Oxford University Press, our author judges - Malorie Blackman, Francesca Simon, Charlie Higson and Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the thousands of librarians and teachers who have acted as judges and, of course, all the children who have taken part.”

Chris Evans says: “500 Words is the best thing I have ever been involved in. Who would have thought ten years ago when we came up with the idea on a scrap of paper that we’d reach this incredible milestone and over a million children would have entered. Well done to everyone – the BBC, Her Royal Highness, OUP, our superstar judges and narrators, the teachers and librarians, The Reading Agency, the schools, parents and, most of all, the children. You are all brilliant.”

Zoe Ball said: “I loved 500 Words when I tuned in as a listener and, since taking the helm of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, I have been so proud of what’s been achieved in these past two years, taking the total number of entries since Chris first launched it in 2011 to over one million!

"The stories have made me laugh, cry, kept me on the edge of my seat and left me in awe of how super brilliant, bright and inventive the children of Britain are. Thank you to every child who has shared their imaginations with us all and taken part in 500 Words across these ten years.”

During its time on air the competition has received over a million entries from children across the length and breadth of the UK, and this incredible legacy remains. Radio 2 will now create a new listener-led initiative for 2021, with further details to be announced in due course.

The BBC will continue to encourage children to discover the joy of reading, writing and storytelling across its output. From watching CBeebies’ Bedtime Story, taking part in CBBC’s Book Club or Blue Peter’s Book Awards - which sees over 300 children act as judges - and enjoying its many dramas, such as Jamie Johnson and Malory Towers, there’s so much for them to explore and discover ways to get creative with words.

CBeebies Radio encourages pre-schoolers to create their own worlds through imaginary and inspiring storytelling, from traditional tales to outdoor adventures with all their favourites including Molly & Mack, Ruff-Ruff, Tweet and Dave, and Mr Tumble.

The recently launched Bitesize Daily programme has featured well-known guests each day, such as Stephen Fry and Oti Mabuse, reading books to primary and secondary school children which lessons can also be based around.

Coming soon to Bitesize will be a Shakespeare Fortnight where famous faces will read Shakespeare texts with the RSC providing help with resources for kids to learn more about The Bard.

The Tiny Happy People initiative is available to help parents and carers develop their child’s communications skills using simple activities and play ideas. Blue Peter regularly features authors such as Jacqueline Wilson and the show recently launched a new feature with author Anthony Horowitz asking kids to write their own spy stories which he will give feedback on. CBBC also has its own Book Club where children send in their own reviews and thoughts on a variety of books. And many children’s programmes on the BBC are based on books, including Hetty Feather, The Worst Witch and Tracy Beaker, plus Topsy And Tim for younger viewers.

KA