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The 500 Words 2015 Final

The 500 Words 2015 finalists assemble at St James's Palace by the invitation The Duchess of Cornwall to hear the winners announced live on the show.

With a fanfare and a flourish, it's the 500 Words 2015 final! To celebrate the competition's fifth year Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall invites Chris Evans and the 500 Words finalists to attend a live broadcast from the spectacular St James' Palace!

The six winning wordsmiths will be announced live on-air, by superstar celebrity narrators including Sir Kenneth Branagh, Charles Dance, and Poldark's Eleanor Tomlinson. They'll be treated as royalty themselves as they are serenaded by live music from teen-sensations The Vamps and the wonderful Will Young. Chris' One Show co-host Alex Jones and sports reporter Vassos Alexander are also on hand to capture the reactions of our prize-winning young authors, and explore some of the palace's regal rarities.

It has been a record year for the 500 Words competition with a terrific total of 120,421 entries - that's over 60 million words! Each one was read by a fantastic team of volunteer teachers and librarians from around the UK, before being whittled down to the Top 50 finalists by the Reading Agency.

Our panel of judges - Charlie Higson, Francesca Simon, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Malorie Blackman and Head Judge Richard Hammond - then had the gruelling task of selecting 3 winners in each age category (ages five to nine and ages ten to thirteen) from this group of talented young writers.

The Gold Medal winner in each category wins Chris Evans' height in books (6ft 2") plus 500 books for their school library; the runner up Silver Medal winner receives Alex Jones' height in books (5ft 6"); while the Bronze Medal winner can look forward to reading their own height in books! All winners receive a beautifully bound copy of their story meticulously made by royal bookbinders.

2 hours, 59 minutes

Last on

Fri 29 May 2015 07:05

Music Played

  • The Beatles

    Paperback Writer

    • The Beatles - 1.
    • Apple.
  • Queen

    Don't Stop Me Now

    • Jazz.
    • Island.
    • 12.
  • James Brown

    I Got You (I Feel Good)

    • Hits Of ... 65 & 66 (Vol.1).
    • Polydor.
  • Jeff Beck

    Hi Ho Silver Lining

    • The Greatest Hits Of 1967 (Various).
    • EMI.
  • Black Eyed Peas

    I Gotta Feeling

    • (CD Single).
    • Interscope.
    • 4.
  • Pratt & McClain

    Happy Days

    • Television's Greatest Hits Volume 3 70s & 80s.
    • Silva Screen Records Ltd.
  • Cameo

    Word Up

    • Platinum - The Definitive R&B Collection (Various Artists).
    • Universal Music TV.
  • The Searchers

    Sweets For My Sweet

    • The Searchers.
    • MFP.
  • Blue Mink

    Good Morning Freedom

    • The Best Of.
    • Music Club.
  • The Clash

    London Calling

  • The Killers

    Read My Mind

    • (CD Single).
    • Vertigo.

Broadcast

  • Fri 29 May 2015 07:05

Farewell Chris Evans: The best bits from his last shows at Radio 2

Farewell Chris Evans: The best bits from his last shows at Radio 2

After eight years of hosting the Breakfast Show, Chris Evans leaves Radio 2.

500 Words

500 Words

BBC Radio 2's story-writing competition for kids.