The BBC’s 500 Words competition, hosted by Barney Walsh, received an impressive 46,500 entries from children aged 5-11 across the UK. The winners were revealed during a Grand Final held at Windsor Castle on BBC’s The One Show.

The competition features two age group categories: 5-7 and 8-11, each awarding gold, silver, and bronze prizes. This year, the gold winner for the 5-7 age group was Zuren Zhang with the story “Life on Mars,” while Maya Ukwubiwe took gold in the 8-11 category with her entry “Strings of Midnight.”

Other notable winners include Muhammed-Da’oud Khan, who won silver in the younger category with “Love Doesn’t Have to be Loud,” and Ariadne Elena Livas, who secured silver for the older group with “The Truth of Pitlochry.” Bronze awards went to Harry Hart for “The Comet and the Earth” and Annalise Ikeasomba for “The Jollof Code.”

During the event, Sara Cox praised the bravery of the young writers, 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.”

Actress Jodie Whittaker, who read one of the stories, expressed her admiration, saying, “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!”

Her Majesty The Queen also acknowledged the participants, stating, “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!”

Cerys Griffiths, a representative of the BBC, remarked, “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.”

The finalists’ stories are now available on the BBC 500 Words website, allowing a wider audience to appreciate the creativity of these young authors.

As the competition continues to grow, observers look forward to what the future holds for the 500 Words initiative, especially with the upcoming 100th anniversary of A. A. Milne’s beloved stories in 2026.

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