�鶹Լ��

The 500 Words 2023/24 grand final was hosted by Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace in February of this year. All 50 finalists were treated to a star-studded event, not only to celebrate the stories, but to find out who won the gold, silver and bronze awards in each age category.

There was lots of prizes to be won, including original artwork from illustrators Axel Scheffler, Steven Lenton, Sue Cheung, Jamie Smart, Joelle Avelino and Fiona Lumbers.

Each winner was revealed by a celebrity guest reader, who then read the story aloud for the very first time. These celebrity readers were Loki actor Tom Hiddleston, singer-songwriter Olivia Dean, Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse, Beauty and the Beast actor Luke Evans, Matilda the Musical actor Alisha Weir and Paddington Bear star Hugh Bonneville. You can watch the guest readers reveal the winners below.

Also in attendance were our official judges; Sir Lenny Henry, Malorie Blackman, Francesca Simon, Charlie Higson and Frank Cottrell-Boyce.

You can catch up and watch the final on iPlayer here.

Winner: The Alien and the Purple Planet, by Henry B, read by Strictly Come Dancing star, Oti Mabuse.

Henry said: “I love reading. I read loads of books about lots of different things. Some on my own, some with my teacher and some with my family. It takes me to a different world. My favourite books are Horrid Henry. I always like it when they shout ‘Henry don’t be horrid’ and when the author uses words like wibble pants and stinky toad."

Winner: Pony With a Coat on Solving Crimes, by Clara W, read by 'Matilda the Musical' actor, Alisha Weir.

Clara said: “when I was little and in preschool on the drive there, I saw a horse every day. Sometimes he was staring at a tree, and I thought he was making plans!

"Plans at night to become a special helpful pony, a pony who people could go to when they needed help - and he could solve mysteries with his friends in the field and his magic blue coat! A Pony with A Coat On, Solving Crimes!

"I even made a tune up that I would sing to him when we passed his field every day.”

Winner: Message in a Bottle, by Evan S, read by singer-songwriter, Olivia Dean.

Evan said: “My story was inspired by river and beach cleans that I have done with my family over the past few years. I was devastated to see the amount of pollution that washes up: plastic bottles, wipes and medical waste. I even found a shoe and a bicycle! We all need to make a better effort to keep our planet clean now and for future generations.”

Winner: A Very Important Lesson, by Aaron B, read by The Beauty and the Beast star, Luke Evans.

Aaron said: “My favourite thing about writing is the fact that I can just write whatever comes into my head. The best book I have ever read is the first Skulduggery Pleasant book - it’s really fun and packed with action and fantasy. The next thing I want to write is a story about a robot apocalypse. I've already finished the first chapter and it will be the fourth story I've written.”

Winner: The Scottish Gangsta, by Spencer M, read by Paddington Bear actor Hugh Bonneville.

Spencer said: "My story was inspired by a video game that my mum won't let me play …it's about a bank heist. My brain is always full of random ideas. I don't really know how they get in there. When I read it to my dad and my brother, they thought it was hilarious!"

Winner: Cellmate by Olive C, read by Loki actor, Tom Hiddleston.

Olive said: “My favourite thing to write about is fantasy. It could be about a town of people with the ability to fly, or a world where humans live in the clouds and gods live on earth. Anything related to fantasy, it just swallows me whole. I love it."

In addition to plenty of book prizes, the winners also took home their artwork for their stories from some of best children's illustrators. You can view these illustrations on the carousel below.

The illustrations are also included in an exclusive 500 Words winning stories book, taken home by each winner.

Need more inspiration?