BBC 500 Words - Francesca Simon meets fellow judges

Francesca Simon is very proud to be a judge for this year’s BBC 500 Words competition. This year she’s joined by author and Waterstones Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, author Charlie Higson, author Malorie Blackman, author and comedian Sir Lenny Henry as well as singer song-writer Olivia Dean.

Entries close on 8th November at 9pm so half term is the perfect time to get writing! Find out more on the website which is packed full of information and inspiration or just catch up with a special message here.

Fabulous Francesca Facts

"Families are great sources of comedy because they are about people trapped together. Only the parents chose to be there and the rest of you are stuck with these people that you might not necessarily like"

"Nobody feels emotions like children and with Henry, the war is constant and total. Anyone who has lived in a family has these shared experiences - the car journey from hell, nits or vomiting"

"I’ve never met a child who doesn’t love hearing stories. It’s a good way of introducing them to books and it’s a great way of getting them to understand stories that they might not be able to read themselves"

"We all love stories, it all helps making sense of the world"

"Horrid Henry speaks to the impish, rebellious child in all of us"

"My first book was called Papa Forgot and was published in 1993"

"I’ve written over fifty books"

"My birthday is 23rd February"

"I’m a bit scared of the dark"

"My hobbies are reading, cooking and going to the theatre"

"My favourite author is Anthony Trollope"

"My most disliked food is beetroot"

"My favourite colour is aquamarine"

"My favourite food is scallops"