Francesca joins Zoe Ball at the launch of 500 Words

Radio 2 broadcaster Zoe Ball launched the BBC’s 500 Words competition at a special outside broadcast event in Liverpool on 16th January along with judges Francesca Simon, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Charlie Higson. The children’s short story writing competition is an annual event. If you’d like to find out more, pick up tips and read all of the details visit the 500 Words website

Francesca Simon with Zoe Ball, Charlie Higson and Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Francesca Simon will be one of the expert author judges alongside Malorie Blackman, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Charlie Higson. The judging panel will be chaired by Chris Evans who created and launched the competition at BBC Radio 2 in 2011.The award is now celebrating its 10th year and the prize giving will take place at Buckingham Palace on Friday 12th June.

The competition closing date is 27th February 2020.

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"