Meet the judges for 500 Words panel

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Whether it's through children's books, tv shows, films or songs - one thing our judging panel all has in common is the ability to tell brilliant stories. Our incredible judges Malorie Blackman, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Charlie Higson, Francesca Simon and Sir Lenny Henry will return for the 2025/26 competition.

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Actor, children’s author and 'BAFTA ‘Breakthrough Brit’, Rose Ayling-Ellis MBE, is the newest member of our celebrity panel of judges. Rose published her first children’s books with DK Children’s, starting with ‘Marvellous Messages’ in March of this year - a story that invites children to explore the ancient languages and new ways of communication. She also has a picture book series ‘Rose Signs’ teaching BSL to young children. In 2025, Rose led the ITV hit drama series ‘Code of Silence’ and has also starred in the critically acclaimed BBC thriller Reunion. Her 2023 documentary, Signs for Change, was nominated for a 2024 BAFTA Craft Award and Rose was shortlisted for ‘Best Documentary Presenter’ at the Grierson British Documentary Awards. In recognition of her services to the deaf community Rose was awarded an MBE in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours.
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Frank Cottrell-Boyce
Frank Cottrell-Boyce first joined the 500 Words judging panel in 2013 off the back of an incredible year, where he wrote the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. Frank has written many children’s books, including the continuation of the ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ series, the 2004 Carnegie Medal-winning Millions and the 2012 Guardian Prize-winning ‘The Unforgotten Coat’. Frank was appointed the new Children’s Laureate in 2024, pledging to spend his two-year tenure promoting the role books and reading can play in transforming children’s lives.
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Malorie Blackman
Like Frank, Malorie Blackman has been a part of the 500 Words team since 2013, the year she also became Children’s Laureate – establishing the first UK Young Adult Literature Convention during her tenure. Malorie has written more than 70 books for children and young adults, including the ground-breaking and best-selling ‘Noughts and Crosses’ series – which was turned into a critically acclaimed BBC drama in 2020. Her most recent children’s book, ‘Hurricane Betsy’, was published in 2025. Name-checked by Stormzy in his song ‘Superheroes’, Malorie was the subject of a British Library exhibition in late 2023 that celebrated and contextualised her impact and stories.
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Sir Lenny Henry
Sir Lenny Henry joined the 500 Words team in 2023, bringing his incredible experience from a five-decade career as a television present, writer, actor and comedian. Known for shows such as Tiswas and Chef! As well as the ground-breaking ‘The Lenny Henry Show’, Sir Lenny also co-founded Comic Relief. Sir Lenny has written five children’s books, including the popular ‘The Boy with Wings’ series, which was adapted for the stage in 2025. Sir Lenny has credited his daughter as the inspiration behind his writing and believes passionately that it is so important the children see themselves positively represented.
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Francesca Simon
Francesca Simon has been a 500 Words judge since 2014. A best-selling author, her Horrid Henry series is known across the world, selling more than 21 million copies and having been translated into 29 different languages. Horrid Henry was adapted into the popular animated series of the same name. Francesca has written more than 60 different books, including The Lost Gods and The Monstrous Child. She was awarded an MBE in the 2023 New Year’s Honours List for services to literature and was awarded a Gold Blue Peter Badge in 2009 – something she considers to be one of her proudest achievements in her illustrious career.
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Charlie Higson
A 500 Words judge for over a decade, Charlie Higson returns to our panel again this year. Charlie is a British actor, comedian, author and writer for both radio and television. Best known as one of the creators of The Fast Show, his children’s books include The Enemy series and the first five Young Bond books, which have sold over a million copies in the UK alone, as well as being translated into over 24 different languages. Charlie released his latest children’s book, illustrated by Nadia Shireen, ‘What’s That Noise?’ in 2025.

Meet our judges

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