Chris Evans hits out after BBC axes world’s biggest story-writing competition that he created and Duchess of Cornwall championed
- Virgin Radio presenter Chris Evans has criticised the ending of 500 Words
- Evans started 500 Words in 2011 when presenting The Chris Evans Breakfast Show
- Duchess of Cornwall is an honorary judge and ‘Fairy Godmother’ of 500 Words
- Lenny Tucker’s entry about Pat the bunny moved Camilla to tears this year
Chris Evans has hit out at the BBC after they made the decision to end the world’s biggest story-writing competition that he created when he worked for Radio 2.
The 500 Words competition was launched in 2011 by Evans when he hosted The Chris Evans Breakfast Show and the Duchess of Cornwall, who is an honorary judge of the competition, praised it for helping inspire young people to read and write.
Evans left the BBC to present on Virgin Radio in 2018 but allowed his former employers to continue running his competition.
Chris Evans has hit out at the BBC’s decision to axe 500 Words, the world’s biggest writing competition which he created when he worked for Radio 2 in 2011
2020 is set to be the final year of the competition though as the BBC has axed the children’s scheme which saw a record 134,709 entries this year.
The Times reports that Evans held discussions with the BBC to extend the competition into 2022 but they were unsuccessful.
Radio 2 has said it will replace the competition with a new initiative led by the listener next year, but Evans has suggested a ‘pop-up’ version of 500 Words should be held until then.
Helen Thomas, who became Radio 2’s head of station last month, is believed to have given the go-ahead to scrap the writing competition.
She said: ‘We thank Chris for allowing us to continue to run the initiative for the last two years so that we’ve been able to celebrate a full decade of children’s short stories.
‘We’d also like to thank Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall for her support, our partners Oxford University Press, our author judges – Malorie Blackman, Francesca Simon, Charlie Higson and Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the thousands of librarians and teachers who have acted as judges and, of course, all the children who have taken part.’
In a statement the BBC said: ‘When Chris decided to leave the BBC to join Virgin Radio, he agreed for 500 Words to be produced and broadcast by Radio 2 for two further years, which has allowed the initiative to complete a full decade.’
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘It was a decision taken by the Radio 2 team given it had been on air for a full decade – including the two years that had been agreed with Chris Evans after he left the BBC.’
The Duchess of Cornwall, dubbed the ‘Fairy Godmother’ of the competition, recorded a special video message to everyone who entered the competition this year
Speaking on Virgin Radio about the decision, Evans said: ‘It’s a real shame. Feel free to text and tweet, very politely, very subtly, the BBC saying “how about not cancelling 500 Words cos that might be the best idea ever?” Do that please.’
The Duchess of Cornwall, sometimes dubbed the ‘Fairy Godmother’ of 500 Words was moved to tears by one entry this year.
Eight-year-old Lenny Tucker, from Essex, wrote the story of Pat and old, lonely, tired bunny and his journey to heaven.
In a video address to all participants, Camilla said she ‘had a good cry’ at the story which won silver in this year’s five to nine category.
She also said that although people have been confined to their homes this year, nothing can confine imagination.
Lenny’s mother said: ‘He’s over the moon, and has said he’ll donate his prize of the Duchess of Cornwall’s height in books to his school.’
Eight-year-old Lenny Tucker, from Essex, wrote the story of Pat and old, lonely, tired bunny and his journey to heaven. He won silver in the five to nine category and moved the Duchess of Cornwall to tears