Francesca Simon

If you want to see how judging works for #BBC500words, tune into #TheOneShow tonight at 7pm!

Hell of a chart, this, from @financialtimes.com. Spot the JCPOA.

on.ft.com/4kSuQYO

We have lost a decade of our life to an evil idiot…a dolt. A moron. One of the most racist and dumbest humans on the planet.

10 years.

Today's the big day! Off to Windsor Castle for the #BBC500words grand finale, hosted by HM the Queen, to celebrate 50 fantastic finalists and their brilliant stories (no longer than 500 words).

Faber is looking for a confident and creative campaigns marketer to help build our Children’s list. You will have a brilliant understanding of the Children’s market from ages 2 – 18, through picture books up to Young Adult fiction.

faber.co.uk/careers/childrens-marketing-manager

We are deciding right now whether we want to be a country with ethnic cleansing and concentration camps.

All London to NYC flights cancelled today!

My parents gave me Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare for my 10th birthday. Loved it

A very happy 7 year anniversary of #TheMonstrousChild @royaloperahouse.bsky.social to @gavhiggins.bsky.social @lucyschaufer.bsky.social #martaFontanals-Simmons

I find robots terrifying

Or just come to London and see our 7 visiting parakeets…😀

Fundraiser for James Van Der Beek’s family surpasses $1m in under 24 hours Dawson’s Creek star, who died on Tuesday, had been open about struggling to meet high expenses of cancer treatment

American health care: set up GoFundMe pages because treatment leaves you broke

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

YouTube video by Dr. Joanne Freeman Contempt and Power

Tomorrow on my live podcast: History Matters:

CONTEMPT AND POWER

Wednesday's Bondi hearing was a 2-hour display of open contempt for We the People.

The USA has a long history of contempt's use as a political weapon.

Join us for more
Friday 10:00 AM ET

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl1v...

The Long Ukrainian Winter How You Can Help

Russia’s full-scale invasion began 4 years ago. It began in winter, and so this winter is the 5th. And, for civilians, the worst. Russia launches missiles and drones at energy infrastructure to force Ukrainians to endure the freezing cold. Here's how you can help
snyder.substack.com/p/the-long-u...

The Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel. And composers Tommy and David Newman.

Why is it that every time I try to watch the Olympics it seems to be curling 🥌 ?! 😢

‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September Seamus Culleton has been in a detention facility in Texas for nearly five months despite having no criminal record

This is absolutely insane. The sort of Kafka-esque nightmare you would find in a Philip K Dick book set far in the dystopian future. A window on America tumbling into autocracy.

www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...

Post-Brexit sales of British farm products to EU fall by 37% NFU warn it could take years to restore Brexit losses despite efforts to smooth negotiations on farming and other elements of UK-EU reset

www.theguardian.com/environment/....

Another Brexit bonus!

Post-Brexit sales of British farm products to EU fall by 37%

I recommended it on @fivebooks.com

fivebooks.com/book/house-c...

Wonderful novel!

Ali Smith just gave the most wonderful, eloquent talk on #bbcradio4 about Charlotte’s Web, to celebrate the Year of Reading.

I am a devoted sour dough bread maker. I even travel with my starter!

BBC 500 Words competition judges gather at Buckingham Palace to decide on final shortlist Her Majesty The Queen joined the panel of judges - chaired by The One Show’s Alex Jones and including Rose Ayling‑Ellis, Sir Lenny Henry, Frank Cottrell‑Boyce, Francesca Simon, Charlie Higson and Malo...

A brilliant day at Buckingham Palace judging #bbc500words. I think we’ve found a fantastic set of winners…

www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/...

Off to #BuckinghamPalace to judge #BBC500words with @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social @charliehigson.bsky.social @malorieblackman.bsky.social @lennyhenryofficial.bsky.social and HM Queen Camilla @royaloperahouse.bsky.social

Looking forward to a great day of sabres drawn and hurled teacups!

Two weeks…..🤧

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, 26/01/2026 Live magazine programme on the worlds of arts, literature, film, media and music

I'm a guest tonight on #bbcradio4 Front Row at 7:15 pm talking about writing Salka, my first book for adults and about the difference between writing for kids and for adults

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Minneapolis shows us how to resist

I live in the UK and this is appalled headline news.