Akeelah is a precocious 11-year-old girl from south Los Angeles with a gift for words. Despite her mother's objections, Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee, her principal Mr. Welch, and the proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah's aptitude earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
This documentary follows 8 teens and pre-teens as they work their way toward the finals of the Scripps Howard national spelling bee championship in Washington D.C.
Sue Perkins hosts as the country's brightest spellers aged between nine and 13 compete in a series of word-related games and challenges, displaying a combination of speed, skill and brains to deconstruct words many have never even heard of, let alone spelled, before. Comedian Joe Lycett reports from backstage, where the youngster and their parents are making last-minute preparations, while newsreader Moira Stuart officiates as the show's pronouncer
