Category: News

Ratburger and Grandpa’s Great Escape on TV this Christmas

As if Christmas wasn’t exciting enough already, it’s just got a whole lot better! Not one but TWO of David Walliams’ books have been turned into TV programmes. You’ll be able to watch them this December. And even better still – David is starring in both!

You’ll remember Ratburger – the story of Zoe and her pet rat. David will be turning himself into the evil Burt from Burt’s Burgers, who wants to turn Zoe’s rat into ‘delicious’ rat burgers and eat them. We’ve seen clips from the screening and the transformation is incredible!

After you’ve watched that, you might not want to eat a burger for a while. Thankfully there are none in Grandpa’s Great Escape, which you’ll also want to tell your parents you’re ‘definitely-without-fail’ watching this Christmas.

In this one, David plays the role of Jack’s Dad, a role that may or may not involve slipper wearing. You’re in for a treat as Grandpa and his grandson Jack plan a daring escape from his care home Twilight Towers.

If that wasn’t enough, there’s more. RAJ IS BACK!

To watch Ratburger you’ll need to tune into Sky 1. For Grandpa’s Great Escape, channel surf your way to BBC One.

Grab the cushions, make yourself some popcorn and get comfortable on the sofa because this is going to be nothing short of BRILLIANT!

Record-breaking 100 Weeks in the Children’s Books Charts!

We are over-the-moon to announce that David Walliams has become the first children’s writer to spend 100 weeks in the number one position in the children’s book charts, beating his nearest rivals by over 20 weeks.

Gangsta Granny (2011), was David’s first number one bestseller, a position subsequently reached by each of his novels and his two recent The World’s Worst Children collections of short stories. In 2014, Awful Auntie became the first of his books to also occupy the overall number one position, while Grandpa’s Great Escape became the biggest selling title of 2016, and The Midnight Gang became that year’s Christmas Number One – the first children’s title to achieve this since J.K. Rowling in 2008. In 2017 he has already had four number one titles: Blob (for World Book Day), The World’s Worst Children 2, The Midnight Gang and Grandpa’s Great Escape.

“I never dreamed of this scale of success. Thank you so much to everyone who bought the books and made this happen. It is incredible news but all that really matters is that children are reading and enjoying my books.” – David Walliams

Celebrating David Walliams throughout the summer, David’s Facebook page will be host to a series of #WalliamsWednesday events, in which a new book will be showcased every week. Children and adults alike can take part in a weekly competition, download fantastic activities, listen to some of David’s audio books and even get the chance to pick up David’s book on Amazon Kindle for only 99p! If you’re already a super-fan or even new to David’s books, there will be something there for you in the World of David Walliams.

David Walliams Live from the Birmingham Symphony Hall

On November 20th 2016, David Walliams Live visited the Birmingham Symphony Hall for a magical extravaganza. David, donning his best pyjamas, thrilled children and parents as he read a scene from The Midnight Gang and followed up with fan favourites, Gangsta Granny, The World’s Worst Children and Rat Burger.

The whole show was filmed in front of a live audience, but in case you missed it the first time around, you can watch David Walliams Live from the Birmingham Symphony Hall, in all its hilarity right here.

walliams-post1v2

David reading from The Midnight Gang

walliams-birmingham-wwc

A reading from the brilliant The World’s Worst Children

walliams-birmingham-ratburger

David’s reading of Ratburger

David topped the show off with a Q&A session, gathering questions from the audience. He spoke about his characters, namely how he came up with his well-loved character Raj, his writing and his approach to creativity. David also told the audience what his dream would be if he was in the Midnight Gang.

The audience of parents and children were treated to their own midnight feast goody bags, and a magical morning was had by all.

For more information about the books that David reads from, visit the following.

The Midnight Gang

Gangsta Granny

The World’s Worst Children

Ratburger

Gangsta Granny is hitting the West End in 2017!

The Birmingham Stage Company is delighted to present David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny! This special production is touring the country until July next year before its West End premiere at the Garrick Theatre from 26 July to 3 September 2017.

It’s Friday night and Ben knows that means only one thing – staying with Granny! There will be cabbage soup, cabbage pie and cabbage cake and Ben knows one thing for sure – it’s going to be sooooooooo boring! But what Ben doesn’t know is that Granny has a secret – and Friday nights are about to get more exciting than he could ever imagine, as he embarks on the adventure of a lifetime with his very own Gangsta Granny!

“Kids loved this show. Every comic opportunity is grasped”
– The Daily Telegraph * * * *

“Brilliantly adapted and directed, this is a cracker of a show!”
– Mail on Sunday * * * *

“The brilliant Birmingham Stage Company have produced a fantastic show. It’s superb. And it’s so much better than the book”.
– David Walliams

Click here for more about the show

Excited? We thought so. Before you go, be sure to join the World of David Walliams – we’re planning a few very exciting Gangsta Granny surprises for members!

Did you meet David Walliams and Tony Ross?

To celebrate the release of the brilliant new book, The World’s Worst Children, David Walliams and Tony Ross held an amazing signing at Waterstones Piccadilly!

Here are just some of the photos from that day!

13214714_10153847734689682_1541162022_o

David Walliams, signing away & never too far from a Malteaser!

13250297_10153847743074682_1243224970_n

Tony Ross, signing (and sometimes doodling) for fans!

Capture

Excited fans, queuing up with their books!

13282699_10153847734614682_1437281035_o

13271619_10153847734544682_2088952839_o

13275590_10153847734534682_804895596_o

Just some of the wonderful World of David Walliams fans we met in the queue!

13275082_10153847734889682_1990312361_o

Our mega pile of books, all waiting to be signed!

 

A message from Raj!

I’ve been interviewing Mr Wallibums about his AWFUL new book, The World’s Worst Children, and I loved getting all your questions for him!

I got so many questions, but these are some of my favourites!

  • Were you one of the world’s worst children when you were little? – Alex, age 8
  • Where do you get the ideas to start a story? – Isabelle, age 8
  • Out of all the books you’ve written, which one is your favourite? – Skye, age 8
  • What’s it like to be an author? – Niamh, age 10
  • Would you write a book based on Simon Cowell? – Danielle
  • What item would you most likely buy from Raj’s shop? – Patrick, age 12
  • What would you buy if you had a billion or gazillion pounds in cash? – Ephraim, age 8
  • We’re massive fans, but do you hope to be as famous an author as Roald Dahl one day? – Grace
  • Does Raj have a family? We love Raj, we want to know more! – Amy
  • Will Raj get his own book? – Donna
  • Mr Walliams, why did you leave Raj out of Awful Auntie? – Sharon
  • Will you buy Raj’s box of curly-wurlies? They’re for a special price and the use-by date is only 1997… – Sam, age 10

 

I can’t wait for you to hear my interview with Mr Wallybottom – or whatever his stupid made-up name is!

 

 

 

BREAKING NEWS

HarperCollins Children’s Books has published a new David Walliams title, The World’s Worst Children, supercharging the market and changing the landscape of this spring and summer for book retailers everywhere.

The bonus book will delight Walliams’ millions of fans who no longer have to wait until September for a new title. HarperCollins have published The World’s Worst Children at top speed, with fans across the globe able to enjoy this additional full-colour gift hardback ahead of his scheduled autumn novel.

A wickedly funny and wonderfully surreal collection of ten stories about ten delightfully dreadful children, The World’s Worst Children is David Walliams’ unique take on the classic cautionary tale. This momentous new addition to the David Walliams canon is illustrated in spectacular technicolour by the inimitable Tony Ross and published in a glorious hardback gift edition. The collection is also available in e-book and audio, with the story hilariously performed by the author himself.
Are you ready to meet the World’s Worst Children? From Dribbling Drew – a boy whose drool gets him into terrible trouble – to Sofia Sofa – a TV super-fan so stuck to the sofa that she’s turning into one! – the uproariously funny cast of characters will delight David Walliams’ readers.

As an extra special treat, fan favourite Raj even makes a hilarious appearance!

The World’s Worst Children has launched in all formats across key international territories including Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

UK: Amazon | Waterstones

Australia: HarperCollins | Booktopia | Dymocks | Bookworld

New Zealand: HarperCollins | The Nile

ORDER YOUR COPY NOW!

 

David’s Busy Week

David has had one busy week!

On the 24th of November, David delighted his young fans by heading to Seven Stories in Newcastle for a special book reading of Grandpa’s Great Escape.

He also surprised the audience of The Late Late Toy Show in Ireland by making a grand entrance through a magical door.  Apart from answering questions from his excited fans, he also took part in a game called Pie Host with host Ryan. He had the audience, and the Irish viewers at home, in stitches!

David even found time to visit Chris Evans at the Radio 2 headquarters. You can catch-up on the show here.

David Walliams Joins Syria Campaign

David Walliams has joined a host of the UK’s bestselling authors to raise money for Syrian refugees.

Waterstones have teamed up with Oxfam to raise money for the charity’s Syria Crisis Appeal, donating 100% of the full retail price on a host of bestselling titles…including David’s ‘The Boy in the Dress‘.

The books will be stickered with ‘Buy Books for Syria’ and will go on sale in Waterstones shops from 1 October.

You can find out more about the appeal here.