BOOKED UP FOR EDINBURGH
Stage show of David Walliams’ book will be at Fringe.
HE’S a comedy star and a serious actor, a judge on TV’s biggest talent show and one of the country’s most successful authors.
An adaptation of one of his books is set to be a big hit at the Edinburgh Fringe and he raises millions for charity, devoting serious time to causes close to his heart.
So, it’s stating the blindingly obvious that David Walliams is a busy, busy man. But the jack of many trades – and master of quite a few – insists he wouldn’t have it any other way as he settles down to chat about his many hats to iN10.
“I’m completely restless,” says David, 45. “I can’t wake up to a day when I don’t know what I’m going to do. I always like to have something on the go.
“If you’re writing, then you’ve always got something to be doing. If I’ve finished one book, then I’ve got to start thinking about the next one.
“I’m having ideas, making notes all the time. I like being creative.
“Sometimes I think I should be a bit less busy. You don’t want to do too much and have people get bored of you, but I do really love going out and working.”
It’s just a few months short of 10 years since David dipped his toe in the water as a children’s author, signing a deal with HarperCollins.
The Boy In The Dress was his first effort, Mr Stink the second, followed by Billionaire Boy.
It was hardly, he admits, an overnight success story. But the success, when it came, was stunning.
“I thought I’d just write a couple of books and, while not a sideline, I never imagined it’d be my main focus,” says David.
“It wasn’t until Gangsta Granny, the fourth book, that it really took off. I suddenly thought, wow, this is a career. People were expecting the next one and you had to get on with it.”
One bestseller followed after another, with the sales soaring into the millions and the books translated into more than 45 languages.
It has seen him described as the natural successor to Roald Dahl. But it’s a comparison that, while pleasing, has him shuffling uncomfortably.
With a four-year-old son – Alfred – just bringing the joy of reading to kids is the biggest thing.
“It’s nice, but I don’t believe it. No one is the next Roald Dahl, or C.S. Lewis or Lewis Carroll. His work is of such great importance I don’t think anyone’s ever going to emulate him, certainly not me.
“It’s a nice thing to be able to put on the cover of the book and sell more copies!
“Look, he’s my hero, so it definitely makes me happy. I don’t put too much store by it because if you start believing the good reviews, you’re going to have to believe the bad ones, too.
“The main thing is kids enjoying them. They don’t fake it. If kids find something boring, they’ll let you know.
“They don’t finish boring books. Grown-ups finish boring books because they think they should. 800 pages in, they’re bored out of their brains, don’t understand what’s happening and just wish it’d end.”
Adaptations of the books have delighted millions of TV viewers and packed in audiences for stage productions.
The latest will be staged at the Edinburgh Fringe in August. First Hippo On The Moon has been adapted by award-winning theatre company Les Petits.
Suitable for age three and up, it’s a family-fun feast with puppets, music and mayhem being staged at the Pleasance from August 2.
With such demand for his books, David has to be picky about which versions are staged and when. But he was more than happy with the Edinburgh show.
“It’s the first of my picture books to be on stage and I’m pleased it’s such a great theatre company doing it. I was really thrilled when the call came in. They’ve been really inventive with how they’ve done it and I think they’ve done it brilliantly.”
David’s hoping to make it along for the run, not just for the show but because Edinburgh holds a special place.
Like most young comics, appearing at the Fringe was the Holy Grail and early appearances with Little Britain pal Matt Lucas had a huge impact.
“I’ve got such fond memories of appearing at the Fringe,” he confides. “It’s a very big time in your life when you’re starting out.
“Matt and I were huge comedy fans and back then we were on the outside looking in and wanting to be part of this world. It can have a big influence on what you do. “We went to see The League Of Gentlemen when they were there in their first year and were just blown away.
“It made us want to try harder at what we did.
“And there are so many big names. You can’t believe your heroes are there enjoying a pint and being approachable.”
With so many acts bidding for attention, anything that gets you noticed or pulls in the punters is worth a shot.
But David can’t help chortling as he recalls one effort that had an unexpected outcome.
“The very first show Matt and I did was on at midnight in the Assembly Rooms and as a joke we put on the poster ‘free creche’.
“A woman turned up with a toddler in a pushchair and asked where it was.
“When we told her we were joking she said she only came because of the free crèche.
“It was so mad. Who has their children up at midnight!”
Another part of David’s hectic life is his role alongside Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Simon Cowell on the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel.
Despite recent reports suggesting he may be tiring of it as the acts had simply become too good, it seems he’s still up for pressing the buzzer and trading insults with show boss Cowell.
“I was thinking just the other day that I’ve probably seen thousands of acts after doing it for five years.
“The show’s still full of surprises, the chemistry seems to work among the judges and Ant and Dec are an absolute Godsend because they’re so brilliant at what they do.
“Sometimes shows have their day but people still like BGT and it’s nice to be a part of something successful. There’s also nothing I can do to prepare, and it’d be a mistake to try and write down some funny remarks.
“I just show up and say whatever you think.”
The teasing, even taunting, of Cowell is a winner with viewers, even if it does seem tantamount to playing with fire at times.
So, has he ever feared he’s gone too far?
“Well, I’m still there, so he hasn’t sacked me yet,” smiles David. “Maybe one day I will overstep it.
“He has been in quite good spirits recently and seems to be up for a laugh. People love to see him being put down a bit.
“When we’re in the audition chair it does tend to go a bit crazy as we’re recording quite late. Luckily the producers can edit some of the stuff that’s maybe a bit too adult.”
There’s a definite impression from our chat that whatever David commits to, he does so fully.
But even with success on all fronts, it’s not something he ever takes lightly.
“I pinch myself every single day and can’t believe how lucky I am,” he adds.
“When you’re acting and you’re up really early you’ve got to remember there are thousands of people who might be more talented who’d take your place in a heartbeat.
“So you need to stop moaning and enjoy it. You have to realise how privileged you are to have any success and I constantly remind myself of that.
“I got to meet and have dinner with John Cleese, who’s a hero of mine.
“If you’d told me aged 10 that I was going to hang out with him it’d have been unbelievable.
“In these good times I always remember where I’ve come from.”
David Walliams’ The First Hippo On The Moon, Pleasance Beyond, Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh. Wednesday, August 2 to Sunday August 20, (not 15th), 12pm. Tickets available at edfringe.com or pleasance.co.uk