David Walliams

[Navelgazers]

He's on the wall of my child's school as author of the month. I just do not see the appeal - as I see it he got into writing easily, already being a celebrity, and found success as he used the same illustrator as Roald Dahl - Quentin Blake.

There have been threads in the past about him, and now this
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/nov/10/david-walliams-recorded-derogatory-remarks-britains-got-talent-bgt-contestants

Basically, saying really offensive things about some BGT contestants, on mic. Of course they were going to be leaked.

He's a repulsive, talentless prick.

To anyone who looks to him to get their child reading, I'd say, look at Roald Dahl himself!

Unfortunately Roald Dahl waws a prick too...

Creepy

my son used to love his books and I used to like him but no more

My kids liked his books. I find him a bit creepy and. Not at all funny. I do like Matt Lucas in little Britain but not in British bake off - completely cringe

Can anyone make some suggestions for other authors? I know she's old school but I really loved the Enchanted Wood by enid blyton when I was about 6.

Is anyone surprised that he made those comments? He’s always come across as a creepy, unpleasant man.

lithub.com/when-roald-dahls-editor-decided-he-was-too-much-of-a-prick-to-publish/#:~:text=He%20was%20famous%20for%20insulting,wrote%20some%20pretty%20wonderful%20books.

Ok fair enough!

Yes. For someone who has made the bulk of his money out of pocket money, what surprises me is that he made the comments on mic. How daft can you get.

If you judge children’s books by their authors’ personalities you’ll rule out a lot of classics.

He makes my skin crawl and I don't like his books either. Mind you Roald Dahl was no prize pig either.

With the hundreds of wonderful children's authors, why would you recommend Dahl on the basis that he is a better person? He was an anti semite and horrible.
Doesnt change his books, but you're going on the basis of him not being horrible, like Walliams. But he is.

Before retired from Pimary teaching,I had a Y4 class and many of them loved DW. They asked me to read one of his books to them - The beast of Buckingham Palace or something. It was the biggest pile of tripe ever. So full of filler and repeated phrases, it reminded me of the Barbara Cartland character from Little Britain.

He’s not the best author but if he gets reluctant readers reading, that’s a good thing. Not all primary aged children enjoy “proper” authors.

Yep I conceded that up thread.

Dahl was a great writer but it's hardly surprising he was a prick. His books are riddled with snobbery.

He possibly finds it hilarious and is aware of the comparison

Wow what a pathetic prick.

“Lawyers for Walliams and Thames TV, the production company behind Britain’s Got Talent, argued the comments were part of a private conversation never intended for broadcast.”

Oh, I see. Thanks for explaining that, lawyers. That makes it all fine. Nothing to see here.

What a vile man.

As an author, he got my DD off Horrid Henry and onto longer books.
DD enjoyed Dahl on audio but never managed to read his books.

My kids love his books so I shouldn't knock him because anything that gets kids into reading is a bonus I suppose. But I hate that they mention people being fat all the time - billionaire boy is fat as is his friend and dad, the kid in mr stink is fat, the kid in rat burgers mam is fat it's like he makes it a plot point a bit to often! However I am also fat so maybe I'm just picking up on it more than I should.

I’ve never understood how David Walliams and Matt Lucas still have careers. The blackface in Little Britain should have been enough to end them (2003-7) but then they made Come Fly With Me (2010-11) and did it again.