Webchat with David Baddiel, Wednesday 16 Dec 4:30pm

[TinaMumsnet]

David Baddiel will be joining us for the final Mumsnet author webchat of 2015. Celebrated comedian, TV presenter and author of not one but TWO bestselling children's books (The Person Controller and The Parent Agency) will be answering your questions on Wednesday 16 December at 4:30pm.

Baddiel has written and performed, in a series of highly successful TV comedy shows, including The Mary
Whitehouse Experience and Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned. His debut children's novel, The Parent Agency, was hailed by the Guardian as 'funny, sometimes moving and always engaging.' The Person Controller his second novel – confirms David as a brilliant and original new voice in children's fiction.

Join us with (or without) your DC on Wednesday 16 Dec at 4:30pm, or if you can’t make it on the day, post your questions now.

@TurduckenForDinner

I don't have a question, I just wanted to say that my DS was home from school with a cold and temperature and was whinging about being bored so I downloaded The Parent Agency from Audible and it kept him quiet and in bed for the whole four hours. He said it was "really, REALLY good".

Thanks so much. Glad it kept him going when he wasn't well.

@Sunnymeg

Going back in time, what was your favourite 'Phoenix from the flames'?

I liked the Peter Beardsley one a lot, especially when he sings All By Myself...and the Eusebio one, partly just because during it I got to knock up a ball with Eusebio...

@HBSY7

UK School Librarian here with some questions from our enthusiastic Y7s:

1. If you could have any parents for a day, who would they be?

I'd like to go for some of the the parents in The Parent Agency. Probably Mama Cool and Lord Rader Well-Orff.

2. Is it harder to be a comedian or an author?

I don't quite recognise the difference as everything I do as a comedian I write. But stand-up is quite hard, as it can make you very nervous. Writing is more like just hard work a lot of the time.

3. Do you have a favourite place to write (like a shed, garage or shop?)

I write in my study, which very luckily for me overlooks water, which is kind of calming when you get frustrated not being able to think of anything.

4. Did you have any difficulties in school?

I pretended to be ill for a whole term in my second year of secondary school. I ended up in hospital...I basically just didn't fancy going...

1. What is your favourite book (apart from your own!)

Rabbit Is Rich by John Updike...

@WestleyAndButtockUp

Another appreciation here for your first novel, Time For Bed.

In case you're only answering questions about your children's books, I'll ask, "Do you write with your own kids in mind as readers?"

Yes. Ezra gave me the idea for The Parent Agency, and he's just 11, like all of my main characters, same kind of age. But also I think in terms of the kid who I am. Inside I'm basically about 11 too. One of the good things about being a comedian is that you have licence to remain a child all your life...

@TurduckenForDinner

I have a question about the link between being a comedian and writing for children. There are three of you writing brilliant books for kids (four if you include Makenzie Crook, although he's a comic actor rather than a comedian) and that constitutes a trend IMO. Do you think it's just coincidence that you, David Walliams and Julian Clary have written books that engage children so well or is there something about the type of comedy that you do that enabled your children's books to be so original and absorbing.

I think being a comedian - I sort of said this in last answer - is about retaining the child within yourself for longer than usual. Or at least - because we're all just grown-up kids really - being allowed (and able) to channel the child within yourself more readily than most. So that might be something to do with it. I also think kids now have much more sophisticated sense of humour than they used to, because of TV - because of The Simpsons etc. I don't think there's that much of a gap between kids comedy and adult comedy. Not if you watch, say, The Amazing World of Gumball on Cartoon Network.

Also, not a question, but didn't you get lucky with Morwenna? So, so funny and sexy in a not-even-trying way, I have a bit of a girl crush.

I did. Although I tell her she got lucky with me.

@KimmySchmidtsSmile

Hello David What, aside from your children's fiction, are you most and least proud of writing/making?

Hmm. Don't know. I have a slight "all my children" thing with the stuff I've written so don't like to chose between them. The greatest thrill though is still the time the crowd sung 3 Lions at Wembley.

I have a signed copy of Whatever love means but never got to meet you in person. But you did end up sitting next to me once in a Richard Herring play (you had no choice, it was the last seat) sadly I was too shy/respectful of privacy to say hi.
So 18 years later...hi. What impressed me was the teenager sat the other side of you had no such qualms and asked you for an autograph. You were very gracious and did so happily.
That, along with an email from which you were quoted as saying the difficulty of taking the piss out of famous people is, one day you get to know them and find out they're nice as people, puts you in a non-lizardy good guy list as far as I am concerned. Oh, and the Infidel. My second question: with the latter quote in my mind, have you ever/would you ever veto a decent joke if you felt you were punching down/choosing an easy target/hurting someone's feelings? Aren't most people decent when you get to know them in person?
Finally, and she might hate me for saying it given her other achievements, but please tell your wife my family think Madame Gazelle is awesome (mummy pig we reckon though is a bit passive aggressive ;-) )
Cheers and best wishes x

@TheBananaFaceOfEvil

Hi David. I've been a fan of yours since I was 11 and used to listen to the Mary Whitehouse Experience, which my older brother recorded onto cassette from Radio 1. I love your novels and I'm looking forward to when my kids are a bit older so they can read your books (the kids' ones obvs - maybe leave the anal scene in Time for Bed until they're older).

My question is are you doing a tour of your My Family show? I missed the work-in-progress shows because DS2 was too little to leave him in the evenings.

Thank you. I might be. But first I think I'm going to do a run in London. I would pay for a babysitter for you to come and see it...except I wouldn't, I just said that.

Mention of Phoenix From The Flames takes me right back to a laddish house share of the time where we watched Fantasy Football religiously. It's one of those lightning in a bottle shows that really captured the spirit of the time. Don't really have a question, just sharing the Proustian rush.

@KimmySchmidtsSmile

Ooh, last one I promise....

In the foreword of the written transcript of No Cure for Cancer, Denis Leary credits you with introducing him to Jon Thoday and consequently his fringe show happening. Two things...

1. What is your opinion on the subsequent plagiarism claims that have hounded Leary since?

I love Denis. And actually it was more of an interaction between the two of them, him and BH. And BOTH of them were indebted to Sam Kinison...

1. Do you regret, as your erstwhile partner seems to, not having had Bill Hicks tour with you and was that a joint decision?

Bill Hicks never wanted to tour with us. I think that's a bit of wishful historical thinking from Rob.

Thanks again x
Will try to pop in later but am an hour ahead and juggling three kids so live in hope. Have a good webchat.

@DrDreReturns

Do you still suffer from insomnia? I remember some of your gags being based on your difficulty sleeping.

Not as bad. I think kids, strangely, helped: as I became so tired once I had kids, and they woke me up so early, I just conked out at night.

Got a few questions from Twitter for you David…
@Pumpkin2k9

What is the best book you have read recently?

@bnchile4444

Your cover art is always so cool...who's your artist/s ?

@alexpym5908

How long does it take in the morning to look so scruffy?

Do you have a real or fake Christmas tree? And is the tree colour coordinated or are you a tinsel n all the trimmings kinda man?

@DontTellTheBride

Hello,

I thought you made some really interesting points about social media at Blogfest.

As you're here to talk about your children's books, I was wondering what your take was on your own kids and social media - especially having well known parents?

Thanks

Well... Ezra is too young - he's 11 - and Dolly is 14 - and she's on Instagram but not FB. I think it's impossible to stop or even to monitor it completely - and considering I do Twitter in quite a big way it would be hypocritical of me to bar them. However I do think there's a lot of stuff that goes on on social media that is bad for kids, especially the cyber-bullying and also more complicatedly just creating a world in which they feel watched and self-conscious all the time. I guess it's just about trying to balance it all, take the good stuff and ignore/block the bad.

@TheSandmansSon

David

What is your favourite biscuit?

Jaffa Cakes. But are they a cake or a biscuit?

@taratiger

Hello David What's it like being married to Mummy Pig?

Complicated for a Jewish bloke.

Jaffa Cakes are cakes. There's legal precedent to that effect. Also they go hard when stake rather than soft.

@Youarenotthebossofme

( am sure I posted earlier but will have to repeat it as it has disappeared)My son really enjoyed Bad Parents Agency, he says that you are a very imaginative writer. I was dubious of another childrens book written by a comedian but I relented as the subject matter is so irresistible to children. I didn't realise you had written another childrens book so this is an easy choice Christmas present. How do come up with your subject matter? Do you have a child's imagination or do you try and think of childrens wildest dreams and work from there?

Thanks. Although it's just called The Parent Agency, not Bad Parents Agency - but that could be another book...I have at some level a very childish imagination yes. I like to think in terms of a story that will act out, at some level, a primal kids fantasy, with all the desire AND jeopardy that might involve. And comedy of course.

waves

I made it! This is a first! albeit with Pocoyo on in the background and a baby on the boob, but I'll take what I can. Thank you for answering my questions. Am enjoying what I have read so far. (Sorry, the bill hicks tour question turned out to be factually incorrect, it was based on an interview earlier in the year so unless misquoted, yep, wishful thinking).
Thanks again.

@TinaMumsnet

Hi DavidBaddiel, welcome to Mumsnet! There are plenty of questions already posted on the thread but I'd like to kick off with the questions we ask all the authors that join us:

What childhood book most inspired you?

What would be the first piece of advice you would give to anyone attempting to write fiction?

What would be the first piece of advice you would give to anyone attempting to write fiction?

And the best you've received?

Over to you...

I like Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, because I like that Dahl channels a kids fantasy in a way that allows for it to be dangerous and comic as well as wish-fulfilling.

First piece of advice is to read a lot. Second is to write a lot - as in even if what you're writing feels like rubbish keep going: it will lead somewhere.

Best piece of advice is: never tell a reader/audience anything twice. Helps keep things economical.

@TinaMumsnet

Got a few questions from Twitter for you David… @Pumpkin2k9

What is the best book you have read recently?

@bnchile4444

Your cover art is always so cool...who's your artist/s ?

@alexpym5908

How long does it take in the morning to look so scruffy?

1. Purity by Jonathan Franzen
2. Jim Field - he's brilliant.
3. I wake up normally in a three piece suit with immaculate hair - to get down to this takes four or five hours of constant work.

@OneMoreCasualty

Love the slow chase scene in Time For Bed. Cry with laughter every time.

Not a question, just a note of appreciation.

thanks that's one of my favourite scenes too (for those who have not read - most of you I imagine - it's a scene where the 20-something hero and his grandma are in an old age home and chased by two old women down the corridor vv slowly).

@AnyoneButSanta

Mention of Phoenix From The Flames takes me right back to a laddish house share of the time where we watched Fantasy Football religiously. It's one of those lightning in a bottle shows that really captured the spirit of the time. Don't really have a question, just sharing the Proustian rush.

Thanks. I like the idea that anything I've done might be equivalent to Proust's madeleine.

Hi david

Do you ever text Rob with a "That's you that is" type text? If not, you should

@KimmySchmidtsSmile

Hello David What, aside from your children's fiction, are you most and least proud of writing/making? I have a signed copy of Whatever love means but never got to meet you in person. But you did end up sitting next to me once in a Richard Herring play (you had no choice, it was the last seat) sadly I was too shy/respectful of privacy to say hi. So 18 years later...hi. What impressed me was the teenager sat the other side of you had no such qualms and asked you for an autograph. You were very gracious and did so happily. That, along with an email from which you were quoted as saying the difficulty of taking the piss out of famous people is, one day you get to know them and find out they're nice as people, puts you in a non-lizardy good guy list as far as I am concerned. Oh, and the Infidel. My second question: with the latter quote in my mind, have you ever/would you ever veto a decent joke if you felt you were punching down/choosing an easy target/hurting someone's feelings? Aren't most people decent when you get to know them in person? Finally, and she might hate me for saying it given her other achievements, but please tell your wife my family think Madame Gazelle is awesome (mummy pig we reckon though is a bit passive aggressive ;-) ) Cheers and best wishes x

Just noticed your second question...I basically try never to do a joke that would hurt someone's feelings now. That makes things quite hard. I still would do edgy jokes, about religion or sex or whatever, but I wouldn't do a joke about a named person any more - unless of course they'd slagged me off. Then all bets are off.

Oooh so much to ask...

Do you go to watch much comedy? If so, any recommendations?

What films will you be watching this Christmas?

What are you up to in 2016?