At the heart of his writing is a simple goal: to create books that children can’t put down. Walliams’ formula? “Stories need to have big forward momentum, with cliffhangers at the end of every chapter, jokes throughout, and some scary bits. I just want to write a book that a kid keeps reading under the covers with a torch when they’ve been told to go to sleep.”
This relentless pursuit of entertainment, coupled with his ability to inject humour into each story, has made Walliams a household name for young readers worldwide.
Despite his busy schedule—constantly writing, whether on a train, plane, or at home—Walliams balances his work with time spent with his 11-year-old son and their dogs. His son has even contributed to his creative process, suggesting the idea for Mega Monster, which became one of Walliams’ books. “If you’re creative, you’ve always kind of got your antenna up in some way or another,” he said.
Walliams has often been compared to Roald Dahl, and he takes this as both a compliment and a humbling thought. “It must be awful for him; he must be spinning in his grave,” Walliams joked. But the comparison is fitting, especially considering how both authors refuse to patronise their audience.
“The thing I think he did brilliantly is he didn’t patronise his audience anytime. He assumed that children could understand quite sophisticated humour,” he said, recalling the impactful moment in The Witches when a boy is turned into a mouse, but his grandmother tells him, “It doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like. All that matters is you’re loved.”
Walliams admired Dahl’s ability to convey big messages in simple yet powerful ways, something he strives to achieve in his own work.
The conversation naturally turned to another comedic hero of Walliams—Barry Humphries, who had a profound impact on his career. “He was the reason I wanted to be a comedian, really,” Walliams said, recalling seeing Humphries live as a teenager. Humphries, known for his alter-ego Dame Edna, was an intelligent and self-deprecating performer who could make any situation hilarious.
David Walliams with Barry Humphries / Supplied
“I met him as both Dame Edna and Barry, and he was unbelievably intelligent, erudite, and yet constantly pricking at himself. He would tell stories of his failures in hilarious ways, never about his triumphs,” Walliams said. He counts himself lucky to have spent time with Humphries and fondly remembered their lunches and dinners together, moments he would never forget.
On the topic of today’s comedy scene, Walliams said some people seem more easily offended, but the younger generation, particularly those discovering Little Britain on platforms like TikTok, are embracing the show’s humour. “There are so many funny clips being shared now.”
Walliams’ perspective on comedy is simple: it’s meant to be playful. He believes that audiences still want to laugh. “John Cleese said this: if you take comedy literally, then you’ll find fault with it. Comedy is meant to be a relief of pressure, a way to deal with taboo subjects. You can’t think of every joke as being a comedian’s actual point of view.”
David Walliams
David Walliams has several shows coming to New Zealand soon—one for children and one for adults. His family-friendly show, The David Walliams Book Show, will see him sharing stories, reading excerpts, and getting kids involved in games. Meanwhile, his grown-up show will include stories from fan favourites—Little Britain, Come Fly With Me, and Britain’s Got Talent, as well as lots of stories about his dear friend Barry Humphries.
