Steven Spielberg, Julie Walters and Jarvis Cocker will be among the stars championing their favourite Roald Dahl book in a programme celebrating the author’s work.
Dahl, who died in 1990, would have been 100 in September this year.
Dahl in 1988 (Rebecca Naden/PA)
Roald Dahl’s Most Marvellous Book will be a 90-minute celebration of the author’s 10 best-selling books including Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, The BFG, The Witches and Matilda, with a Twitter vote to determine the nation’s favourite.
As well as Spielberg, Walters and Cocker, Richard Curtis, Mackenzie Crook, Johnny Vegas, Jessica Hynes and Miriam Margolyes will campaign for their favourite book, in the show hosted by David Walliams.
Jarvis Cocker on stage during the NME Awards 2015 (Yui Mok/PA)
The Channel 4 programme, supported by the Roald Dahl Literary Estate, will also include footage of Rik Mayall’s Jackanory reading of George’s Marvellous Medicine.
Walliams said: “I’m delighted to be involved with this project celebrating Roald Dahl and the impact his books have had on us as a nation. Helped by a host of celebrities and the voting public, we’ll try to decide which of the great man’s books really is the most marvellous.”
David Walliams (Joe Giddens/PA)
Jonno Richards, head of comedy at production company Talkback, said: “Roald Dahl is arguably the greatest children’s author of all time and who better to help the Channel 4 viewer pick their favourite Dahl book than A-list talent like David Wallliams, Steven Spielberg, Richard Curtis and Julie Walters?”
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