1982: ROALD DAHL's writing shed | Pebble Mill | Classic Celebrity Interview | BBC Archive

Frank Delaney meets Roald Dahl, the prolific author of such beloved children's classics as James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr Fox, George's Marvellous Medicine, The BFG, Matilda, and The Witches.
Roald Dahl recalls how his writing career began and how he transitioned from short stories for adults into children's literature. He demonstrates the writing routine which he performs - in a messy little hut at the bottom of his garden - for four and a half hours every day. What makes a good children's book?
This clip is from Pebble Mill, originally broadcast 18 October, 1982.
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[@TTM9691]

Oh my gosh. I wrote Roald Dahl when I was 8, in the 1970s....and he wrote me back a beautiful letter (which I still have). Now I see what the whole process was! He was very specific to what I wrote, answering my questions and telling me how he appreciated that I wrote on my own accord, as opposed to being a school assignment, which he said was what he usually received.

[@matttdb]

If you could, would you please display the letter here? I would love to see how he replied. What a wonderful treasure.

[@londonroulette]

Wow. That letter is priceless. You’re more than lucky to have 🏆🏆🏆🙏🙏

[@TTM9691]

@@matttdb What nice comments from both of you guys. Matt, I'm not sure I want to type it all out here, maybe I'll post it somewhere and let you know. I can tell you that in addition to what I already wrote that I had asked if he liked Rudyard Kipling (which is pretty funny now, thinking about it). Anyways, he answered that he had loved Kipling as a child. I had also asked permission to write a play based on one of his books. He told me he couldn't give me formal permission, but that I was free to do them with my friends, ie: for fun. And he used the word "splendid"....very Roald! He also did not condescend, using the word "compulsory" at one point to describe most of the letters he received. I'll put it up somewhere and let you know, although not right this second!

[@matttdb]

No worries. Wow that's so nice of you and thank you for sharing. You're apart of history! @@TTM9691

[@Jacob_Clarke]

what a great memory! he had his controversies but roald dahl was a legendary writer, his childrens books always felt better crafted than other childrens books out there.

[@mikeb2575]

*"I love wine, I have several thousand bottles in the cellar" - Now that is LOVE*

[@MTCason]

He was buried with, amongst other things, a bottle of his favorite Burgundy.

[@cherre2080]

Great to see how faithful Wes Anderson was with his shorts. He clearly watched this clip to show what Dahl’s situation was like writing. Down to the 6 pencils, how he wipes the rubber away and the overall layout of the room. So cool!

[@CRAiCED.]

When he started wiping the board it gave me a great grin to see aswell how much care Wes Anderson put into his shorts

[@katman734]

Wes Anderson's portrayal was the worst thing I've seen!

[@CRAiCED.]

@@katman734 how

[@NorEaster_Cyclone]

was about to comment the same thing, awesome

[@katman734]

@@CRAiCED. Have you watched it?

[@S7EVE_P]

I miss television like this, just quietly and calmly delivering something interesting. Its sad to think that just 8 years later Mr Dahl had passed away from cancer. As a child I read all his books and frequently watch Tales of the Unexpected. A great writer and man

[@Larry]

He was quite possibly writing The Witches during this filming.

[@minh1335]

hello you

[@nigelmurphy6761]

Yes because that came out the following year

[@SJMJ91]

Would make sense given this was filmed 1982, BFG had just been published that year and The Witches was published the following year.

[@BaileyMagikz]

never got to meet him or write to him as I'm just 24 but I met his partner/second wife, Felicity, who's still alive (84 as of 2023) a few years back. She was hosting a cake bake event at the property. She's just as wonderful a person as Roald was, and the shed and house still have the same charming appeal. It's truly a lovely place.

[@jeremywvarietyofviewpoints3104]

His children's books are just as funny and interesting to re-read as an adult. Most of them don't take long to read. His horror stories for adults are very clever. I remember telling my teacher in year seven that I had read Kiss-Kiss. He looked at me with an incredulous expression at the title.

[@syrus3k]

He remains the best children's writer I think. I now have my own kids and authors like David Walliams just aren't as good. They're not bad, but they'll never have the same magic that Roald had.

[@jeremywvarietyofviewpoints3104]

I tried to read a David Walliams book but I just didn't like it@@syrus3k

[@TTM9691]

damn, I just spent five days in a room Thad James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! I wish I had seen this comment first! 😄 I was stir crazy the whole five days!

[@solsol1624]

I think this is the first time I've seen him being interviewed. What a charming man.

[@octaviussludberry9016]

A lively, charming racist .

[@MTCason]

@@octaviussludberry9016 Are you describing yourself? Certainly not Mr. Dahl. But that is the 21st Century tendency, to tear down anyone and everyone who has ever done anything before the year 2010 as somehow backwards and malevolent.

[@RobertJones-st3wj]

​@@octaviussludberry9016 and still ten times the person you'll ever be

[@octaviussludberry9016]

@@RobertJones-st3wj Maybe, but at least I'm not racist.

[@Resenbrink]

You should read the autobiography of his ex-wife Patricia Neal

[@RocketRcn947]

I’m planning on writing a few of my own children’s books, and the authors who inspired me to become one, was Tim Burton, R.L. Stine, James Howe, Stephen King, Chris Van Allsburg-and above all. The one who started it all; is Roald Dahl! I didn’t grow up reading his stories (because I wasn’t born around the time they came out), but I was first introduced to his work when I saw Tim Burton’s adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. And so that’s where it started, when in middle school, I began reading many of Roald Dahl’s books and one of them happened to be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! I loved it enormously!

[@potentpassages1615]

So endearing and utterly charming. I remember attending a British school system in Saudi Arabia called Jeddah Prep in third grade. We always read Roald Dahl. The day he died, we had a minute's silence in assembly time. I have loved him since.

[@feywerfolevado6286]

Such a cozy writing setup!

[@shehryarkhan3646]

I Love the vibe of those old times

[@bazookabeebs]

Right at 6:34 you can see that he has exactly 6 pencils. (for those who were digging into the level of detail in Wes Anderson’s film.)

[@milesknightestrada3286]

FINALLY! THE FULL INTERVIEW! THANK YOU BBC ARCHIVE!!!

[@abrokenframe82]

What an absolute heart warming interview. The man was a genius and it's true children will become obsessed with a book as opposed to an adult, making it far more difficult to write great childrens books. Even to this day I still watch tales of the unexpected on Sky Arts, some of them are pure genius!

[@blackstonepros]

It is a gift and an honor to be able to hear such a disciplined genius talk about his life and work. How many lives changed from those pencil markings he made from the chair in that shed?

[@liberty2308]

Oh he is much less grumpy than I expected…! I wish I can write to him still. I would write to him that I love his work more now as a teacher than I did as a child. Probably because I know now how hard it is to remain child-like and imaginative as an adult.

[@SGTASMR]

I could listen to his voice all day

[@mrthedudeman]

Try Alan Watts, I think you'd like his talks.

[@jayfusion555]

Met him in '78 while he visited our Junior school in East London, E9.

[@davidc4408]

I bet was 95% native English then

[@jayfusion555]

Boris Johnson and his people would NOT accept YOUR command of English. Please advise again as your message doesn't make sense. @@davidc4408

[@rayoflight6505]

Legend who has never been replaced.

[@dsiegel2275]

Over the course of several long car rides last summer, my family and I listened to the audiobook version of Dahl's autobiography "Boy: Tales of Childhood". It is a fascinating collection of stories about his life growing up in England. Highly recommend it.

[@shehryarkhan3646]

Oh, Wow. Thanks

[@anthonybradley1555]

easily one of my favorites, i did kind of feel a little queasy when the car accident comes up as you could just imagine it very nasty.

[@marco69tits]

He grew up in Wales

[@dac545j]

@@marco69tits Interesting name.

[@sartinlewis5734]

This is pure ASMR

[@BossySwan]

ASMRoald

[@christinedennison7770]

Excuse my ignorance what is ASMR?

[@zachhaywood1564]

​@christinedennison7770 It's an acronym for auto-stimulatory median response. It's the tingly feel-good feeling you get from hearing a relaxing or pleasing sound.

[@markhorton8578]

I remember seeing this on the BBC when originally broadcast. Such a joy to see it and all its detail again.

[@nicolawilkinson8592]

we are very lucky to have people like Roald dahl amazing man. Nicola

[@octaviussludberry9016]

You do know he's dead. He was also a massive racist.

[@davidharwood9552]

I met him in the late 70s. I was a neighbourhood Policeman. I worked from Great Missenden Police Office and Roald Dhal lived nearby. My first encounter was a call to Great Missenden Railway Station. I didn’t know him but he approached me by the red telephone box. He said “I’m writing a book “. This was the time when we were getting suspect packages being left. He quizzed me about how I would deal with it. He was mysterious maybe strange in appearance and manner. He offered his name and address. I didn’t arrest him 😅 but I felt he was nearly asking to be arrested for his writing content. With the topic of suspect packages 📦 and bombs 💣 I often wondered if he wrote any content

[@dont-want-no-wrench]

it is always interesting to see where creative work is done. it is very often something like this, cluttered, unglamorous

[@girlplanetboy]

He lived a life consumed by his passions. What a very lucky man indeed. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory only keeps on improving with age. Testament to the man's soul.

[@gilesl]

fascinating man, and I love his writing

[@triggeredcat120]

I grew up with his books and read a lot of them. I recently bought Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Glass Elevator, The Fantastic Mr. Fox.

[@AlexanderPhipps]

If he accomplished all that with just one shed, imagine what he could have done with two.

[@mm9773]

Very underrated comment, in my opinion.

[@cityzens634]

He would have just been known as Roald 2 sheds Dahl and it would have overshadowed his work.

[@nigelcarren]

This reminds me of the following life lesson I gained from reading a joke in Viz, it went something like: "My neighbour erects a new shed at least every six months. He now has fourteen at the last count! However, I mustn't scoff because I am the one without anything else to do but count them!" Real men have sheds. The first thing I did in mine was construct a mechanical friend, in fact he is typing this for me now. In my other shed I restore medieval armour for museums all over the world, and in another I create music.🏆🇬🇧🏆

[@jamesmeisel4723]

Arthur “two-sheds” Jackson

[@anniefinch6843]

I remember this author. My favorite book of his is Charlie and the Chocolate factory.

[@mediolanumhibernicus3353]

What a gorgeous interview!

[@normadesmond6017]

Wonderful writer. Not only childrens books, but also his short stories for adults. Lamb for the slaughter of course, but I think I like the wonderful world of Henry Sugar most. When you start reading his stories you can't stop. And that says a lot about how good he was.

[@stevekish2717]

My kids have loved his books. He’s brought so much joy to people’s lives!

[@NoosaHeads]

Great writer.

[@jamesheath7601]

The first time I’ve heard him speak. He was a great author I loved his books when I was little.

[@ypesh]

I remember watching this and love seeing it again!

[@spacewiz163]

First time i hear him🙂 i will always be a fan of him and his fun creativity😊

[@djdefaut6869]

I read all his books and my children loved them. An excellent writer. RIP .

[@fugaziishime]

what an insightful man.

[@matthewm2528]

Really inspiring man

[@SamSam-qm1li]

Thank you for the years of entertainment. Rest in peace

[@123abc-wy6fe]

I loved his books!

[@ott00]

I love this dude honestly, I love his books so much and I mostly always have

[@pagrant]

One of my favourite authors growing up

[@undividedself1]

That's a heck of a controlled writing environment though I feel sure he would have been the first to point out that brushing the dust from the baize tray into the tea/coffee cup at 5:57 was suboptimal

[@inglese2996]

Fascinating record of the man.

[@londonroulette]

Amazing amazing! I read James and the giant peach and Charlie and the choc factory as a kid in the 80s. Loved Tales of the unexpected etc and only recently read about this hut in his garden at the back of one of his books then it comes up as a recommendation here, spooky lol

[@collinconkwright9262]

You had me at “irrelevant sequence of autobiographical irrelevancies.”

[@edwardwilliammorris1340]

Tales of the unexpected is one of the best in my vast dvd collection.

[@ruk2023--]

So that's what the voice in my head as a child sounds like.

[@ankita7766]

He has a very very charming personality. Loved his books as a child and I still do. Lovely interview of his. I would like to be a writer too and I hope I write even half as well as he does.

[@nigelmurphy6761]

Same here. He was an absolute genius that's for sure

[@adamholland376]

Absolute legend.

[@wayneorchard5570]

Fascinating insight.

[@LeeLee19901]

This video helps cures my writer's block.

[@PodOfHeat]

When he spoke about children knowing stories by heart.... I knew The Lion from Dirty Beasts off by heart! I read it that many times ❤

[@mlucienteCycling]

Frank Delaney is almost as much of a legend as Roald Dahl. What a nice surprise to find him here.

[@zombiefulci3301]

I love Tales of the Unexpected, one of the best anthology series

[@Relay300]

Amazing man

[@marachime]

i am so grateful this footage exists

[@crappymeal]

Class act, I do my best thinking whilst laying in the woods, head against a fallen tree trunk with birdsong as background music and the odd squirrel as company

[@yogibeer9319]

When giants walked among us before the corruptive influence of social media

[@AngelMitchellBooks]

40 years ago today since this was broadcast

[@positivelife3034]

I love the witches and the 1990 film is good too.

[@leas6817]

When I am gone I hope it will be said my sins were scarlet but my books were read ❤

[@gussetblaster6786]

My hero 😌

[@buddyjgollan8726]

Amazing

[@PodOfHeat]

Would give anything to visit Roald Dahl's writing hut!

[@rael1999]

What a life story Roald had, I'm really surprised a film hasn't been made of him. His stories for both children and 'The Tales of the Unexpected' for adults were incredibly imaginative and will go entertaining for generations to come. I see in this precious, sensitive world we now live in they're rewriting some of his works so as not to offend anyone. The irony and I'm sure Roald is laughing somewhere, is by doing so they've probably offended 50 times more people.

[@Alicedoesart]

Would love for Spielberg to make his biopic.

[@More_Row]

I liked the movie on Netflix based on the short story of Henry Sugar. Hadn’t even heard of it before.

[@felix_five]

He’s too complex to make a film of.

[@allanmollison6971]

@@Alicedoesart Guy Siner should play him

[@DenkyManner]

He was a notorious anti-semite so that would either be glossed over, which would cause an out cry or publicise it which his estate wouldn't want

[@Bloxdio_God]

One of the truly greatest Britons

[@rossvallance6350]

That was amazing, what a wonderful man.

[@kenneld]

I grew up on Roald Dahl and still re-read his books often and yet somehow this is the first time I've ever seen footage of him or heard his voice. It's very strange.

[@cthutu]

He quite often narrated his stories on the audio books. A great narrative voice.

[@anthonybradley1555]

two of my favourite books he wrote was 1, of course charlie and the chocolate because who doesnt love it??? and 2, boy his first autobiography which ranged from the funny (leaving the mouse in the jar of sweets) to gruesome (the trip in the motor car) to the boarding school experiences he had which shone a light on the dreaded caning he used to receive for bad behavior, an essential read.

[@francolive5718]

Nice to see he gave a damn about his fans!

[@benjaminclasper9355]

I think if Roald Dahl was still alive, today he could give some writers a run for their money with his writing better than some television writers today and some not very good novel writers

[@craigcraig6638]

After inauguration ceremonies the cowboys face shined brightly 😁

[@AndyMangele]

I found it extremely interesting what he had to say round the 8:00 mark.

[@valuetraveler2026]

loving these interviews

[@OlafProt]

extraordinary man. everyone these days is a 'star' and untouchable and that's so abnormal. Dahl is the absolute description of normal.

[@jonharrison9222]

Despite the anti semitism.

[@jeremywvarietyofviewpoints3104]

@@jonharrison9222 Anti-Semitism is unfortunately so common it could be called normal.

[@annother3350]

@@jonharrison9222 he just objected to the slow motion genocide of palestinians

[@v-v3210]

@@jonharrison9222aren’t Arabs Semitic?

[@jackmidd123]

Loved his snouts

[@QuoPaperPlane]

He always reminded me of James Bolam.

[@orchadetrm]

I was reminded of this interview when watching Henry Sugar

[@Lagrangeify]

It's funny he talks about children living with books long after adults have moved on. I have a tendency to revisit books several times over if I enjoy them, which my partner, who isn't a reader at all really, finds very peculiar. My mother is every bit as voracious as I am but she also does not understand my habit. My books often end up in a very ragged state as a consequence of my worrying over them like a dog with a bone.

[@mrz_88]

The sound machine is very good

[@bield7]

Delaneys like a parody of a presenter 😂😂

[@zachhaywood1564]

People can have Harry Potter and Hunger Games; give me Roald Dahl any day.

[@successsystem2468]

Read GOING SOLO about his Palestine experience. A great, honest man.

[@samuelAbebaw-ve7gr]

Is it me, or does this man have an enormous hand?

[@khalidalali186]

Now I get where Wes Anderson got that role for Ralph Fiennes from.

[@UpTheAnte1987]

I was fixated to every second of this

[@TheCurtisdavies]

couldn’t word it any better

[@makal5552]

9:09 lol I've read Charlie and the chocolate factory 15 times, charlie and the great glass elevator 2 times,the twits once,the witches 3 times, Matilda 3 times,James and the giant peach 4 times, the BFG 3 times ,George's marvellous medicine twice ,boy once, going solo once, fantastic Mr fox twice the magic finger 3 times, the giraffe the pelly and me twice, the enormous crocodile once, Billy and the minpins once, esio trot once,

[@emailyclake1706]

What about Mr fox and Danny . Truly awesome man and writer

[@makal5552]

@@emailyclake1706 read fantastic mr fox 2 times and Danny the champion of the world once

[@emailyclake1706]

@@makal5552 they are a awesome read. I read them to one of my youngest daughters and son's.

[@richardcoughlin8931]

Believing that teeth were more trouble than they were worth Dahl had all his teeth removed and replaced with false ones. He convinced others to do the same. This is the foundation of book that will give kids nightmares.

[@danielconnolly8565]

“…the entire waaarrld…” 😂😂

[@futuristica1710]

“The most widely read author of children’s book in the entire weeyyyild.”

[@WillDraco]

I wonder what he was writing there. "The Witches?" Maybe an early draft of "Matilda?"

[@purefoldnz3070]

I wonder if the hut is still there and preserved

[@BLAISEDAHL96]

I often wonder if I’m related to him, distantly

[@mattjreid]

What a privilege it must have been to play at Dahl's snooker club.

[@TreboriRobertHZ]

We have heard that the WW2 pilot Roald Dahl went to Camp X (it's the unofficial name of the secret Special Training School No. 103), near Whitby, Ontario, Canada where an "assassination and elimination" training program was operated by the British Special Operations Executive. Source: wikipedia view camp x What have you heard? We would love to read about some of the clandestine operations he was involved in, wouldn't we?

[@johnylitalo4163]

Do you have a 1953 pilot to the Railway Series show, A Sad Story of Henry?

[@benbunyip]

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