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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[TTM]

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.

[SEVE_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

[mikeb]

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

[cherre]

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!

[potentpassages]

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.

[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.

[solsol]

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

[primaprimavera]

English is my second language and his short stories are absolutely amazing and helped me to improve my vocabulary. He is the best!

[snowywelsh]

The swell of nostalgia I feel watching this is overwhelming 😊

[princewithoutakingdom]

Every child owes this man a great debt of joy and freedom to imagine while spent in his stories ❤

[dont-want-no-wrench]

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

[Larry]

He was quite possibly writing The Witches during this filming.

[abrokenframe]

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!

[jeremywvarietyofviewpoints]

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.

[milesknightestrada]

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

[RocketRcn]

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!

[RadagonTheRed]

He was a truly unique man and a genius in his field. There has never and never will be anyone like him again.

[triggeredcat]

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.

[kob]

11:50 what a sweet question, sweetly worded

[ott]

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