Category: About David

David Walliams has written an exclusive children’s picture book for Comic Relief! THE QUEEN’S ORANG-UTAN will be published on 26th February 2015, ahead of Red Nose Day on 13th March. David will donate all his proceeds from the book to Comic Relief, as will Harper Collins UK, David’s global publisher.

THE QUEEN’S ORANG-UTAN is a right royal mash-up of mischief and mayhem! And, Tony Ross is on hand to bring the wickedly funny line-up of characters to life with his always-amazing illustrations. Tony has worked with David on FIVE of his bestselling novels and will also donate his earnings from the book. Two of their previous picture book collaborations The Slightly Annoying Elephant and The First Hippo on the Moon, both rocketed to Number One in the picture book chart in their first week of publication.

THE QUEEN’S ORANG-UTAN will be published in paperback at £4.99 and AT LEAST £3 from each copy sold will go to Comic Relief. A brilliantly funny audio version has also been created by David along with Miranda Hart and Rob Brydon. On the eve of Red Nose Day 2015, the book will be published as a special limited edition hardback, with the audio CD included.

David Walliams is an honorary trustee of Comic Relief. He has raised millions for the charity already, most notably by swimming the English Channel in 2006 and the River Thames in 2011.

Since his debut children’s book published in 2008, David has taken the literary world by storm. He is now officially the biggest British children’s author to debut this century.

HarperCollins Children’s Books Executive Publisher Ann-Janine Murtagh said of David and The Queen’s Orang-Utan:

“David Walliams is a genius storyteller – adored by millions of children worldwide. He has written this wonderfully irreverent and hilarious tale especially for Comic Relief – and what a wonderful gift it is! His inimitable storytelling is on top form and will delight young and old.
We are privileged to publish David Walliams on the HarperCollins Children’s list, and delighted to be working with him and Comic Relief on the publishing of this book.”

Comic Relief CEO Kevin Cahill, said:

“David has been such a brilliant supporter of Comic Relief for such a long time. He’s clearly taken the easy way out this time by writing a book rather than swimming the Channel! We are eternally in his debt for his wonderful ongoing support.”

Money raised from the book will be spent by Comic Relief right here in the UK, as well as across Africa. It will be used to help vulnerable and disadvantaged people to turn their lives around.