NEWS RELEASE For immediate release

1. GET CRAFTY WITH THE TWITS 3. SEPTEMBER 13TH MUSEUM AND 2015 marks the annual STORY CENTRE celebration of Roald Dahl’s Mrs Twit is tickled pink that the ROALD amazing stories and DAHL MUSEUM in Great Missenden, Bucks characters, legendary life is planning an eye-popping day of special events and diverse legacy. This and activities on Sunday September 13th. Treats will year’s ROALD DAHL DAY include Writing Hut Talks, a delve into the Archive, celebrations are led by two and Village Trails, plus interactive performances of of Roald Dahl’s most-loved “10 Books in 10 Minutes”. Come dressed as a Roald AND most-disgusting characters… The Twits. Dahl character to be in with the chance of a prize. See below for SIX STINKY FACTS ABOUT Book online at www.roalddahl.com/museum/tickets THE TWITS! or call 01494 892192.

2. NEW PUBLISHING 4. DAHLICIOUS DRESS-UP DAY – A BOOK WITH A BEARD On FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 25TH, schools around Mr Twit is feeling pretty pleased with Puffin’s brand the UK will be overtaken by a host of mischief- new edition of The Twits, published in hardback making characters, including Mr and Mrs Twit, and sporting a hairy Mr Twit beard on every Oompa-Loompas and Matildas. It’s all part of the cover! (PUFFIN, £9.99, SEPTEMBER 3RD). Mr Twit thinks DAHLICIOUS DRESS-UP DAY where children go to this edition is even more school dressed as their favourite Roald Dahl character deliciously disgusting than for a wonderfully fun and creative way to raise money the SCRATCH N’ SNIFF for Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity. Mrs paperback released earlier Twit loves dressing up so she is already planning her this year. (He’s also smug costume for the day! that Mr and Mrs Twit were the first Roald Dahl It’s simply a suggested donation of £1 per child, characters to feature in which helps raise money for specialist children’s an app – TWIT OR MISS nurses and support for families living in poverty – released in July, which whilst caring for a seriously ill child. charted as the No.1 Kids There’s more information and a costume guide at app in 20 countries!) www.dahliciousdressupday.org.

5. BOOKSHOPS AND LIBRARIES – get crafty at the beard boutique Mr Twit is also gratified that bookshops and libraries throughout the UK are being transformed into “Beard Boutiques” to host “Get Crafty With The Twits” sessions for Roald Dahl Day. Whether you try crafting, collaging, ripping, sticking or knitting, the challenge is on – to make the most inventive Mr Twit beard! Post pictures from YOUR crafting festivities via Facebook (facebook.com/RoaldDahl) or Twitter (@roald_dahl), or e-mail puffi[email protected] with THE TWITS in the subject line. Make sure you use the hashtag #RoaldDahlDay! On the same day as 7. SIX STINKY FACTS ABOUT ROALD Dahlicious Dress-Up Day . . . DAHL’S THE TWITS: 1. The Twits was one of| 6. PUFFIN VIRTUALLY LIVE: Roald Dahl’s stories to start Meanwhile, on the same day – FRIDAY SEPTEMBER life as a scribble in an 25TH - Mr Twit is looking forward to a very special exercise book – he kept Twits-inspired PUFFIN VIRTUALLY LIVE broadcast. what he called an Ideas From 2:00 – 2:30 pm, schools throughout the Book throughout his writing UK and around the world will be treated to a LIVE career. The Ideas Book online show which will expolore the disgusting note for The Twits is – story of The Twits, celebrate Roald Dahl’s tricksiest “Beer stealing. An old characters and go behind-the-scenes of the Roald dropped his glass eye into Dahl apps. the tankard. He then saw it looking up at him.” You To view the live broadcast, sign up for free now at can see Roald Dahl’s Ideas www.puffinvirtuallylive.co.uk. Teachers can also Books for yourself at the Roald Dahl Museum. download curriculum-linked lesson plans. Don’t forget to hashtag #roalddahlday and to link 2. The Twits was partially inspired by Roald Dahl’s to www.roalddahl.com! famous HATRED of beards. He thought they were quite disgusting! FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: • JUSTIN SOMPER, just so for the Roald Dahl 3. The original book of The Twits is currently Literary Estate, [email protected] published in 34 languages globally (including + 44 (0)20 8341 6523 Scottish translation, THE EEJITS). Now there • ALICE BRODERICK, PR Director, are two NEW versions – a disgusting SCRATCH Penguin Random House Children’s UK ‘N’ SNIFF version and – if that isn’t bad enough [email protected] – one with an actual beard attached. + 44 (0)20 7010 3072 4. In a WHAT KIDS ARE READING 2015 poll, The Twits was voted the MOST READ book in UK primary schools.

5. Earlier in 2015, The Twits took to the stage at London’s Royal Court Theatre in a mischievous new adaptation by acclaimed playwright Enda Walsh.

6. Mr and Mrs Twit are the FIRST Roald Dahl characters to appear in an app – TWIT OR MISS – released in July 2015 and downloadable for free.TWIT OR MISS which charted as the No.1 Kids app in 20 countries. Mr and Mrs Twit will return in a BRAND NEW app in October. ABOUT ROALD DAHL AND HIS LEGACY: For more information on the wonderful world of Roald Dahl, please visit: Born in Cardiff of Norwegian descent, www.roalddahl.com Roald Dahl (1916–1990) was one of the world’s www.facebook.com/RoaldDahl most inventive, mischievous, and successful www.twitter.com/roald_dahl storytellers. His stories are currently available in 58 languages and, by a conservative estimate, he has sold more than 200 million books. A FINAL THOUGHT FOR Many of Roald Dahl’s best-loved stories have ROALD DAHL DAY 2015: been adapted for stage and screen. High profile film adaptations include Willy Wonka and the ‘A person who has good Chocolate Factory (1971), James and the Giant thoughts cannot ever be ugly. Peach (1996), (1996), Charlie and the You can have a wonky nose Chocolate Factory (2005) and and a crooked mouth and (2009). The next movie will be Steven Spielberg’s a double chin and stick-out adaptation of The BFG, set for release in July 2016. teeth, but if you have good The RSC’s phenomenally successful award-winning thoughts they will shine out stage version of continues to of your face like sunbeams play to packed audiences in London’s West End and you will always look and on Broadway, ahead of its Australia opening lovely.’ and US tour later in 2015. Over a million people have seen the acclaimed West End musical Roald Dahl, THE TWITS production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Sam Mendes since its opening in June 2013. A mischievous new adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Twits by Enda Walsh premiered at London’s Royal Court in April 2015. In July 2015, the first app to feature Roald Dahl characters, TWIT OR MISS, launched.

ROALD DAHL DAY is marked annually all over the world on – and around – Roald Dahl’s birthday, September 13th. In 2016, there will be global celebrations for the Centenary of Roald Dahl’s birth from January through December. These will include the transformation of Roald’s hometown Cardiff into a “City of the Unexpected”.

Ten percent of all the Roald Dahl royalties are donated to the two Roald Dahl charities - Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity and The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre.