David Walliams Fact Cards

David was born on 20th August 1971. His dad was an engineer working for London Transport and his mum was a lab technician.

David’s real name is David Edward Williams. He changed his name to David Walliams when he became an actor and had to join a union.

www.teachingideas.co.uk © Images: © ThinkStock When he was younger, David wanted to be a serious actor. He has acted in lots of serious shows and plays, but he is also well known for his comedy work.

David grew up in Surrey and went to Reigate Grammar School, He then went to study Drama at Bristol University.

www.teachingideas.co.uk © Images: © ThinkStock One of David’s first jobs was to working as a writer for the Ant and Dec Show on TV.

David started swimming as a way of exercising because he was overweight.

www.teachingideas.co.uk © Images: © ThinkStock David has swum across the English Channel and along the length of the River Thames to raise money for charity. He once rescued a dog that had fallen into the River Thames!

David’s swim across the English Channel in 2006 took more than 10 hours. The Channel is 22 miles and equivalent to 700 lengths of an Olympic size swimming pool!

www.teachingideas.co.uk © Images: © ThinkStock David’s first book was published in 2008 and he has sold millions of books since then.

Some of David’s books have been adapted to TV shows and musicals, including Mr. Stink and The Boy in the Dress.

www.teachingideas.co.uk © Images: © ThinkStock David has also written TV shows, many of which have been shown in countries all around the world. They have also been turned into stage shows.

David entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 2008 when one of his shows became the best-selling TV comedy DVD in the world.

www.teachingideas.co.uk © Images: © ThinkStock David met Matt Lucas at the National Youth Theatre. They were friends for our years before they started writing TV shows together.

David’s books have been illustrated by Quentin Blake (who also illustrated for Roald Dahl) and Tony Ross (who illustrates the Horrid Henry books).

www.teachingideas.co.uk © Images: © ThinkStock Two of David’s boyhood heroes are James Bond and Roald Dahl. He has presented TV documentaries about their lives.

David has won lots of awards, including the ‘The Most Influential Public Figure’ award for his charity work.

www.teachingideas.co.uk © Images: © ThinkStock In 2010, David married the Dutch model Lara Stone at Claridge’s Hotel in London.

David would love to go to Narnia (from the book, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe) and have lots of adventures there.

www.teachingideas.co.uk © Images: © ThinkStock In David’s first appearance on TV, he was the voice of Sam the Lift (an elevator)!

David is the fastest growing children’s author in the UK. He has sold millions of copies of his books and they have been translated into more than thirty languages.