I don’t think that Dahl has been beaten yet in terms of writing for children, but maybe that’s because his stories are so enshrined in my own memories. We’d laugh at the talk of human beans, snozzcumbers and at all the brilliant malapropisms that wonderful big giant used. “One of my favourite child-rearing memories will always be curling up in my bed each evening with my daughter while I read The BFG to her. “When my own children (now 18 and 13) were growing up and learning to read, it was no surprise that we reached again for Roald Dahl and it was a joy to rediscover his works and to become the parent doing the silly voices and retelling the stories while my children listened. Maybe it was how even in the most fantastical of tales there was a real human, heartfelt story about accepting people’s differences - be it Matilda and her book obsession, Danny and his life in a caravan with his poacher dad just trying to make ends meet, or the wonderfully eccentric Willy Wonka. Maybe it was the sometimes near the knuckle humour or the way children could empower themselves. Maybe it was that the underdog always triumphed. Roald Dahl was such a natural draw for me. “When I was in primary three and had just made my First Communion, I remember being taken to Toymaster which was at the bottom of Shipquay Street in Derry and the first book I bought with my own money was Fantastic Mr Fox. My best friend took me to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when it was on at Drury Lane in the West End, which was a real feast for the eyes.” Kerri Quinnīelfast actress Kerri Quinn was a fan of iconic Roald Dahl baddie the Grand High Witch and predicts good things for Stephen Graham as the new Mr Wormwood. And I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never actually seen it on stage, although I absolutely love the music. "I’ve had a small bit of a link with the author in adulthood too, in that I auditioned for a small part in Matilda when the RSC was originally workshopping it. I think to start off I’ll have to go in with one of the shorter ones like Fantastic Mr Fox or The Twits, both amazing books, and it’s an exciting prospect because while I’m not sure if Roald Dahl taught me anything in particular about life, his books definitely taught me to love literature from a young age, and that’s something I’d love my kids to have too. "I haven’t started reading the books to my boys yet, they’re still too wee, but I can’t wait to when they’re older, mainly so I can re-read them all myself. In terms of the films, I love the old Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, everything about it, but particularly Gene Wilder’s subtly eccentric performance.
"I didn’t love all Roald Dahl’s characters though - for one, I wasn’t a big fan of the Grand High Witch.
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