Star David Walliams in surprise West Bromwich school visit
Pupils at a West Bromwich school got a surprise guest for their morning assembly – Little Britain funnyman and Britain's Got Talent judge David Walliams.
Youngsters at Hargate Primary School, in Hargate Lane, were surprised to find the comedian take the place of their headteacher yesterday.
The visit was organised by MP Tom Watson, who met Walliams through his work at the Commons.
The star was in the area after the first day of auditions for Britain's Got Talent kicked off in Birmingham. During the assembly, he answered the children's questions and read from his latest book in a bid to encourage reading. He told pupils it was great when his books were made into films: "It is really exciting, just to see the books come to life and to see actors inhabit the roles.
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"And obviously it brings the books to a wider audience because not all children like reading books."
Mr Stink, Gangsta Granny and The Boy in the Dress have been made into films, and Walliams said Billionaire Boy will be made into a film this year. And he told youngsters where he gets the inspiration for his villains – his BGT co-star Simon Cowell. Mr Watson said: "I have known David for a few years now and since he was up for the Britain's Got Talent auditions I dropped him a note telling him all about Hargate School.
"He was brilliant. He spoke to the students and read an extract from his book Gangsta Granny, doing all the characters himself. It was fantastic for him to take the time out."
Walliams also donated his back catalogue of books to the school's library, as well as a copy of his new book, The Queen's Orang-utan, which he is releasing for Comic Relief.
