04 March 2023 , 21:24
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Shut up! Vicky Pollard star Matt Lucas is going head-to-head with comedy pal David Walliams … writing children’s books.
Matt, 49, has signed a two-novel deal, starting with The Boy Who Slept Through Christmas – described as Home Alone meets Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
Little Britain co-star Walliams, 51, wrote his first children’s book, The Boy in the Dress, in 2008. His writing has since netted some £100million.
Former Great British Bake Off host Matt has written a clutch of songs to go along with the book – and hopes it will eventually be turned into a stage musical.
Lucas has written songs to go with his first book (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images for Ch)
Lucas and Walliams met at the National Youth Theatre in the 90s (Getty Images)The comic, who made his name on BBC comedy panel game Shooting Stars, said: “It’s been a joy writing the book and creating original songs to bring the story to life.”
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Fans can get their hands on the tale in October, with his second due in 2025. The cover features a review quote from comedy co-star Walliams, praising it as being “nearly as good as one of my books.”
Matt has some way to go before challenging Walliams as one of the UK’s best-selling authors, with earnings last year of £17million, according to The Bookseller magazine.
Eight of his 18 full-length story books have been turned into films, and he has released six short story collections and 10 picture books.
He and Matt met at the National Youth Theatre in the 90s and hit the big time with Little Britain in 2003, with characters such as Daffyd Thomas and gobby teen Vicky Pollard.
The pair reunited for a one-off radio show in 2019 after falling out for eight years – and are now working on a new show.