Roald Dahl At 100

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

Frank Cottrell Boyce On Flying And Myth-making

20160711

To mark the centenary of Roald Dahl's birth Frank Cottrell Boyce writes about the myth that the celebrated storyteller Dahl constructed out of his near fatal plane crash during the Second World War, and how he so perceptively captured a child's-eye view in his writing. Cottrell Boyce also recalls his very first encounter with Dahl's writing, which ended in outrage. The award-winning Frank Cottrell Boyce's first novel, Millions, was made into a feature film. He is a successful screenwriter and helped devise the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Roald Dahl at 100 is a celebration of the storyteller's work and legacy ahead of the centenary of his birth in September 2016. Five acclaimed writers, the screenwriter and children's novelist, Frank Cottrell Boyce; the screenwriter and co-creator of The League of Gentleman, Jeremy Dyson; the author and performance poet, Laura Dockrill; the writer and former children's laureate, Michael Rosen, and the biographer Donald Sturrock, explore their passion for Dahl's dazzling worlds, his dark humour and wild language and how it inspired their own work.

Written and read by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Produced by Justine Willett.

Frank Cottrell Boyce on the myth Dahl built around his plane crash during World War II.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Jeremy Dyson On The Delicious Lure Of Dahl's Adult Fiction

20160712

To celebrate the centenary of Roald Dahl's birth Jeremy Dyson remembers his ten-year-old self and the day he discovered Dahl's short stories for adults. The deliciously dark lure of that first encounter has never left him. In his essay he reflects on Dahl's storytelling genius and its influence on his own writing. Jeremy Dyson is a screenwriter and with Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Reese Shearsmith created The League of Gentlemen.

Written and read by Jeremy Dyson.

Produced by Justine Willett.

Jeremy Dyson remembers his 10-year-old self's discovery of Dahl's short stories for adults

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Laura Dockrill On Dahl's Heroine Matilda

20160713

In the centenary year of Roald Dahl's birth Laura Dockrill remembers growing up with Matilda and discovering through Dahl's heroine that it was OK to be different. Laura Dockrill is a writer, illustrator and performance poet. She is the creator of Darcy Burdock, shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2014.

Written and read by Laura Dockrill

Produced by Justine Willett.

Performance poet Laura Dockrill remembers growing up with Dahl's heroine Matilda.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Michael Rosen On The Exuberance Of Dahl's Poetry

20160714

Michael Rosen celebrates the dazzling language and clever observation of Dahl's poetry.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Donald Sturrock On The Events That Made The Man And Writer

20160715

To celebrate the centenary of Roald Dahl's birth his biographer, Donald Sturrock remembers meeting the genius storyteller in the writing hut at the bottom of his garden. Here Dahl revealed how he used both the darkness and lightness of his childhood to fire his writing. Donald Sturrock wrote Storyteller: The Life of Road Dahl and has edited his letters, Love From Boy: Roald Dahl's Letters to His Mother.

Written and read by Donald Sturrock

Produced by Justine Willett.

Dahl's biographer Donald Sturrock recalls meeting the storyteller in his writing hut.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
01	Frank Cottrell Boyce On Flying And Myth-making	20160711	To mark the centenary of Roald Dahl's birth Frank Cottrell Boyce writes about the myth that the celebrated storyteller Dahl constructed out of his near fatal plane crash during the Second World War, and how he so perceptively captured a child's-eye view in his writing. Cottrell Boyce also recalls his very first encounter with Dahl's writing, which ended in outrage. The award-winning Frank Cottrell Boyce's first novel, Millions, was made into a feature film. He is a successful screenwriter and helped devise the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Roald Dahl at 100 is a celebration of the storyteller's work and legacy ahead of the centenary of his birth in September 2016. Five acclaimed writers, the screenwriter and children's novelist, Frank Cottrell Boyce; the screenwriter and co-creator of The League of Gentleman, Jeremy Dyson; the author and performance poet, Laura Dockrill; the writer and former children's laureate, Michael Rosen, and the biographer Donald Sturrock, explore their passion for Dahl's dazzling worlds, his dark humour and wild language and how it inspired their own work. Written and read by Frank Cottrell Boyce Produced by Justine Willett. Frank Cottrell Boyce on the myth Dahl built around his plane crash during World War II. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
02	Jeremy Dyson On The Delicious Lure Of Dahl's Adult Fiction	20160712	To celebrate the centenary of Roald Dahl's birth Jeremy Dyson remembers his ten-year-old self and the day he discovered Dahl's short stories for adults. The deliciously dark lure of that first encounter has never left him. In his essay he reflects on Dahl's storytelling genius and its influence on his own writing. Jeremy Dyson is a screenwriter and with Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Reese Shearsmith created The League of Gentlemen. Written and read by Jeremy Dyson. Produced by Justine Willett. Jeremy Dyson remembers his 10-year-old self's discovery of Dahl's short stories for adults Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
03	Laura Dockrill On Dahl's Heroine Matilda	20160713	In the centenary year of Roald Dahl's birth Laura Dockrill remembers growing up with Matilda and discovering through Dahl's heroine that it was OK to be different. Laura Dockrill is a writer, illustrator and performance poet. She is the creator of Darcy Burdock, shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2014. Written and read by Laura Dockrill Produced by Justine Willett. Performance poet Laura Dockrill remembers growing up with Dahl's heroine Matilda. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
04	Michael Rosen On The Exuberance Of Dahl's Poetry	20160714	Michael Rosen celebrates the dazzling language and clever observation of Dahl's poetry. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
05	Donald Sturrock On The Events That Made The Man And Writer	20160715	To celebrate the centenary of Roald Dahl's birth his biographer, Donald Sturrock remembers meeting the genius storyteller in the writing hut at the bottom of his garden. Here Dahl revealed how he used both the darkness and lightness of his childhood to fire his writing. Donald Sturrock wrote Storyteller: The Life of Road Dahl and has edited his letters, Love From Boy: Roald Dahl's Letters to His Mother. Written and read by Donald Sturrock Produced by Justine Willett. Dahl's biographer Donald Sturrock recalls meeting the storyteller in his writing hut. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.