David Walliams

Best known for his comedy partnership with Matt Lucas on Little Britain and as a judge on the ITV show Britain's Got Talent, David Walliams has also become a successful children's author, selling more than 33 million copies of his works worldwide.

Adapted into Christmas specials, TV series, musicals and more, Walliam's works are now set to enter the world of attractions, with a new addition coming to the Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire, UK.

"I've been working with Alton Towers on a brand new ride inspired by my children's books," the author says.

Set to open in Q2 2020, Walliams has been working with HarperCollins Children's Books and Merlin Magic Making on the project for the last two years. The development will centre around Alton Towers' existing Cloud Cuckoo Land area, complementing the existing CBeebies Land, which opened in 2014.

Known as The World of Walliams, the addition will feature a "ground-breaking, unique headline attraction", as a number of attractions and characters, which will be brought to life across the theme park and within the wider resort’s hotels. The new ride is already under construction, with work starting earlier this year.

Walliams wrote his first children's book in 2008 and has since gone on to publish 12 kids' novels, as well as a number of collections of short stories and picture books. In 2018, he was named the UK's best selling author for the second year.

Among Walliams' most popular titles are The Boy in the Dress, Gangsta Granny, Mr Stink and The World's Worst Children. All of these titles and more could be part of the attraction, though Alton Towers is remaining tight-lipped about what will actually feature.

"It’s a huge thrill for some of my favourite characters to be getting their own attractions at Alton Towers," says Walliams. "I can’t wait to experience them for myself, and from all the work that has gone in, I think people are going to love it. All will be revealed next year."