A full dramatisation of tales from his own childhood. Sometimes magical, sometimes grotesque but always true, Dahl's boyhood stories are as remarkable as the acclaimed fiction he would go on to write as an adult.

"An autobiography is a book a person writes about his own life. It is usually full of all sorts of boring details. This is not an autobiography."

The story of Roald Dahl's childhood is filled with excitement and wonder but also terror and great sadness. We learn of his experiences at cruel boarding schools, his daring Great Mouse Plot, the dangers of Boazers, the pleasure/pain of the local sweetshop and his time as a chocolate taster. Just some of the marvellous, extraordinary events that no doubt went on to inspire his best-selling books.

Patrick Malahide provides the voice of Dahl in a colourful adaptation by Lucy Catherine.

Roald Dahl…..Patrick Malahide
Young Dahl…..Tarkan Uzun
Teenage Dahl…..Isaac Rouse
Mother…..Joanna van Kampen
Bressington…..Daniel Noel
Thwaites…..Devon Ruckley
Matron…..Adie Allen
Dr Dunbar…..Richard Nichols
Mrs Pratchett…..Elizabeth Bennett
Corkers…..Jason Barnett
Carleton…..Tom Forrister
Williamson…..Sam Rix
Ellen…..Kirsty Oswald
Captain Hardcastle…..Nick Underwood
Mr Cadbury…..James Lailey
Grandfather…..Sean Baker

Dramatised by Lucy Catherine

Director: Helen Perry

A BBC Cymru/Wales production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in July 2016. Show less