The actor-turned-writer, David Walliams, has revealed a horror movie was the surprising inspiration for one of his popular children’s books ahead of a stage tour of the story.

Citizens of Bucks and beyond are being advised to watch out for a very large owl as well as the most awful Auntie in history as David Walliams’ Awful Auntie comes to the Aylesbury Waterside from July 18 and 22. 

While the funny new show is expected to be a hit with children across the county, Walliams has revealed his “obsession” with horror flick The Shining inspired him to write Awful Auntie. 

He said: “I wanted to create a horror story where a child was trapped in a house with a dangerous relative, cut off from the outside world. As for the character herself I had a lot of fun creating Aunt Alberta.  

“Villains are always so much more fun than heroes. I wanted her to be funny as much as scary, which is something my literary hero Roald Dahl always did so brilliantly.”

Awful Auntie was published in September 2014 and went to number one in the children’s book chart for seven weeks. 

Walliams admits that his inspiration for Awful Auntie did not come from his own aunties - who he said are all “nice” - adding: “In writing the book I let my imagination run riot which is normally the best way to go. My real-life granny inspired Gangsta Granny, but my aunties have yet to inspire me to write anything about them.”

It is the second time the star has worked with the Birmingham Stage Company, the award-winning producers who brought Gangsta Granny to Aylesbury last year.

He says he shares a similar sense of humour with Neal Foster, who runs the company, which has helped the shows become so successful. 

  • Awful Auntie comes to Aylesbury next month. Call 0844 871 7607 or visit atgtickets.com/aylesbury for tickets.