The Bookseller.com

20th July 2008

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Walliams to write young adult book

17.08.07 Katherine Rushton

"Little Britain" star David Walliams is "in the final stages" of an auction for his first young adult book, with bids thought to have reached £320,000 for a two-book contract.

Walliams' showbiz agent, Paul Stevens at ICM, said the auction has been whittled down to two publishers—one of which is understood to be HarperCollins. Walliams has already launched two books of ­ "Little Britain" scripts with HarperCollins, and a behind-the-scenes look at touring with the show, Inside Little Britain, for Ebury. The latter title sold more than 55,000 copies in both editions.

The deal is the latest in a string of celebrity attempts at children's fiction, with titles this year from glamour model Katie Price and Spice Girl Geri Halliwell. Ricky Gervais won a Nibbie for his Flanimals of the Deep (Faber).

Katherine Rushton Rights deal children's David Walliams