Hester Grainger meets actor, comedian and best-selling children’s author Ben Miller who lives near Cirencester

Ben Miller is an actor, comedian and best selling author. Having completed a partial PhD in physics at Cambridge University (before leaving his doctorate to pursue a career in comedy) he’s never looked back.

Having appeared in everything from Death in Paradise, to Johnny English and Paddington 2 to name just a few, we were keen to chat to him, finding out more about publishing his third book as a children’s novelist, why his children are his harshest critics and his favourite places to visit in the Cotswolds where he lives.

Ben’s latest children’s book is The Day I Fell Into A Fairytale, tells the tale of a girl who finds herself inside a book of fairy tales, but these fairytales are a lot darker than the ones she thought she knew.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

Q: You’ve written three children’s novels now. In each of your books you feature your children, do they like being involved in the writing process?

In each book the main character is based on one of my three children - Harrison, Lana and Jackson. The main character in my latest book The Day I Fell Into A Fairytale is Lana. The Night I Met Father Christmas had Jackson in it and The Boy Who Made the World Disappear had Harrison as the main character. I love to include them in the writing process. They are my harshest critics but the excitement of being able to read it to them is just fantastic.

Q: You based their characters on their personalities, how do they feel about that?

Well as the main characters, they all have flaws in the books. So Lana who is 5 and the main character in The Day I Fell Into The Fairytale is a fibber and loves tall tales – just as she does in real life! In The Boy Who Made The World Disappear, Harrison just can’t control his temper. So I do need to get sign off from them about each character before I can write about them in the books!

Q: Tell us about The Day I Fell Into A Fairytale, what’s the premise of it?

It's like Hansel and Gretel, as it features both Lana and Harrison who are also brother and sister in the book and a witch. Hidden in the strange new supermarket that has just opened in town, Lana discovers a portal to a fairytale world. All the parents think the supermarket is great as it’s so cheap, but the witch made it cheap so that mums and dads will bring their children shopping. Then the witch smuggles the children into their world, next to the pick and mix section where there is a trap door!

Q: It sounds quite a dark fairytale

Yes it is, but there is a moral. It’s an empowering story, to teach children that they can rely on their wit and come out on top. When you look back in history, fairytales have always been dark. I liked the 19th century

Grimm fairytales like the Juniper Tree and The Little Boy and Little Girl. I did a lot of research but some are even too dark for me.

Q: You’ve been doing virtual book tours for school children, how has that been?

It’s been great. We’ve held a number of online events for children. It’s been fun as they always ask such brilliant and funny questions. One kid asked ‘How old do you have to be to publish your first book?’ I replied that you can be any age. Children are always so enthusiastic and give you their honest reaction to the book, which I love. They are just enchanted at that age and don’t feel the need to inject realism. The way they see the world is so magical and free, which I love.

Q: Do you still love reading books to your children?

Absolutely I love reading them stories and I am currently reading them Barber. Having kids and being able to do children’s TV and films is great, I just love the audience. I took Harrison to see the test screening of Paddington and he absolutely loved it.

Q: What do you love about living in the Cotswolds

It’s fantastic as we are near Cirencester and Cheltenham.

My favourite place is Minchinhampton and Rodborough Commons, it has such fantastic views, you can see right across to the River Severn.

I also love Cirencester Park and the polo is amazing there. Cotswold Water Park is fantastic too, you can just sit by the huge lakes. The Corinium Museum is so interesting too, where they have Roman remains. If we are going to eat out, I love 131 in Cheltenham, which is fantastic. If I want real creature comfort food I love The Swann in Ascott-under-Wychwood, run by friends Sam and Georgie Pearman.

The Day I Fell Into a Fairytale by Ben Miller is out on October 1 published by Simon & Schuster.