Illustrations move author Walliams

10:12pm Thursday 4th December 2008

David Walliams revealed that he welled up when he saw Quentin Blake's illustrations of his book.

Walliams was signing copies of his debut children's novel The Boy In The Dress, in which the central character, a boy named Dennis, enjoys dressing up in girls' clothing.

Roald Dahl collaborator Blake was also at the book signing in Selfridges in London's Oxford Street.

Walliams said he was "really, really moved" by an image of Dennis at the close of the book, saying it "brought a tear to my eye".

He said that though Dennis was an individual, Blake had made him look like "every little boy".

Walliams said he had started receiving letters from children about the book, adding that: "It's actually probably been the best-reviewed thing I've done in my career... I was expecting people to take some sort of cynical view... but actually it was a real labour of love. I think people are surprised that there's a tenderness in there and a quite emotional quality because it's something you don't really get the chance to do in a sketch show."

He said that with Little Britain he knew that "we had a big audience among children", but the show could be a bit rude for kids.

Walliams continued: "I thought I'd love to do something specifically for a child audience. When my sister was about four and I was about two or three she used to put me in a bridesmaid's dress."

The book is dedicated to her son.

Blake said of his black and white pencil illustrations: "I knew I wanted to do the drawings... it's got the kind of the humour that we know from television already but it's actually a much more intimate work. With respect, I would have wanted to illustrate it, whoever it had been by."