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The Special Award: Jacqueline Wilson

5 February 2018

Rich Matthews interviews the BAFTA Special Award winner and acclaimed children’s author behind the many BAFTA-winning and nominated screen adaptations

Jacqueline Wilson - July 2012 . ©James JordanJames Jordan Photography


“Children seem to think that I write every single episode of Hetty Feather or The Dumping Ground myself,” laughs Dame Jacqueline Wilson, the creator of children’s classics, including everyone’s favourite feisty foundling Tracy Beaker – whose own TV show celebrated its 15th birthday last year. “The truth is I’m extremely lucky to have had some very talented writers and directors to translate my books on screen.”

And what luck it has been. Adaptations of Wilson’s books have accumulated four BAFTAs and more than a dozen nominations between them. “I was trying to think back over all the different interpretations of my work,” she says, “and I can honestly say that I love them all.”


Event: British Academy Children's Awards Date: Sunday 26 November 2017 Venue: The Roundhouse, CamdenHost: Doc BrownArea: CEREMONYBAFTA/Ricky Darko

Event: British Academy Children's Awards Date: Sunday 26 November 2017 Venue: The Roundhouse, CamdenHost: Doc BrownArea: CEREMONYBAFTA/Ricky Darko


Interestingly, Wilson actually adapted the first screen version of her work herself. “It was for a Channel 4 school’s programme of my book Double Act,” she explains. “It was lovely: beautifully directed by Cilla Ware, who seems to have the magic knack of getting children to act beautifully.” So why didn’t she continue scripting when more adaptations came her way? “Double Act taught me what hard work it is,” she replies, with a wry smile. “It was a positive experience, but after that I was happy just to have somebody else take over to write the scripts. I’m quite relaxed about changing the plot of the original books and developing it. Inevitably that's going to happen, and they always try to stay within things that I would have done if I had written that particular episode. If there was anything in the script where I thought, ‘No, I absolutely don't think she'd do that,’ or ‘that really bothers me,’ I would be able to say so. It’s happened very, very rarely but whenever I have some tiny little misgiving, people have been very kind, very generous and it’s absolutely no problem whatsoever. It’s the best of both worlds, really.”


I basically hope my books and the television adaptations offer entertainment and fun, but, in their own way, that they also carry a sort of moral message.”


Wilson also relishes the way the TV versions bring out some new or unseen facet of her own writing, especially in terms of how she unfalteringly deals with real life and its many problems, such as divorce, adoption and even mental illness. “I'm always surprised when I do watch something,” she says. “It often really brings a tear to my eye. There was an adaptation of a book of mine, The Illustrated Mum, about two sisters who have a mum who's bipolar and leads a very chaotic life. There are stark sad scenes ­- I was surprised that it appeared on television - but life’s going to be stark at times. There are lots of fun moments too, of course, but still there are some pretty harrowing scenes. Yet whenever I talk to children, those are often the scenes they like! I think you don't mind some bad things as long as there’s a bit of humour to level things up inside a good story. And I want my stories to show that just because somebody is a little bit different it doesn't mean that they're not lovely and interesting. I basically hope my books and the television adaptations offer entertainment and fun, but, in their own way, that they also carry a sort of moral message.” Another pause, followed by another chuckle: “If that doesn't sound too heavy!”


the dumping ground


With over 100 books already published (and, by her own account, many more ready for the printing presses) and Hetty Feather and The Dumping Ground going strong, there are likely to be many more scripts and episodes to come. The latest screen adaptation of Wilson’s novels, Katy, will be broadcast on CBBC later this year. What quickly becomes clear when talking with Wilson about her work’s presence in the wider media is that she truly values the extra interaction that it brings with her audience. “I find so many children want to write,” she beams. “And also want to act! I get many letters with photographs saying, ‘Could I be one of the foundlings in the new series of Hetty Feather?’” She pauses for a moment. “I wish I could get invited to the auditions… but it would probably skew things if I sat there watching, even if I promised I wouldn’t say anything at all!,” she laughs. “I do love it when I get invited to see something being filmed. However, when I'm writing I like to be the one doing it, so I rather think that I would find it quite difficult working with the whole team. Truthfully, I have to thank all the different teams that have worked and fought so hard to take my stories seriously. I've written so many books that it's a struggle to remember all of them, so they know far better than me what my character might have done in a certain circumstance. Which is a gift.”

Words by Rich Matthews


Jacqueline Wilson will be taking part in a Q&A at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly on 24 February following a preview screening of Katy, the latest screen adaptation from her writing. To book tickets, vist https://www.bafta.org/whats-on/bafta-kids-tv-preview-katy