Roald Dahl classic texts to be kept in print after outrage over changes to books
Publisher Puffin has announced the release of the “Roald Dahl Classic Collection” “to keep the author’s classic text in print” – following criticism of his books being re-written.
The 17 titles will be available later this year and will include archive material relevant to each of the stories by the much-loved but controversial children’s author.
The classic collection will sit alongside the newly-released Dahl books for young readers, which have been rewritten to “cater for the sensitivities of modern audiences”.
Puffin sparked outrage after announcing Dahl’s books would be edited to remove or rewrite language deemed offensive.
Content including references to weight, mental health, violence, gender and race have been amended – in a move branded “absurd censorship” by author Sir Salman Rushdie.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the editing of Dahl’s books, quoting the Big Friendly Giant’s warning not to “gobblefunk” with words.
The Queen Consort appeared to give her opinion on the matter as she urged authors to be “true to their calling”, days after the row over the author’s books.
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Camilla made her first public appearance since recovering from COVID-19 on Thursday, when she re-launched her book project The Reading Room, changing it to a charity now named The Queen’s Reading Room.
She told guests including children’s author Dame Jacqueline Wilson and Booker prize winner Ben Okri: “Thank you, on behalf of book-lovers and book clubs everywhere, for sharing your talents with us and for everything you do to promote literacy and a love of literature.
“Please keep doing so and please remain true to your calling, unimpeded by those who may wish to curb the freedom of your expression or impose limits on your imagination.”
‘Deeply moved by the strength of feeling’
The Roald Dahl Story Company, which controls the rights to the books, said it had worked with Puffin to review and revise the texts.
“The last few days have demonstrated just how important Roald Dahl’s stories are to fans all around the world and we’ve been deeply moved by the strength of feeling.
“The most important thing to us is that the stories continue to be enjoyed by all.”
The plan to print two editions of the book will “give readers – whether seven or 77 – the choice to explore the stories in whichever way they wish”, the company added.
‘We’ve listened to the debate’
Managing director of Penguin Random House Children’s, Francesca Dow, said: “We’ve listened to the debate over the past week which has reaffirmed the extraordinary power of Roald Dahl’s books and the very real questions around how stories from another era can be kept relevant for each new generation.
“As a children’s publisher, our role is to share the magic of stories with children with the greatest thought and care.
“Roald Dahl’s fantastic books are often the first stories young children will read independently, and taking care for the imaginations and fast-developing minds of young readers is both a privilege and a responsibility.
“We also recognise the importance of keeping Dahl’s classic texts in print.”
Dahl seen with his wife, actress Patricia Neal and their children Tessa, Theo and Ophelia in 1965 Pic: AP
“By making both Puffin and Penguin versions available, we are offering readers the choice to decide how they experience Roald Dahl’s magical, marvellous stories,” Ms Dow added.
“Roald Dahl once said: ‘If my books can help children become readers, then I feel I have accomplished something important’.
“At Puffin, we’ll keep pursuing that ambition for as long as we make books.”
More than 300 million copies of Dahl’s books have been sold with multiple stage and screen adaptations based on titles including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Witches, Fantastic Mr Fox and The Twits.
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UK
Details of King Charles’s Christmas message revealed – as he chooses to deliver it away from palace
A photograph has been released by Buckingham Palace showing the King delivering his Christmas message again outside of traditional palace walls.
This year the annual address was filmed in the Lady Chapel inside Westminster Abbey, the second time the monarch has recorded it away from a royal residence.
The palace has revealed the abbey was chosen for the setting this year to reflect a major theme of the message, pilgrimage.
The Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey, central London. Pic: PA
The full details of what he says are always kept secret until it is broadcast at 3pm on Christmas Day. The message is always seen as a deeply personal one from the monarch, as a rare speech delivered by the King without advice from, or consultation with, the government.
Westminster Abbey was seen as a perfect location to reflect the theme of pilgrimage with pilgrims visiting every year to remember the legacy of Edward the Confessor, whose shrine lies at the heart of the abbey. Around the walls of the Lady Chapel are 95 statues of saints dating from the building of the chapel in the 16th century.
Pic: PA
The abbey, as the site of the King’s own coronation and that of every monarch since 1066, also has royal significance. The Henry VII Lady Chapel is the burial place of 15 Kings and Queens including Elizabeth I, Mary I and Mary Queen of Scots. Below the central aisle is the Hanoverian vault where George II and members of his family are buried. The Stuart vault is in the south aisle where Charles II, William III and Mary II, and Queen Anne lie buried.
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It is understood the King takes a particular interest in where the message is filmed each year, favouring different locations outside of royal palaces over the past two years.
In the photograph, taken during filming, you can also see brightly lit Christmas trees used for another royal event in December. They were still inside the abbey following the filming of the Princess of Wales’s Together at Christmas carol service, which will be broadcast on Christmas Eve.
The prime minister has acknowledged Britons’ cost-of-living struggles in his Christmas message – and vowed that helping with the issue is his “priority”.
Sir Keir Starmer also urged members of the public to “each do our bit” and “reach out” to friends, relatives and neighbours during the festive period.
His message comes at the end of a difficult year for his government, with economic growth stuttering and Chancellor Rachel Reeves facing criticism over tax rises in the budget.
In a message recorded inside 10 Downing Street, Sir Keir said: “I know many across Britain are still struggling with the cost of living. Helping with that is my priority.
“But at this time of the year, which celebrates love and abundance, loss or hardship can feel even more acute.
“So call around to a neighbour. Check in on a friend or a relative who you haven’t heard from for a while. Reach out. It can make a huge difference.
“That is what Christmas is about.”
Sir Keir Starmer delivers his Christmas message from inside Downing Street. Pic: Downing Street
The prime minister thanked NHS workers along with members of the military and the emergency services who will be on duty on Christmas Day.
“Just as so many put their feet up, some truly special people will be pulling on their uniforms and heading out to work,” he said.
“Our NHS staff emergency services and the brave men and women of our armed forces, all playing their part, doing their bit to care for the nation and to keep us safe.
“Many volunteers will be out there as well. Serving food. Reaching out to help those lonely or in need.
“So on behalf of the whole country, I want to say a big thank you.
“As a nation, we should raise a glass to you this Christmas. But more than that, we should each do our bit as well.”
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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch used her Christmas message to talk about “Christian values” and thanked “everyone who has supported me during my first year as leader of the opposition”.
“It’s been the biggest challenge of my life,” she said. “But it’s also been a wonderful year. I can’t wait to get back to work next year to create a better United Kingdom.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey spoke about the Christmas tree in London’s Trafalgar Square – an annual gift from Norway to thank the UK for its support during the Second World War – in his message.
While saying the tree may “look a little underwhelming” on first glance, the Liberal Democrat leader said it was a reminder of “friendship and loyalty”.
He added: “It makes me think about people standing together in tough times – whether against the Nazis in the 1940s, or right now in Ukraine.
“And yeah, it might not be perfect, but this tree in Trafalgar Square makes me think about families and friends looking out for one another right here at home.
“I can’t think of a better symbol of the Christmas spirit of generosity, love and hope. Of light in the darkness.”
Many in the UK will wake up to a frosty morning on Christmas Day – but don’t hold out hope for snow, forecasters have said.
The Met Office says the 24 and 25 December will be dry and sunny for most, but a brisk wind picking up from Christmas Eve will make this year slightly below-average temperature wise.
It adds that for most of the country, it will feel close to freezing, with temperatures peaking at 4-5C across the festive period.
In Scotland, temperatures are forecast to plummet below freezing across much of the country, with the north of the country potentially reaching -5C.
Get the Sky News weather forecast for your area
Keen swimmers looking for a bracing dip in the sea on Christmas Day and Boxing Day may potentially face big waves, due to easterly winds.
Despite the chillier temperatures, a white Christmas is not looking likely, with only a small chance of snowfall in Dartmoor and a 10% chance of “winter flurries” on the south coast of England.
Pic: iStock
“All we need, of course, is for a flake of snow to fall anywhere across the UK for it to technically be termed a ‘white Christmas’, so something to keep an eye on across the far south of England,” Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna previously said.
Last year, not one snowflake was recorded anywhere in the UK on Christmas Day. In fact, temperatures were above zero everywhere.
The last time all four UK nations had a white Christmas was back in 2010, the year snow lay most widely across the UK since 1959.
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On Boxing Day, some southern counties could see more cloud, but elsewhere is expected to remain largely dry with sunny spells.
Similar weather is expected right up until New Year’s Eve, Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell said.
“It’s a bit colder than average, not unusual for the time of year, but in terms of averages it would be a bit below,” she added.
“The weather’s all very similar really, out towards New Year’s Eve. The Christmas period is quite a nice forecast.”
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