Hugh Bonneville has apologised to disgruntled literary figures after he joked about his new career as a children’s book author.
He had flippantly remarked that ‘TV stars are contractually obliged to do [write a book]’ as he admitted he doesn’t have ‘any ideas’ of his own.
The actor, 60, best known for his roles in Downton Abbey and Paddington, told BBC Radio 2: ‘Anybody who’s been on telly now has it in their contract that they have to write a children’s book. So I am fulfilling that obligation.’
The father-of-one added that he was still in the early stages of the project and admitted: ‘A couple of illustrators have suggested ideas, and it helps the writing, because I don’t have any ideas.’
His comments were met with swift backlash from both established authors and the wider literary community, many of whom felt his remarks trivialised the hard work and dedication required to write for children.
Hugh Bonneville has been forced to apologise after making flippant remarks about being ‘contractually obligated’ to write a children’s book
The actor, best known for his roles in Downton Abbey and Paddington, told BBC Radio 2 that his decision to write a children’s book was simply fulfilling what he jokingly referred to as a celebrity ‘obligation’
‘How nice it must be to put minimal effort into something guaranteed to be a success,’ one book awards judge wrote.
‘How disrespectful to all the hardworking and brilliant children’s authors and illustrators who pour their heart and soul into creating stories for children, and barely make a ripple. Come on @BBCRadio2, do better.’
Many in the publishing world voiced frustration over what they saw as a growing sense of entitlement among celebrity writers.
Author Tamsin Winter described the comments as ‘soul-destroying,’ adding: ‘So many of us actual authors put our hearts & souls into writing books for young people, with very little reward other than knowing we reach the readers who need our stories.’
SF Said, author of Varjak Pawanother and winner of the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, shared his dismay: ‘Children’s books are THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS OF ALL!
‘They’re the ones that make us readers in the first place, and they shape us in the deepest ways.
‘Some of us have dedicated our lives to them, so it’s distressing to see them still being talked about in such a dismissive way.’
In response to the backlash, Mr Bonneville – who wrote his 2022 memoir Playing Under the Piano – issued an apology on X.
Mr Bonneville, 60, said: ‘Anybody who’s been on telly now has it in their contract that they have to write a children’s book. So I am fulfilling that obligation.’ The father-of-one added: ‘A couple of illustrators have suggested ideas, and it helps the writing, because I don’t have any ideas’
His comments were met with swift backlash from both established authors and the wider literary community, many of whom felt his remarks trivialised the hard work and dedication required to write for children
In response to the backlash, Mr Bonneville – who wrote his 2022 memoir Playing Under the Piano – issued an apology on X
‘Please don’t blame Radio 2 for my flippant comment, which was in no way meant to denigrate full-time authors,’ he wrote.
‘Trust me, I am putting my heart and soul into the project.’
The Notting Hill star added that his intention had been to ‘take the mick out of myself and the oddness of the writing universe’.
‘I apologise,’ he said.
Despite his apology, many critics, including children’s book author Ross Wellford, were not convinced.
‘I too am ‘contractually obliged’ to write a children’s book,’ Wellford wrote.
‘It’s called a ‘book deal’ with my publisher, and it’s my only job. Perhaps I should ‘have a bash’ at appearing in a film as Paddington’s dad?’
Other authors also expressed their frustration.
Clare Swatman responded: ‘Well said. Absolutely infuriating and insulting.’
Many in the publishing world voiced frustration over what they saw as a growing sense of entitlement among celebrity writers
Whilst children’s author Dan Smith said: ‘What the hell? This is so depressing.’
Mr Bonneville directly replied to Swatman: ‘Please do listen to the interview.
‘I was taking the mick out of myself and the strangeness of the publishing world. I take my writing as seriously as any other published author.’
Author Carole Solazzo was among those who found Bonneville’s comments disappointing, writing: ‘So very disappointed in @hughbon. What a disgraceful attitude to take. Just another celeb cashing in.’
Bonneville responded: ‘Hi Carole, I hope you’ll listen to the interview one day and realise I was taking the mick out of myself and the odd world of publishing.
‘As with my first book, I take writing seriously and seek to do my best.’
