Gangsta Granny (2011)

Gangsta Granny is a 2011 British children's comedy fiction book written by David Walliams, illustrated by Tony Ross and published by HarperCollins. A sequel, titled Gangsta Granny Strikes Again!, was published in 2021. In 2026, the book was permanently taken out of print by HarperCollins as part of their announcement to stop selling and reprinting titles by David Walliams.

Plot

Ben, an 11-year old, curious boy, hates having to stay with his old Granny every Friday because his parents go to see a dancing show named Strictly Stars Dancing which is a parody of Strictly Come Dancing. He finds it boring and repetitive as his Granny always feeds him cabbage-related dishes, most commonly cabbage soup and cabbage chocolate, and they are constantly playing Scrabble, plus her television has not been working since the 1990s. Ben loves plumbing and is a long-term subscriber to the magazine Plumbing Weekly, which he buys every week from Raj's newsagent. Ben's parents disapprove of him being a plumber, as their ambition for their only child was to be a professional ballroom dancer like the one they used to watch every Friday. Ben subsequently learns that his grandmother had been an international jewel thief, and joins her in a plot to steal the crown jewels.

Adaptations

Television film adaptation

A 70-minute television film adaptation of Gangsta Granny premiered on BBC One on 26 December 2013. The television film was directed by Matt Lipsey, produced by Jo Sargent, Bert Productions and BBC Comedy Production, executive-produced by Mark Freeland and written by Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley and the book's author David Walliams.

Gangsta Granny starred:

Reece Buttery as Ben

Julia Mackenzie as Granny, Mike's mother and Ben's grandmother

Joanna Lumley as Queen Elizabeth II

David Walliams as Mike, Ben's father

Miranda Hart as Linda, Ben's mother

Rob Brydon as Mr Parker, a neighbour of Ben

India Amarteifio as Florence

Robbie Williams as Flavio Flavioli, a dancer on Strictly Come Dancing

Jocelyn Jee Esien as Kelly, Florence's mother

Harish Patel as Raj, the newsagent

George Hill as Terrence, Mr Parker's son and assistant

Claudia Winkleman as herself

Leo Wringer as Doctor Long

Tim Frances as Doctor Edwards

Russell-Leighton Dixon as Judge

Steve Speirs as PC McClintock

Patrick Brennan as Beefeater

Timothy Bentinck as Chief Inspector

Max Olesker as Policeman

Theatre adaptation

The book has also been adapted into a 130-minute theatre performance by the Birmingham Stage Company. It toured the United Kingdom until July 2017. It then became a play at the Garrick Theatre in the West End from 26 July to 3 September 2017.

Ride adaptation

On 21 March 2020, Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire, England launched The World of David Walliams, with the main theme of the area being focused on the Gangsta Granny book. The new area features a 4D dark ride titled Gangsta Granny: The Ride, where guests embark on a crown jewels tour which is then sabotaged by Ben and Granny who persuade the guests to join them on a heist of a lifetime to steal the crown jewels. Gangsta Granny: The Ride opened on 17 May 2021.