A British Childhood

Drawing on stories gathered across the country, alongside memories of his own Liverpool upbringing, Cottrell-Boyce examines what childhood in Britain looks like now. Part memoir, part manifesto, it is especially powerful on poverty, reading and imagination * The i *This clarion call about the loss of delight and safety in children’s lives is also a reminder of the sheer magic of reading … He makes the case for how British childhood has changed, and why that matters, with trenchancy and heart. The children whose school assemblies he graces are lucky to have him * Guardian *Frank Cottrell-Boyce (Waterstones Children’s Laureate, 2024 - 2026) is an absolute genius – BookTrustFrank Cottrell-Boyce is an enchanter * New Statesman *Frank Cottrell Boyce is truly a great champion for children and childhood. His book is a truth-telling, shameful tale of neglect, and yet it is also an anthem of hope and faith that that says we can and must put things right for all our children. No home, no school, and especially no library should be without this story and this book – Michael MorpurgoOriginal, surprising and compassionate without being earnest … Frank’s book left me enraged, informed and moved – Sathnam Sanghera

Frank Cottrell Boyce is an established British screenwriter and the father of seven. His film credits include Welcome to Sarajevo, Hilary and Jackie, and 24 Hour Party People. He lives in Merseyside with his family.

Frank’s first book, Millions, won the CILIP Carnegie Medal in 2004 and was shortlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award in the same year. Millions was adapted into a movie directed by Danny Boyle and was chosen as the Liverpool Reads book for September 2005. His second book, Framed, was published in September 2005.

“Shortly after leaving university,” Frank recounts, “I had a radio play broadcast and it led to a job at Thames Television (Education Department), where I met Michael Winterbottom who was an editor at the time. We planned to make movies. At the time everyone in England had given up on films. It was after the Goldcrest debacle so it was like saying you wanted to do door-to-door roof thatching or scrimshaw work - a lost art. I supported myself by writing for Coronation Street - wonderful fun and the nearest I’ve ever got to a proper job. Then we made Welcome to Sarajevo and we’ve made several films since.”

Other screenplays written by Frank include: The Stranger (nominated for a BAFTA), Butterfly Kiss, Welcome to Sarajevo, Hilary and Jackie (also nominated for a BAFTA), Pandemonium, 24 Hour Party People, The Claim, Code 46, and Millions.

“When I met my wife-to-be,” Frank shares, “she was planning on becoming a nun. Luckily I managed to persuade her to marry me instead. We now have 7 children, ranging from two to twenty years old and we live in Liverpool.”

“Everyone seems to have had a good English teacher at some point. Mine was Mr Biggs who moonlighted as a Punch and Judy man and managed to persuade me to be his assistant. Throughout my sixth form I spent weekends doing children’s parties and parish fetes with him and his dog (the dog used to pass the hat around). After school I took a year off and did it myself. I earned a fortune entirely in small change. Maybe that’s where I first got interested in the problems created by user-unfriendly cash!”

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.