LABOUR OF LAUGH ‘BEING A DAD IS THE BEST PART OF MY LIFE'

DAVID WALLIAMS OPENS UP ABOUT FATHERHOOD, BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT AND WORKING WITH MATT LUCAS

- MARC BAKER

With Britain's Got Talent back on our screens, all eyes are once again on the infamous judging panel – made up of Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and funnyman David Walliams.

So we couldn't resist having a catch-up with David, 50, to find out more about how this series is going to go down.

The hilarious comedian might be best known for his sarcastic jokes and banter on the show but during our chat, David shows a much more serious side - especially when he opens up about being a dad to eight-year-old son Alfred. "It is the most wonderful thing, being a dad," says David, who shares his only child with ex-wife Lara Stone, 38.

Aside from the pleasures of being a parent, David also talks candidly about being back with the BGT panellists and hosts Ant and Dec.

After Simon suffered an accident that required back surgery, he was forced to miss out on the show in 2020 and Ashley Banjo stepped in to replace him. But now Simon's back for the new series and David tells us his pal is up to his old tricks when it comes to timekeeping...

The dog lover is a successful children's author

Hi, David. You're clearly enjoying fatherhood. Does Alfred find you funny?

We have loads of in-jokes and things like that. It is just the most wonderful thing making your kid laugh. The most wonderful thing about kids is that if they find something funny, you can do it every day. So I sit the dog on my lap and do the dog's voice to him and he thinks that is hilarious. It is the most wonderful thing being a dad. It is the best part of my life by a long way.

Your books are incredibly successful. Did you ever imagine they would be turned into a theme park ride at Alton Towers?