child who has just finished reading the story, that when they are grown up with children of their own, they be as exciting a parent to them as William was to Danny. TV movie The book was adapted into a made-for-TV movie in 1989 by Thames Television. It was directed by Gavin Millar and starred Jeremy Irons as William Smith, and his son, Samuel Irons, as the titular character, Danny Smith, with Robbie Coltrane as Mr. Hazell. It was released to Region 2 DVD in 2006. Relations to other Roald Dahl books Danny, The Champion of the World is based on a previous short story by Dahl, entitled The Champion of the World, which was first published in The New Yorker Magazine in 1959 and later re-published in the compilation Kiss Kiss. The original story has a similar premise, but with adults as the main characters. William tells Danny a bedtime story sequence of a "Big Friendly Giant" who captures good dreams and blows them into children's bedrooms at night. Dahl would later use the same concept in the full-length novel The BFG. Danny describes being caned by his teacher, Captain Lancaster, for cheating in an exam. This is similar to an experience that Dahl recounted of his own teacher, Captain Hardcastle, in Boy: Tales of Childhood. Editions (hardback, 1975) (paperback, 1977) (paperback, 1988) (hardback, 1994) (paperback, 1994) (paperback, 2002) (hardback, 2002) (library binding, 2002) (hardback, 2004) References 1975 British novels Children's books by Roald Dahl Roald Dahl characters Novels by Roald Dahl British children's novels Jonathan Cape books British novels adapted into films 1975 children's books