Which Roald Dahl book was adapted into the 1989 film Danny, the Champion of the World?

The 1989 film Danny, the Champion of the World was adapted from Roald Dahl’s book of the same title.

The novel was published in 1975 and follows Danny, a young boy who lives with his father, William, in a gypsy caravan near an English village. Their relationship is central to the story, which combines family loyalty, engineering ingenuity and a secret plan involving pheasants. Unlike many Dahl stories, it is grounded in a recognizably rural setting rather than a wholly fantastical one.

The film adaptation starred Jeremy Irons as William and his son Samuel Irons as Danny. It was made for television and retained the book’s focus on the bond between father and son.

The title may be mistaken for one of Dahl’s autobiographical works because it contains details influenced by his interests and experiences. However, Danny is a work of fiction, not a memoir.