'My love of reading got me here,' says comedian

Ben Miller credited Nantwich library with nurturing his love of reading

Actor and comedian Ben Miller has spoken about how his local library helped nurture a love of reading that laid the groundwork for his future career.

Miller, who grew up in Nantwich, Cheshire, and went to Malbank School, still has a fondness for his hometown, despite now living in Gloucestershire.

Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke, he described it as a “little magical world all of its own”, which helped inspire his passion for the creative arts.

He recently made a documentary exploring the history of the town for Channel Five.

Miller's acting credits include a starring role in the BBC series Death in Paradise, as well as appearing as Rowan Atkinson's sidekick in the Johnny English films and playing Colonel Lancaster in Paddington 2.

He has also written 11 children’s books, and he said his latest - The Night I Met Father Christmas - was in fact the first story he wrote.

“I wrote it for my eldest son, Jackson, when he was nine years old.

“Basically I wrote a story about him meeting Father Christmas, and Father Christmas getting such a fright that he twists his ankle and then Jackson goes with him around the world to deliver the presents.”

Miller said he had adapted the story into a picture book for younger readers, aged about six months and upwards.

“I absolutely loved Christmas growing up,” he added, and revealed that he had written the story at about the same time his son was starting to become cynical about Father Christmas’ existence.

'Amazing library'

Miller said he “lived in hope” that one day he might be asked to switch on his hometown’s Christmas lights.

“Nantwich is kind of a little magical world all of its own,” he said, recalling how he used to enjoy listening to the Salvation Army playing in the town square.

“It’s living in its own little place of imagination.”

He joked: “If I can just get a couple more people living in Nantwich, my joy will be complete.”

The town also provided him with the foundations of his writing career.

“Nantwich has got an amazing library – a brilliant, brilliant library – and I just absolutely loved reading.

“I wouldn’t have been doing any of the things I’m doing now if I hadn’t been into reading.”

Miller said he felt incredibly lucky to have had so many books in his life when he was little.