The Kid Who Fell Through Time

Greg James likes to think of himself as a celebrated radio presenter, author and all-round light entertainer. If you have kids, they might have read one of his children’s books. Chances are either Kid Normal or The Twits Next Door as they’re the ones that sold well. If not, you might well have heard him on Radio 1 where he has been since 2007 and on the prestigious Breakfast show since 2018. He also pops up on Radio 4 when they have some space to fill with his archive show Rewinder. As well as all this and enjoying faffing about online and on the TV, he hosts many podcasts. Some might say too many. They include his pride and joy: the loosely cricket-based one, Tailenders. And in the summer of 2025, he was presented with an honorary doctorate by the University of York for his service to dead ducks. Dr Greg lives with his wife, Bella Mackie (a much more successful and talented author, but not yet a doctor), and their dog, Barney (not yet an author nor a doctor but it’s only a matter of time), in a house.

GREG JAMES AND CHRIS SMITH are the multi-award-wining and bestselling authors of The Great Dream Robbery, Super Ghost and the Kid Normal series. They have been translated into over 20 languages and been shortlisted for both the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Laugh Out Loud Award. Greg and Chris have championed children’s books widely, were judges for the Blue Peter Book Award in 2017 and were official World Book Day authors in 2020. They are also committed advocates for children’s literacy and are founding members of the Primary School Library Alliance – a campaign launched by Penguin Random House and the National Literacy Trust to address the lack of investment in UK primary school libraries – and were awarded in 2024 the Ruth Rendell Literacy Award, presented to those who have had the most significant influence on literacy in the UK over the past year, for their work promoting reading in schools. Outside of their writing partnership, Greg James is a radio and television broadcaster and Chris Smith a solo author of acclaimed children’s books Frankie Best Hates Quests and Clarity Jones and the Magical Detective Agency.