Muddy Stilettos


<p>There are very few people who achieve that rarest of British accolades:&nbsp;universally liked&nbsp;(usually reserved for Labradors and Sir David Attenborough).&nbsp;<strong>Alexander Armstrong</strong>&nbsp;is firmly in that camp. The velvet-voiced national comfort blanket of&nbsp;<em>Pointless</em>, Radio 4 fixture, comedy brain, actor, singer and now – plot twist – a genuinely accomplished children’s author. His second&nbsp;<em>Evenfall</em>&nbsp;novel, <em><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Evenfall-thrilling-adventure-bestselling-continues/dp/0008551618/?maas=maas_adg_910583CED20F3565768F19033EDAE33E_afap_abs&amp;ref_=aa_maas&amp;tag=maas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Tempest Stone</a></em>, is out today, and this isn’t a “lockdown hobby gone rogue”. Armstrong has gone properly deep: edits, nerves, lore-building and the most brutal critics of all – actual children. The result? A fantasy series with real teeth, heart and ambition… and proof that Xander’s talents extend well beyond the quiz podium.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2560" height="1890" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ReadingAgency-ChelseaLibrarywithAlexanderArmstrong-crop-for-Liv-scaled.jpg" alt="Alexander Armstrong Evenfall The Tempest Stone" class="wp-image-131732" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ReadingAgency-ChelseaLibrarywithAlexanderArmstrong-crop-for-Liv-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ReadingAgency-ChelseaLibrarywithAlexanderArmstrong-crop-for-Liv-600x443.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ReadingAgency-ChelseaLibrarywithAlexanderArmstrong-crop-for-Liv-1000x738.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ReadingAgency-ChelseaLibrarywithAlexanderArmstrong-crop-for-Liv-1536x1134.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ReadingAgency-ChelseaLibrarywithAlexanderArmstrong-crop-for-Liv-2048x1512.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-ve-conquered-tv-radio-and-comedy-where-does-children-s-author-rank-on-the-showbiz-hierarchy">You’ve conquered TV, radio and comedy – where does &#8216;children’s author&#8217; rank on the showbiz hierarchy? </h3>



<p>This is such a good question. Being an author feels like a much rawer creative process, because what goes down on the page (however many times you edit and re-edit) comes from an intensely personal place. With comedy, the writing is often collaborative and the performance itself can fill in for any of the material’s shortcomings, as an author you are presenting something straight from the oven and there’s much less to mitigate. </p>



<p>Oh, and children are incredibly discerning readers so there’s absolutely nowhere to hide. Which makes it 10 times better if someone comes up and says they loved your book. It’s a compliment you can enjoy brazenly. I think for that reason, ‘children’s author’ has to come in at No.1 on that list!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-this-is-the-second-book-in-the-nbsp-evenfall-nbsp-series-how-much-is-inspired-by-your-own-childhood">This is the second book in the&nbsp;<em>Evenfall</em>&nbsp;series – how much is inspired by your own childhood?</h3>



<p>Haha! I don’t think any of the action is lifted direct from my childhood, but a lot of the flavour does: the locations, the people and the general vibe. The North-East is one of those rare parts of the UK where there is an active folk culture – fiddlers, accordionists, Northumbrian pipers, poets, story-tellers, who meet up regularly in parish halls and pubs to play together and entertain whoever turns up.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-re-the-father-of-four-boys-are-they-keen-readers-and-have-they-been-brutally-honest-critics">You’re the father of four boys – are they keen readers? And have they been brutally honest critics?</h3>



<p>All four of our boys are keen readers. I hope they caught the bug from our nightly bed-time stories, because that was always a lovely moment in the day, for me anyhow (and a cracking way of getting everyone out of the bath and into their pyjamas). They’re keen and adventurous readers, Roald Dahl was – as it remains for so many children – the best gateway for getting them into reading on their own, but <em>Percy Jackson</em>, Andy Stanton’s <em>Mr Gum</em>, Kieran Larwood’s <em>Podkin One-Ear</em>, David O’Doherty’s <em>Danger Is Everywhere</em>, all these were brilliant for feeding the flame. </p>



<p>Now they devour everything – I pass on any books I’ve loved (<em>Seascraper, A Secret History, Shrines of Gaiety </em>being recent ones) and it’s great to get their take on those. When it comes to my books, they’re generally very diplomatic in their comments, which means I have to watch their body language instead, as I’m reading – a fidget or an unguarded sigh is a sure sign that a passage might need another look. In fact the minute you read your book out loud to anyone else you get a sense of what works and what doesn’t. It’s always a nervy thing to do but so instructive.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-were-nbsp-you-nbsp-reading-at-their-age">What were&nbsp;<em>you</em>&nbsp;reading at their age?</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Untitled-design-10.png" alt="Collage of books recommended by Alexander Armstrong" class="wp-image-131868" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Untitled-design-10.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Untitled-design-10-600x600.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Untitled-design-10-1000x1000.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Untitled-design-10-300x300.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Untitled-design-10-500x500.png 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Untitled-design-10-1100x1100.png 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Yes, I loved reading. We had endless <em><strong>Tintin</strong></em> books in our house, so even before I learnt to read, I loved looking through those and trying to make sense of them from the pictures. <em><strong>The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe</strong></em> was the first proper book I read that completely took over my mind. Others I remember being swept up by were Joan Aiken’s <em><strong>Black Hearts in Battersea</strong></em> and <em><strong>The Hobbit</strong></em>. I got really into <strong>Agatha Christie</strong> one summer and worked my way hungrily through any of those I could find.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-be-honest-are-there-jokes-tucked-in-purely-for-parents-doing-bedtime-reading">Be honest, are there jokes tucked in purely for parents doing bedtime reading?</h3>



<p>Oh definitely. I wrote the book especially for the grown-up bedtime readers. Yes, the hero, Sam, is 13, but the story (and the tone of voice) is pitched very much at my sense of humour and adventure. Sam’s best friend, Ish, does a good line in throwaway gags. Also, Georgie, the villain of the piece, has a fairly ribald turn of phrase.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-for-anyone-yet-to-discover-nbsp-evenfall-what-can-they-expect-and-how-many-pages-before-things-get-juicy">For anyone yet to discover&nbsp;<em>Evenfall</em>, what can they expect – and how many pages before things get juicy?</h3>



<p>I like to think it has the mystery and ancient magic of <em>Harry Potter</em>, but the adventure and heart-in-mouth danger of <em>Indiana Jones</em>. The ground is laid early on with an uneasy sense of foreboding, but then, when the danger comes (and boy does it, shall we say around page 35?), it doesn’t really let up for the rest of the book. There are a couple of heart-stopping moments, and a real marmalade-sandwich-dropper of a revelation that I think no one will see coming.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-one-book-you-wish-you-d-written">What’s the one book you wish you’d written?</h3>



<p>I think there is such craft in Erich Kästner’s storytelling in <em>Emil and the Detectives</em>. He writes so cleanly that it feels like a thumbnail sketch – nothing wasted, nothing superfluous. I wish I had his impeccable clarity.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-there-any-friendly-rivalry-between-you-and-richard-osman-now-that-you-re-both-published-authors">Is there any friendly rivalry between you and Richard Osman now that you’re both published authors?</h3>



<p>Richard, I think, was the global bestselling author last year. So no, alas, we’re not rivals, but we are friendly, thank God. Actually, Richard has been amazing – incredibly supportive and a supremely useful person to have on hand for advice. Great for writing tips – not creative tips so much, more the sort of inside track on how best to schedule writing into the day. Then, how to approach the marketing, what’s the most efficient use of time for book promotion? These sorts of clever things…</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-s-more-competitive-comedians-comparing-laughs-or-authors-comparing-bestseller-lists">Who’s more competitive: comedians comparing laughs, or authors comparing bestseller lists?</h3>



<p>I suspect it’s probably authors comparing bestseller lists, although that competitive impulse is largely kept to the confines of their own kitchens. In person, authors are incredibly collegiate and genuinely supportive of one another.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2026-is-the-national-year-of-reading-your-advice-for-reluctant-young-readers">2026 is the National Year of Reading – your advice for reluctant young readers</h3>



<p>The toppest tip of all is: find brilliant, gripping books with good characters and read them out loud to your children before bedtime. Apart from anything else, it’s fun because you are all sharing the drama of the story, and you’re all invested in it. You can do voices for the different characters, which children really love. Most importantly, though, it instantly connects books with pleasure for them. </p>



<p>The best start you can possibly give your children (and all the data screams this from the rooftops!) is to introduce them as early as possible to reading for pleasure. And in the National Year of Reading, the most important thing is to choose books on topics that your children are passionate about – whether that’s football or fossils, music or magic.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-else-is-on-your-radar-for-2026-any-exciting-projects-you-can-tease">What else is on your radar for 2026? Any exciting projects you can tease?</h3>



<p>I am hoping to launch a series of live classical music spectaculars especially aimed at people who don’t know – or think they like – classical music…</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-you-re-not-writing-presenting-or-on-the-radio-how-do-you-switch-off">When you’re not writing, presenting or on the radio, how do you switch off?</h3>



<p>I listen to music any time I’m alone, which I like to do loudly (and slightly nerdishly – sound quality is paramount). I walk a lot (we have two very naughty Norfolk terriers who need endless exercise, so that’s a perfect excuse – but I’d go for long walks even if they weren’t there). What I really love, though, is just being at home with my wife and our boys – they’re such lovely company.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-finally-finish-this-sentence-the-one-thing-people-would-be-most-surprised-to-know-about-me-is">And finally – finish this sentence: “The one thing people would be most surprised to know about me is…”</h3>



<p>How nervous I get before speaking to any gathering of about four or more people. It quickly evaporates (usually it does), but it’s always there.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quick-fire-round">QUICK-FIRE ROUND</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="2560" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alexander-Armstrong-scaled.jpg" alt=" Alexander Armstrong EVENFALL THE TEMPEST STONE" class="wp-image-131731" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alexander-Armstrong-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alexander-Armstrong-480x600.jpg 480w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alexander-Armstrong-800x1000.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alexander-Armstrong-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alexander-Armstrong-1638x2048.jpg 1638w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></figure>



<p><strong>Worst writing habit?</strong><br>Rewriting and rewriting and rewriting the first chapter</p>



<p><strong>Best excuse for not writing?</strong><br>Reading some ‘breaking news’ that’s just flashed up on my phone</p>



<p><strong>Book festival or TV studio – which is more intimidating?</strong><br>I enjoy both, but perhaps book festivals could be more intimidating as they’re totally free range – TV studios are a bit more contained and predictable.</p>



<p><strong>If <em>Evenfall</em> were adapted for TV, who would you absolutely insist <em>not</em> be involved?</strong><br>Haha!! Ben Miller – cah! How I loathe that man. Joking! I’m already wondering which part should be his.</p>



<ul>
<li><em>Alexander Armstrong&#8217;s new book, <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Evenfall-thrilling-adventure-bestselling-continues/dp/0008551618/?maas=maas_adg_910583CED20F3565768F19033EDAE33E_afap_abs&amp;ref_=aa_maas&amp;tag=maas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Evenfall: The Tempest Stone</a> is out now (Farshore, RRP £14.99)</em></li>
</ul>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/life/people/interview-cressida-cowell-how-to-train-your-dragon/">Author Cressida Cowell talks dragons, books and her most showbiz moment</a></li>



<li><a href="https://wales.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/welsh-actor-matthew-rhys-on-playing-burton-and-his-homecoming/">Hollywood’s Matthew Rhys on Playing Burton and his Welsh homecoming</a></li>



<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/books/10-joyful-reads-to-boost-your-mood/">Uplit and loving it! 10 joyful reads to boost your mood</a></li>
</ul>


The six classics (and one new release) every pre-teen should read this Easter

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