David Walliams caused a buzz last Friday when the former Britain’s Got Talent judge delighted a mostly-young crowd in Farnham Maltings.

The Little Britain star and best-selling author of 59 million children’s books was arguably the biggest name on this year’s Farnham Literary Festival line-up with tickets selling out fast.

Walliams was on stage for an entertaining hour, giving the audience an insight into how personal experiences inspired The Boy in the Girl’s Dress.

He said: “The book is about feeling different because we all feel different in one way or another. Also, I’ve made a career out of dressing up as a woman.”

He also read excerpts from the likes of Windy Mindy after revealing that a greasy insect-eating contestant on BGT was the inspiration for his Ratburger character.

The show was part talk, part pantomime as he asked children why their siblings and parents were the worst during walkabouts.

“Come to Farnham, you’ll meet a better class of person,” he joked after hearing tales of kicking sisters and margarita-drinking mums, adding: “I feel like Jeremy Kyle sorting out family issues.”

The evening finished with a meet and greet with dozens snapping up their chance to get a photo with Walliams.