After studying at Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School in Elstree, he read English at King's College, Cambridge and graduated with a double first. He began studies for a PhD in English at University College London, but did not complete it. Can Etta work out what happened to the real Santa in time to save Christmas? And will her dad finally stand up to the evil boss of Winterzone (TM)?

In yet another twist on 'finding the true meaning of Christmas', Baddiel takes an Arthur-look at the season and it's commercialisation and sets his sights on the Wall-E-like 'Buy N Large' that has taken over the planet - here calling it Winterzone. You might see a parallel with a not-too-far-away real-life corporation. Ahem. I enjoyed the audio version, with several voices contributing to the characters, including the author. Satisfyingly evil bad guys, a plot you will guess but nevertheless enjoy seeing come to pass, and readers may even consider their own feelings about Christmas and what it means to them. Hey, you never know. Bestselling author Alexandra Christo, author of TikTok sensation To Kill a Kingdom, introduces her new book, The Night Hunt (Hot Key Books), a dark... Dapo Adeola, Tracy Darnton, Joseph Coelho and Chitra Soundar are among the 19 authors and illustrators longlisted for the Inclusive Books for Child... Baddiel became a cabaret stand-up comedian after leaving university and also wrote sketches and jokes for various radio series. His first television appearance came in a bit-part on one episode of the showbiz satire, Filthy, Rich and Catflap. In 1988, he was introduced to Rob Newman, a comic impressionist, and the two became a writing partnership. They were subsequently paired up with the partnership of Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis for a new topical comedy show for BBC Radio 1 called The Mary Whitehouse Experience, and its success led to a transfer to television, shooting Baddiel to fame.

He has written four novels: Time for Bed, Whatever Love Means, The Secret Purposes and The Death of Eli Gold. Jews Don’t Count has cemented David Baddiel’s status as a prominent member of Britain’s Jewish community. Has that come with risks? When I first ask, he responds by talking about the social pressures it creates – recently, he was asked by a senior figure at The Jewish News to retweet an editorial that denounced the far-right and racist elements of the new Israeli government. “And he said: ‘As one of the most influential members of the community, it’d be great if you retweeted this.’ And I said: ‘My position on Israel is that Jews are not incumbent – non-Israeli Jews are not incumbent to comment all the time on Israel. And imagining that they are is a gift to those people who think all antisemitism is actually about Israel and that Jews are collectively responsible for it. So I’m afraid I’m not going to.’ And he was fine with that. But it was one of a hundred things that I get every day now where people imagine that I have to come in on something to do with Jews or Israel. Sometimes I do want to, and sometimes I don’t.”

I just love Christmas.” The boyish grin beams across my screen; the eyes glow wide. But naturally, there’s more to it. “I’ve got a sort of Jewish thing, which I think is years and years and years of not celebrating Christmas when I was a kid and thinking: ‘Blimey, there’s a fantastic party, happening somewhere else and we don’t seem to be invited.’ And that has now led me to always really dive headfirst into Christmas.” Baddiel’s new children’s book, out now I was paralysed doing stunts on Harry Potter. It was still the best job in the world 17 November, 2023 Mathew Baynton on the end of Ghosts: 'What the f*** have we done?' 09 November, 2023 Richard Hammond: 'Top Gear wasn't laddish. We weren't misogynistic. We were three nice blokes' 23 October, 2023 The winners of the Diverse Book Awards 2023 have been announced, with one winner from each of the four categories announced: Picture book, Children... The HILARIOUS new novel and the year's most perfect festive gift - from million-copy bestselling author David BaddielAnd you know what’s really heart-breaking? This isn’t actually in the documentary, because the cameras weren’t on. A child said to me: ‘Oh, is this for your Jews Don’t Count documentary? So why are you showing our school drill? What that’s to do with it?’ And I said: ‘Well, you know, because you’re a Jewish school, this is why you have to do that.’ And he didn’t know. He thought all schools do this kind of drill.” The subjects of Baddiel’s projects for adults and children are beginning to converge. The God Desire, his new book on atheism, will explore faith as a projection of desire. It won’t be to everyone’s taste. “ The God Desire is not dismissive of religion,” Baddiel tells me, “and in the same way, Virtually Christmas does not dismiss belief in Santa as absurd.” Comparing God to Santa is controversial when you’re promoting a children’s book. Yet, Baddiel bounds straight in: “Santa is a projection of desire, and so is God.” A good point about consumerism is made through another Baddiel madcap adventure, with likeable characters and a very easy-to-imagine Christmas scenario.

The dream is a British village Christmas, with chocolate box snow and thatched roofs, which sentimentally I completely find moving. I think that’s to do with, you know, coming from somewhere completely different in my bones but yearning for that.” I point out that the British Christmas aesthetic also has its roots in German festive traditions and the world of the Brothers’ Grimm. “Yes, but in the Pale of Settlement [where most Eastern European Jews were at one point confined to strictly designated areas] we were excluded from that. And that exclusion is what makes me yearn for it.” Skinner and Baddiel in November 1994 (Photo: Derry/Mirrorpix/Getty) So Etta is less than thrilled about the coming season. Even though her Dad works for WinterZone and has got her the role of the 'Perfect Present Please' kid this year! She'd rather have her grandma's tinsel, baubles and more magical memories any day.A related theme in Virtually Christmas underscores our need for Christmas as a time to disconnect. In Winterzone’s dystopia, relatives Zoom their Christmas instead of gathering in person, while thanks to climate change the only snow is a “Snowing Channel” projecting wintery images across the massive screens. (Zoom does have its uses in modern life, I remind myself, as I conduct this interview using it.)