Television personality David Walliams has revealed new information about an attraction coming to UK theme park Alton Towers based on his hit series of children's books.

Called Gangsta Granny: The Ride, the new attraction will be a 4D dark ride at the Staffordshire theme park, combining a physical ride experience, high-tech special effects and storytelling. Due to open in Q2 2020, the ride tells the story of Ben and his discovery that his Granny is secretly an international jewel thief. The ride experience will see guests take part in an attempt at the greatest heist ever on a mission to steal the Queen's Crown Jewels.

During the experience, passengers will go through a series of scenes where they will see, feel, hear and smell a unique re-telling of the Gangsta Granny story, utilising 3D projection mapping and animation.

The ride will be inside a themed area of the park called The World of David Walliams, where other attractions will feature characters from the author's books.



"I've worked really closely with the team at Alton Towers to make sure the ride is just as funny and exciting as the book," said Walliams. "I think children and their parents ‒ and even their grandparents ‒ are going to love it."

John Burton, creative lead for Alton Towers Resort, said it had been a challenge to build the witty characters, intrigue and exhilaration of David Walliams' books into a ride experience. "It's the first time we've attempted such a complex combination of a physical ride experience, high-tech special effects and brilliant storytelling to ensure guests feel they are with Granny and Ben on every step of their adventure."

Walliams has sold 37 million copies globally since publishing his first children's book in 2008 through HarperCollins Children's Books, and has been translated into 53 languages.