Interviews / 25 November, 2024 / Ellie Thompson
We sit down with Andy Day, beloved children’s TV presenter, author, and dad, to chat about his latest book, Dino Dad: Ice Age. Known for his engaging storytelling and fun-filled adventures, Andy has captivated young audiences with his popular Dino Dad series. As both a father and an author, he brings a unique perspective to his writing, blending imaginative tales with heartwarming lessons. In this interview, Andy shares the inspiration behind his latest book, reflects on his journey from TV presenter to author, and gives us a glimpse into life as a dad juggling both roles. Get ready for a fun conversation filled with dinosaurs, family, and all things creative!
Dino Dad: Ice Age is your latest instalment in the Dino Dad series. What inspired you to take this story into the Ice Age setting, and how do you think it differs from the first book?
At the back of the Dino Dad books, there’s always a section called ‘Ruby’s Facts’- lots of the stories sort of weave through scientific findings in these books. So there’s an educational element. In all of my programmes, like ‘Andy’s Prehistoric Adventures’, we deal with prehistoric creatures like the woolly rhino, woolly mammoth, the sabretooth cat. I wanted to somehow bring a bit of knowledge of prehistoric creatures that lived 35,000 plus years ago into a story. And the idea that there’s an Ice Age on Dinotropolis, which is the world I’ve created, I felt would be interesting for kids. And fun!
What do you hope young readers will take away from Dino Dad: Ice Age? Is there a particular message or theme you’re trying to convey?
There’s a message in all the books, as I think any good children’s book should have – a morality and an educational element. In Dino Dad: Ice Age, there is an eroar-gency on the island and the characters have to work as a team to solve it.
There are new characters, one being a woolly mammoth (with dinosaur feet) called Newbie, who is frightened, and Ruby and her best friend, Rex the T-Rex, have to deal with their own fears (and Newbie’s) to navigate around the situation. Another element that’s important within the books is the relationship between Dino Dad and his daughters – that’s always very prevalent. How Dino Dad and Ruby and little Indie communicate and relate to each other is based very much on my own relationship with my daughters.
As a dad yourself, how has parenthood influenced your writing for the Dino Dad series? Do any of the characters or situations reflect your real-life experiences as a father?
Obviously, having a kid within the age range for the books I’m writing, which is five to eight, I certainly had my daughter’s voice and how she sees the world in mind when I was writing the Dino Dad books. So my kids are very much there. They’re in it. The characters are loosely based on them and their characteristics. Ruby is a sensitive soul, she loves adventure. And Little Indie is very, very cheeky – she’s the live wire. So Little Indie in the Dino Dad books is very much like that as well. I had to get my third child (Luca) in it, too, so he sort of makes an appearance in the fourth book. He’s not left out. Phew!!!
You’ve been a beloved children’s presenter for many years, particularly known for your work with CBeebies. What has been the highlight of your presenting career so far?
I’ve been able to do loads of things I never thought I’d do. I did a CBeebies Shakespeare play at the Globe. I got to play Scrooge in ‘A Christmas Carol’, which is my favourite book. Having started a band, we got to play Glastonbury as our first gig. I got to have a TV show on CBBC (Andy and The Odd Socks/Andy and The Band). My job has taken me to Australia three times with my family to tour around performing a dinosaur show and next year, I’ll go there on tour with my band. And, of course, it’s given me the opportunity to write these books for an audience I love. I feel very lucky.
What’s the most memorable moment or funniest experience you’ve had while filming one of your shows?
The most memorable thing for me from having been on CBeebies is when my own childhood hero came in – David Hasselhoff. I say childhood hero because I used to watch ‘Night Rider’ religiously. He was doing a CBeebies bedtime story and I came into the dressing room and said hello and introduced myself. And he said to me, ‘You’ve got hair as I had in a programme called “Knight Rider.”’ My jaw dropped to the floor – it was the best thing I’ve ever heard.
The other thing I love is when the kids dress up like the characters when we are performing live with Andy and the Odd Socks. They’ll dress up like me or like the band or characters from the TV show. Or with Andy’s Adventures, they dress up like me, with the backpack. I love when parents get involved as well – with the making of the gizmos, making clocks, being creative.
As someone who brings dinosaurs and other animals to life for children on shows like Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures, what fascinates you the most about prehistoric creatures?
What fascinates me most about them is that they were actually real lizard-like creatures that lived on our planet. It’s not a myth; it’s true. The fact that the dinosaurs and these other prehistoric creatures roamed the earth for millions of years, much longer than us humans have, is simply incredible.
How has working in children’s television shaped you as a person? What have you learned from your young audience?
I’ve learned lots from my young audience! Number one: you can’t pull the wool over their eyes. They are the most honest creatures around. They also have a spirit that we all as adults still have, but because life gets in the way, it can be forgotten. If you’re lucky enough to have a nice childhood, it doesn’t really leave you as such. You have to be more responsible as you get older, but I think we need that childlike-self element to not be forgotten. I think it keeps you young, keeps it more exciting. That’s what I feel working in kids’ TV: it’s kept the creative juices flowing.
And having kids now, it’s like learning a different language. I think [having been in children’s television] has helped as a parent. I always loved kids’ TV when I was a kid and I was very much inspired by the programmes that I watched. They shaped my personality in a way – so it’s nice to be a part of the idea that the programmes you have worked on have shaped and will shape the way that children who watch them look at the world.
If you could collaborate with any other children’s presenter or author, who would it be and why?
I really like Jim Field, who does all the ‘Oi Frog’ illustrations. I’d like to work with him on any picture books in the future. Other presenters – I’m good friends with Maddie Moate, so it’d be nice to do something with her. She’s very science-based and my stuff is always very adventure-based, so I think it would work well. I’m working on a podcast idea with children’s TV presenter and performer Naomi Wilkinson, so that should be fun. Also, I would like to work or write with my wife. She’s worked in kids’ TV for years, she gets it as well, and I think we are a good team.
As a busy presenter, author, and father, how do you balance your work life with family time?
I have an incredible wife who’s very supportive and we have good communication. I try my best to take the time out when I can to spend time with the kids and the family in general. I’m not working all the time. Spending time with my family is really important, so I make sure that they’re at the top of the priority list as much as possible when making work decisions.
What do you enjoy doing with your family when you’re not working? Any favourite hobbies or activities?
We’ll often go to a local park, go on a bit of an adventure, go for a day out somewhere. It’s generally something that the kids want to do. Or we go and see friends. We always try and keep out. It’s also nice to have some times when we’re just watching films together as a family, just playing together with the kids – spending quality time with each other.
Are there any new projects or exciting plans on the horizon, either in children’s entertainment or writing?
I’ve got two more books coming out for the Dino Dad series. One of them is about Ruby having to start school in Dinotropolis and the other one’s about Dino-Detectives. And there are talks about doing picture books, which I’ve always wanted to do. I know that that’s a whole different thing in itself. Also, we have another series of Andy and The Band coming out next year and I’m filming another ‘Dinosaur Adventures’ next year too, which I’m excited about.
How has the transition from presenter to author been for you?
It’s strange, really, because I started off in presenting, but in 2011, I became much more of a performer than a presenter. Presenting is playing characters: it’s a version of Andy, or sometimes in the CBeebies pantos, you’d be playing entirely different characters. So I saw myself as much more of a performer than a presenter, although I do present fun facts and knowledge about dinosaurs on ‘Andy’s Adventures.’
With writing, it’s a very different medium. As an author, you’re sitting there creating a world in your head and putting it to paper, so it’s a different skill set. I’m very early in the learning stage for writing – I’m constantly learning with each book that I do. I know I’ve got good ideas, a good imagination. It’s just executing it as well as possible in the most engaging way I can.
Do you find writing as fulfilling as being on screen?
Yes, when it flows, ha! When it doesn’t, it can be very very frustrating and time-consuming. But when it flows, it’s like anything creative that comes to you. I mean, often you have to syphon through all the bad ideas or go through ideas taken to extremes and then if it’s not worked out, you go back to square one again. It can be like playing golf. I don’t play golf much at all, but whenever I’ve played golf, it can be the most frustrating sport as well as the most rewarding sport if you hit the golf ball right and get it in one. Writing is a bit like that, I feel.
Dino Dad: Ice Age is available on Amazon.
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